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Five years ago, Josh Williams was a member of the scout team as a walk-on on LSU’s roster. Today, he may be the Tigers’ lead running back headed into the 2023 season.
The three-time Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll selection faced many trials and tribulations to get to where he is today.
“It could be a whole story over a movie or a book, honestly. Coming in as a walk-on, not knowing where I’d end up, and not even knowing how I’d ever be able to play here,” Williams said. “Ended up being four years, five years later, graduating, still getting my grad degree. It’s been a great journey. Couldn’t have asked for anything else.”
It may not be a story turned into a book or a movie just yet, but it’s still one that many in the program could learn from.
Williams, a high school graduate in the class of 2019, played at the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas. He was a two-star recruit, and walked on at LSU over scholarship offers from the University of Dayton, Drake University and Lafayette College. This was the first leap of faith he took with LSU, and it was before he even got to Baton Rouge.
Williams came to LSU when it was tough to get time on the field, especially as a walk-on. His freshman season was the 2019 season, the year LSU won the national championship, and had a team that many would arguably consider one of the best college football teams in recent memory. Williams redshirted that season.
But the season of being on scout team during a national championship run paid off in fall camp in 2020. During fall camp, he was put on scholarship. Williams made an impact during his
first season on scholarship at LSU, playing in all 10 games either at running back or on the kick return team.
His sophomore season in 2021 was no different. He played in all 13 games, and shined when the team needed a spark. In the Texas Bowl against Kansas State, where the team was plagued with injuries, Williams ran for a seasonhigh 32 yards on seven carries.
The firepower he showed in the Texas Bowl allowed coaches to see who he truly was. For his junior season in 2022, he was LSU’s starting running back for much of the season. During his sophomore season, he finished with 107 rushing yards on 23 carries. But his junior season, he finished with 532 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Williams’ journey from a walkon on the scout team to LSU’s starting running back is inspiring
alone, but he’s also battled injuries along the way. He battled a knee injury throughout the 2022 season, missing the Citrus Bowl against Purdue due to a knee surgery he underwent after the regular season concluded. His injuries carried into the spring, where he wasn’t able to partake in any of the spring football season.
“I was out the whole spring. I essentially got to watch all the running backs take rep after rep after rep,” Williams said. “Just being in that situation, it gives you a different perspective on the sport, and you enjoy the moment when you get to come back.”
There were similar lessons for Williams while suffering his injuries. While he was a walk-on, there were a lot of unknowns for when he’d be able to step on the field.
During his injury, the unknowns of when he could step on the field weren’t because of the people in front of him, but because of his health. But the injuries allowed him to appreciate the game that much more, and taught him to never take playtime for granted.
“It taught me that any play, your season can be over, or you can never play sports again at any given play,” Williams said. “So it just taught me to cherish the moments that you have and never take reps for granted.”
Now it’s Williams’ senior season, and now that he’s healthy, he comes into it with the biggest expectations yet. While his expectations are high, the depth that LSU’s running back room comes in with takes the pressure off of him.
Williams will be the leader of that running back room, especially with the variety of experience he has. Although he was a leader in his junior season, the role might
look a lot different as he embarks on his senior season.
“I’m just going to try to be more of a vocal leader this year,” Williams said. “Last year, I stepped into a more ‘lead-by-example’ role, and this year I’ve been trying to talk more and just let them ask me questions or whatever they want. Just trying to be more of a team player.”
His leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed by the coaching staff either. Being one of the most experienced players on the team, he was already considered a leader coming into the season.
“He’s always been a leader,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “A lot of the young guys, Holly and Jackson, follow him. If they stick around and do what Josh does, they will be in great shape.”
There are a lot of aspects of the game that Williams is looking forward to. In a lot of ways, Williams has some of the brightest lights on him out of everyone on the LSU football team. But he can’t look into those lights without looking back at the walk-on playing scout team during the national championship season.
Williams wants his teammates to be able to learn from him as the player he is today. What he wants even more, though, is for any player in his position to take a leap of faith and bet on himself.
“One thing I would say to players that are in a situation they don’t really know, I would say it’s not about other people’s situations, it’s about yours. You have your journey, and if you try to compare you journey to somebody else’s, it’s starts to be a negativity,” Williams said. “I would just say if you focus on yourself and try and stay as consistent as possible, and get better each and every day, you can’t get worse, you have to get better.”
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Summertime has come and gone. May passed quickly, then June, July and August flew. Now, with the arrival of LSU’s fall semester, students have returned to campus. The shift means new schedules, new classes, new professors and the familiar sensation of an old grind. Freshman scurry. Sophomores settle in. Juniors ponder. Seniors stride. The fall is promising, but memories of our time away still linger. As the students of LSU rev-up for new experiences to come, so too do they reflect on the experiences of summer.
Many of our student body traveled far and wide, searching abroad for fresh excitement. Many worked. A few found jobs they loved. A few found jobs they did not. Some were lucky. They met strange people in strange lands, formed friendships, saw family, spoke vows, discovered new possibilities. Others broadened their horizons while staying home.
Take Abby Lawlor, a mechanical engineering freshman from Georgia. Lawlor graduated from
high school this year, and over the summer, she stayed home to work at a science-centric summer camp.
“There were some interesting kids,” she said, laughing. “Some of them were unhinged.”
Around her, the Quad buzzed with life, people walking, biking, scooting here and there. Amid the noise, she searched her mind for memories. “You’re watching 18 kids at once with just yourself,” she said. Her eyes went wide. “There’s going to be some antics.”
Even so, Lawlor relished her time working at the camp, called Stem Velocity. “It was really enjoyable to see kids get a good introduction to science.”
Architecture sophomore Paige Mac also worked at a summer camp near her hometown in Illinois. But Mac’s experience was somewhat different. “I hated it,” she said deadpanned. “The kids were just horrible.”
Waiting for the bus in the sun, Mac rubbed her eyes. Tiger Trails was running late. Instead, of the bus, flashbacks of screaming, tiny people arrived. “They would not listen,” Mac said, recalling her tormentors. “They’d get in fights. . .They were not fun.”
At this point, Mac hadn’t decided her plans for next summer, but she knew one thing for sure: no more summer camps.
It wasn’t all nightmare children, though. Mac also went to Lollapalooza Chicago. “I think my favorite artist I saw was Kendrick Lamar,” she said, smiley. With little else to say, she summarized the experience as though a secret: “He had a good set.” With some things, you just have to be there.
In fact, more than a few LSU students had once-in-a-lifetime experiences over the summer.
Medical and plant sciences freshman Quin Cisneros saw the Eiffel Tower on a warm night in Paris. “I didn’t know it sparkled,” she mused. Her pink hair blew in the wind. Laugh lines cheered her cheeks in a sideways grin. “A lot of people in Paris that live there, it’s very nonchalant for them, to see it everyday. They don’t really care about it, but I never knew it sparkled.” Cisneros sparkled as she remembered.
Not only did she see Paris but also Great Britain, Cologne, Berlin and so many places that she couldn’t remember the names of them all. “I was in Europe for the
entire month of June.” It was her first time leaving the country.
On the other hand, biology senior Grace Booth stayed home in Louisiana. She worked as a nanny, which she “loved.”
“Being able to spend one-onone time with a little one is really interesting, just watching them grow, and the learning process is really astounding at times,” Booth said.
Then she paused, looking down at her hand. “So, actually, another thing I did over the summer is. . .I got married.” There it was: the ring, a coy diamond set on a softly arcing band.
Booth beamed. “Seeing my husband’s face at the end of the aisle—that was incredible.” Details of her wedding came to her in waves. The dress, her family, a cherished memory. Though it’s now come to a close, for Booth and her husband, this summer was the beginning.
Many mourn the end of summer, but it’s not the end. Fall is here, bringing with it the opportunity for new experiences, new memories, new life. And remember, after fall comes winter, then spring, then summer again.
CRIMEA former LSU graduate student has been charged in connection to the fatal shooting of a faculty member at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Monday afternoon.
Tailei Qi, a second-year doctoral student at UNC, was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a weapon on school property, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Qi, 34, attended UNC as a graduate student starting in January 2022, according to his LinkedIn. Before that, he attended LSU from September 2019 to December 2021 and earned a master’s degree in material science. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Wuhan University in China.
UNC students were told by the university to shelter in place
see UNC, page 4
U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced on social media Tuesday morning that he is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. He told followers on the platform formerly known as Twitter that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma after undergoing tests.
“After a few days of not feeling like myself this past week, I had some blood work done,” Scalise said in his post. “The results uncovered some irregularities and after undergoing additional tests, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a very treatable blood cancer.”
Scalise said he intends to continue working while undergoing treatment and will return to Washington, D.C., to resume work as the second-highest ranking Republican in the House.
Scalise’s cancer diagnosis comes six years after he survived a near-fatal shooting at an Alexandria, Virginia, park while practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. He was one of six people wounded when gunman James Hodgkinson opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle. A Capitol Police officer returned fire and killed Hodgkinson.
The shooting shattered Scalise’s hip and caused major internal damage, requiring him to undergo multiple surgeries and blood transfusions. He made his return to Congress four months after the shooting and was eventually able to walk again unassisted.
Upon learning of Scalise’s cancer diagnoses Tuesday, his colleagues on Capitol Hill and Louisiana politicians have sent him wishes for a thorough recovery.
“I join with so many others in prayer for Steve and his family,”
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, said in a statement. “The same faith, family support and internal strength that made Steve such an inspiration to others after he was shot will bring him through this illness and once more inspire us all.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statement asking for Louisiana residents to join him and First Lady Donna Edwards in praying for Scalise.
“We know that Steve doesn’t back down from a challenge,” the governor said. “His toughness, his faith and the love of his family will carry him through this. And the entire state will be by his side supporting him.”
Multiple myeloma is a cancer affecting plasma in blood cells.
Doctors aren’t sure what causes it, and the American Cancer Society says there are no known risk factors that can be avoided to prevent it.
Multiple myeloma can present itself through a variety of symptoms, ranging from fatigue and anemia to bone pain and broken bones from a minor injury. Based on research of people from 2012 to 2018 with myeloma, the five-year survival rate was 79% when the cancer was diagnosed in a single tumor before spreading. In “distant” or multiple my-
eloma cases where the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate was 57%.
It is not uncommon to find multiple myeloma patients who have survived 20 or more years after being diagnosed and treated. Treatments include chemotherapy, stem cell replacement and cellular therapy, all of which carry their own side effects.
The American Cancer Society considers multiple myeloma a relatively uncommon cancer, with projections that 35,730 new cases
will be diagnosed this year. Myeloma is expected to account for 1.8% of all cancer cases in 2023, according to the National Cancer Institute. More than 55% of new cases will be among men.
Trends show an increase in multiple myeloma cases in the U.S., although the National Institutes of Health attribute this to an aging population.
The average age for a multiple myeloma diagnosis is 70, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Scalise is 57 years old.
BY KEVIN MCGILL AP News
In a first-of-its kind auction for the Gulf of Mexico, a company bid $5.6 million Tuesday to lease federal waters off the Louisiana coast for wind energy generation.
It was a modest start for wind energy in the Gulf, which lags the Northeast in offshore wind power development. Only one of three available tracts received bids. And only two companies bid. The winning bidder was RWE Offshore US.
The Biden administration said the tract covers more than 102,000 acres (41,200 hectares) with the potential for genera-
UNC, from page 3 shortly after 1 p.m. Monday after shots were reported on campus at the Caudill Laboratories. They were given the all clear hours later.
Police found one person shot at Caudill, who UNC Police Department Chief Brian James confirmed was dead at a press conference Monday evening. He said there were no other fatalities or injuries reported.
Authorities were still search-
tion of 1.24 gigawatts, enough wind power to supply 435,000 homes.
Analysts cited a variety of factors behind the current, relatively low interest in the lease sale, including inflation and challenges specific to the area such as lower wind speeds and the need for designs that consider hurricane threats.
Washington-based research group Clearview Energy Partners said in a Tuesday analysis that Gulf states’ governments lack the needed offshore wind targets or mandates for renewable energy that could encourage more wind development.
Clearview’s report also said wind energy is likely to play
ing for the weapon Monday evening. James said a motive for the shooting is not yet known.
UNC canceled classes for the rest of Monday and Tuesday. The shooting, so soon after the start of the school year, has shaken the campus.
“This loss is devastating, and this shooting damages the trust and safety we so often take for granted in our campus community,” said Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz at the press conference.
a key role in development of clean hydrogen production. The Biden administration has yet to implement a planned tax credit for hydrogen — another possible drag on immediate interest in Gulf wind leases, the report said.
“Offshore wind developers have to pick and choose where to deploy their resources and time and energy. It is not surprising that they are more interested in locations like the Northeast where power prices are higher and offshore wind is better positioned to compete,” Becky Diffen, a partner specializing in renewable energy financing at the Norton Rose Fulbright law firm in Houston.
Other factors bode well for eventual wind development in the Gulf. “While RWE may be the only company to have won a bid for federal waters in the Gulf, there are a few companies interested in pursuing offshore wind in Louisiana state waters,” Clearview said. “We note Louisiana lawmakers enacted a law last year that expanded the size of allowable offshore wind leases in state water.”
In a region where offshore oil and gas production remain a major economic driver, industries are embracing wind energy as well. For instance, Louisiana shipbuilding giant Edison Chouest Offshore is assembling a 260-foot-long (80-meter) ves -
sel to serve as floating quarters for offshore wind technicians and their tools to be used to run wind farms in the Northeast.
“Today’s auction results show the important role state public policy plays in offshore wind market development,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, an organization formed to aid the development of offshore wind. “Gulf expertise in offshore construction is unparalleled, and their innovative solutions will continue to drive the U.S. and global offshore wind industry forward.”drive the U.S. and global offshore wind industry forward.”
Imagine reading a book in the car on a family road trip and then boom, you’re reading something unexpectedly vulgar in front of your parents.
TikTok’s “BookTok” is heavily influencing users to read books popularized by the app. By liking one video related to books, hundreds more follow after. Authors such as Colleen Hoover are gaining attention through this. Not all of it is great.
When I read Hoover’s “It Ends With Us” in 2021, I did so without prior knowledge of the book. I had seen it so much on TikTok that I assumed that it would be some groundbreaking piece of writing when in reality I could have found
something better on Wattpad.
This summer, I decided to test out BookTok and read 18 books that I had seen on my “for you page” that readers had been raving about. These books fell into three tiers: deserves the hype, not as good as anticipated and shouldn’t be recommended.
Emily Henry’s “Happy Place” falls into that top tier of books that deserve the hype. It lives up to her other best-sellers like “Book Lovers” and “Beach Read.” The story follows a couple, well a recently broken up couple, on their annual summer vacation with their friends of over a decade. Henry’s storytelling capabilities exceed expectations without the story becoming repetitive or corny.
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo,” is an-
other highly recommended book that met my expectations. Reid enjoys taking a journalistic aspect in writing as she tells the story of a young journalist writing a book on one of the most famous actresses of the century. Reid is the perfect example of a talented author that doesn’t make their work confusing to read.
The middle tier is an iffy area. It holds books that weren’t awful, but received more hype than deserved. One of these is Dolly Alderton’s “Everything I Know About Love.”
The memoir follows Alderton through girlhood and touches on the importance of her relationships with the women in her life. While I did enjoy the read, I kept waiting for something revolutionary to appear. It never did.
The reason I’m not ranking
Lucy Score’s “Things We Never Got Over” as low as I should is because I didn’t hate the story, but I disliked the writing. There were more than a handful of times where I had to close the book out of embarrassment of what Score was writing. The only reason I didn’t quit reading was because I had faith that it would get better.
Elissa Sussman’s “Funny You Should Ask” was one of the first books I read this summer and was the first to disappoint and find its place on the bottom tier. The bright pink and red cover is enticing but the rest of the book lacks a solid plot and the storyline generally uninteresting.
“I bought the second one so I am forcing myself to finish the first one,” sophomore Chloe Richmond said on “Funny You Should Ask.”
“I’ve only been able to make it 40 pages in without having to stop reading.”
Now on the bottom is Hoover’s “Ugly Love.” This book was recommended on TikTok, so I thought it was worth the shot. Not only was I disappointed by the read, I was shocked by the amount of younger children reading it as it is not PG.
Sophomore Elina Vangelatos said she doesn’t even give thought to the books recommended by BookTok because she has been constantly disappointed. She is currently reading Jeffrey Eugenide’s “The Virgin Suicides.”
Book reviews are subjective and don’t let low ratings steer you away from reading a book you have been dreaming about. Just be wary of the books that TikTok is sending your way.
AUGUST Thursday at 11 a.m. 31st
Saturday at 3 p.m. 2nd
SEPTEMBER
Tiger Trail Mixin’ LSU Library
The LSU Health Center is hosting an event celebrating National Trail Mix Day. This event will be held outside of the LSU Library in the Quad. You can come and make trail mix from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Greekwide Bible Study
LSU Student Union
This event is for freshmen who are involved in Greek life. It is being held at the Student Union in room 312. This event will start at 2:30 p.m.
South Seas Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is having an event at their house, 3753 W Lakeshore Drive, on Saturday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be a waterslide and band at the event.
First Free Sunday at LSU Museum of Art
LSU Museum of Art
Every first Sunday of the month, the LSU Museum of Art, at 100 Lafayette St., is free to enter. This event will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Once you arrive, the event will be on the fifth floor.
SEPTEMBER Friday at 2:30 p.m. 1st
3rd
SEPTEMBER Sunday at 1 p.m.
BY SAM SEDILO @samsedilo
Taylor Swift once said “karma’s gonna track you down,” and it now looks like it has its eyes set on Scooter Braun.
The 42-year-old music mogul has been at the top of the game working with some of the biggest names in music such as Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Ariana Grande. But he has been making headlines this week as some of the biggest names in music have parted ways with him.
As one of the biggest music entrepreneurs, why is he now being dropped by his clients?
It was reported by People Magazine that Braun would soon be getting dropped by some of the biggest names in music such as Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato.
Many news outlets have gone around about who is dropping him, and while some of these statements have been true, some have been found to be false.
Demi Lovato was reported by People Magazine to have departed from Braun on Aug. 21. Lovato has only been managed by him since 2019.
On Aug. 22, an insider confirmed to People Magazine the departure from Braun.
An insider tipped People Magazine that Ariana Grande would be parting ways with Braun as she has “outgrown him” and trying to find a different path in her music career. Braun has been managing Grande for over 10 years and reports say that it was her own decision to part ways.
There were multiple sources saying that Justin Bieber and Braun are still on good terms, but many insiders have told People Magazine that they have not talked to each other in a year.
Now, not saying that Braun had this coming, but after all the drama between him and Taylor
Swift, it really does sound like karma tracked him down. The public drama between Braun and Swift has been going since 2019 and since has been an ongoing discussion within the music industry. So what exactly has been happening with Braun and Swift?
When Swift did not resign with Big Machine Records, the studio that produced her first six albums, Braun acquired the rights to the masters on her first six albums. After that he then sold them to an investment fund for over $300 million in 2020.
Swift has expressed her anger for Braun and Big Machine Records CEO Scott Borchetta, saying how she felt betrayed by Borchetta even after telling him the distaste she had for Braun. She has always been vocal about Braun and how men in the music industry try to tear down women. Many have not taken her seriously, she has said.
Flash forward to 2023, Swift is now almost over halfway through re-recording her first six albums, which she labels “Taylor’s Version” in the journey to reclaiming the rights to her music.
As for Braun, it’s not looking the best for him after the week of losing some of his biggest clients.
Though some have said that they have outgrown him and are looking to move on, there might be some drama that is now finally catching up to him. The last thing they want is to be caught in that, but reports have not said what is really going down.
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Winning championships is an expectation at LSU, no matter the sport.
Look no further than head baseball coach Jay Johnson and head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey both winning national championships in their second year at LSU.
Both coaches were already big names in their respective sports when LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward brought them to LSU, and exceeded the high expectations handed to them.
Now, arguably the most talked about and scrutinized of Woodward’s hires enters year two with similar expectations.
But are those expectations realistic?
When looking at the success of both LSU women’s basketball and LSU baseball, the formula was similar. One of the key elements was the transfer portal.
Each team added a transcendent player out of the transfer portal for their championship season who became the face of the team.
Mulkey added Angel Reese, a Maryland transfer who already established herself at the college level in the Big 10 after leaving high school as a McDonald’s All-American. She entered the season with high expectations and finished as both a national champion and one of the two most recognized players
football
in women’s college basketball.
On the baseball field, Johnson’s star addition was ace pitcher Paul Skenes, a former two-way player who made a name for himself at the Air Force Academy. Once again, expectations were high, but few expected him to be named the
22,
National Pitcher of the Year, break the Southeastern Conference single-season strikeout record, win a national championship and become the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft.
Reese and Skenes weren’t the only transfers on their respective
teams either. Each coach leaned heavily on the transfer portal in each of their first two seasons.
Kelly did the same.
In 2022, Kelly’s first year, LSU football ranked third in the
It started in May.
Just a month removed from LSU football’s spring game, three of the team’s most pivotal players were hard at work on the field, collectively volunteering their free time to perfect their craft.
It wasn’t Jayden Daniels hooking up with his star receivers in preparation for the upcoming season, tossing passes and building the chemistry and timing that’s so critical for the quarterback-wideout connection.
It was LSU’s unheralded special teams trio: punter Jay Bramblett, kicker Damian Ramos and long snapper Slade Roy.
All through the summer, the three met frequently to work on field goal operations, building comfort and confidence with one another both on and off the field.
“By July, we were in midseason form,” Bramblett said.
These meetups were something that didn’t happen the year prior. There was no foundation. Bramblett, who also works as the holder, was in his first year at LSU after transferring from Notre Dame following three years with Brian Kelly in South Bend. Roy see KELLY, page 13 see SHAKEUP, page 13
Brian Kelly is entering his second season as the head coach of the LSU Tigers and has continued to make an impact in the offseason.
Last year he was able to get players who made big plays such as Mekhi Garner, Jarrick BenardConverse, Mekhi Wingo, Greg Brooks Jr. and more.
Kelly leaned on the transfer portal again, adding 14 new players to the roster. Even though all of these players are looking to make an impact on the field there are three who stand out.
Omar Speights
LSU’s linebackers last year were extremely productive and talented as they were anchored by Harold Perkins, one of the best players in the country, Greg Penn III on the outside and fifth year senior, Micah Baskerville in the middle. Baskerville led the core with experience.
However, since losing Basker-
ville to the NFL, there’s a hole in the linebacker core that needs to be filled. Kelly filled that hole, signing Omar Speights from the transfer portal.
Speights came from Oregon State and had a tremendous season last year, tallying 83 total tackles and eight tackles for a loss with the Beavers. The Pennsylvania native also earned himself a spot on the All Pac-12 First Team in 2022.
The one thing you notice when watching Speights is his ability to track down the ball carrier. His speed from sideline to sideline is top notch and being able to hunt down players with tremendous speed is something that is valued on the field. Another thing he does is put himself in the right position.
He’s always in the right spot to make a play whether it is a tipped interception, filling a certain gap during run plays or playing the passing lanes. Speights is
I was extremely confident typing up my season prediction last August, expecting that LSU and then first year head coach Brian Kelly would do no better than 7-5 on the season. I figured that so much newness circulating the program would drown out the NFL-level talent, and the season definitely started out that way. By December, though, the Tigers had found their way into an SEC Cham-
pionship game in Atlanta, and although they didn’t take the title, they proved that they had earned the right to be there.
Heading into this season, LSU should look like a much more sophisticated version of that 2022 team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Kelly held onto his starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, as well as a stacked receiving room. Questions within the secondary, however, still remain unanswered.
Overall, I think a much stronger team chemistry along with a few changes in the secondary, both within the staff and on the field, could mean that, come December, the Tigers find themselves in Atlanta once again. I’ve also heard that the team has been pouring an immense amount of effort into nailing punt returns. No matter what, though, the pure talent oozing out of the SEC won’t make a trip to Atlanta an easy feat to achieve.
1 1-1
LSU has arguably some of the biggest expectations in the Southeastern Conference this season. But the pieces to fulfill and exceed them are certainly there. It will be a battle of the perennial powerhouses year after year for the SEC West title, LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss, with other dark horses like Texas A&M, Arkansas and Mississippi State looking to throw a wrench in things.
On paper, LSU looks like its chances of making it to Atlanta for the SEC Championship are very good. Piecing everything together at the right times, however, will be their biggest challenge. But timing is in their favor; Jayden Daniels has a year of experience in the system under his belt, the receiving core looks strong, the defense has its core leaders healthy, and the transfers are fitting into the lineup as planned.
The two games that will determine LSU’s fate begins right out the gate with Florida State, a team that also has a shot of slotting themselves in a good postseason spot. The other game, of course, is Alabama, which this year is in Tuscaloosa. It will be the little things that turn big for LSU. Winning at least one of these two games will serve LSU well. Other than that, they’ll have to put their trust into another team’s hands to do the dirty work for them. But a one-loss season should put them in the SEC Championship once again.
12-0
The 2023 Tigers are a completely renovated team. Jayden Daniels has helped find the offense’s identity- a scheme that he has been a part of for the past 16 months. Last year, Daniels was the most cautious quarterback in football. Now, fans can expect to see a much more aggressive signal-caller.
Deep throws, play action passes, fourth down
calls–Daniels’ willingness to play with more risk is going to be an “X-Factor” for LSU’s offense. Compound QB1’s massive leap with an improved defense, a more explosive supporting cast and a special teams unit that isn’t shooting itself in the foot, LSU is expected to have a massive 2023 campaign.
So, how will the season turn out?
The Tigers open the season in dominant fashion, stomping out FSU in a massive victory. They carry the momentum into the following week and steamroll Grambling State, ending the tiger debate. Week three and four provides LSU
Last year exceeded all expectations for LSU football as the team went on a fantasy of a 10-win campaign with upsets over some of the best teams in the country. It’s important to recognize, though, that even though the team is better than last year, it’s not a team without flaws.
The offense is a world-beater, with a deep receiving corps and a star at quarterback. The one thing that worries me is a lack of a bona fide star at running back. Starter Josh Williams is reliable, but even with an excellent offensive line paving the way, he may not generate many big plays.
If LSU gets into too many third and long situations or becomes onedimensional, it becomes easier to stop. On defense, LSU’s front seven is unstoppable. The uber-talented linebackers will be the backbone of the defense.
While the edge rusher group is somewhat unproven, my main concern is the secondary, where depth is precarious and the starters have struggled against LSU’s admittedly excellent wide receivers in practice.
It’s possible that opposing passing offenses will dice up LSU if they can hold off the Tigers’ pass rush long enough. LSU’s offense is good enough to keep up with anyone, but the pass defense will cost them at least a game in the SEC.
When predicting a team’s success in a season, two factors often come to mind: schedule and experience. On offense, LSU has few questions. It returns a fifth-year starting quarterback, its entire offensive line and its top wide receivers and running backs.
Compare that to the rest of the SEC West, and LSU looks like a contender. The defense, especially the secondary, has more questions. LSU replaces all of its starting corners, and has had issues with depth in the secondary throughout fall camp. The front seven can help cover up those issues, but will that be enough in every game over a 12-game regular season?
Either way, LSU has fewer questions than anyone else in the SEC. With that said, predicting the Tigers to return to Atlanta in 2023 isn’t unrealistic, and the schedule presents a path for that to happen.
some tough adversity, however I have them beating Mississippi State and Arkansas. The week after, LSU coasts into Oxford and handles business. I don’t think Missouri poses much of a threat to LSU, they’re a sneaky team, but I wouldn’t expect a blowout. Auburn always plays LSU close, not to mention their team is expected to get even better over the next few years.
I’m going to say LSU wins this one but Auburn is a gritty team. After the tough matchup, LSU bullies Army, entering Tuscaloosa undefeated. LSU takes advantage of Alabama’s QB crisis and leaves Bryant-Denny with a win. The Tigers follow the massive victory with a win against Florida, a beat down of Georgia State and a crushing of Texas A&M, getting some revenge in the process. I have the Tigers going undefeated as they enter the postseason heavily competing for another national championship.
KELLY, from page 11
247sports transfer portal rankings and ranked second in the 2023 rankings. There was no Reese or Skenes-type player in LSU’s 2023 transfer class, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t already a seasonchanging player on the team.
Jayden Daniels came to LSU as part of the 2022 transfer class, after being the starting quarterback for three years at Arizona State. In his first season at LSU, he was one of the main reasons LSU won the SEC West and had its first 10-win season since 2019.
He threw for 2,913 yards and ran for 885 yards in 2022, and now enters the 2023 season with the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, according to FanDuel and BetMGM.
The last five years proved that it takes elite quarterback play to win a national championship. Whether Daniels can rise from good to elite is one of the biggest questions surrounding LSU football in 2023.
“I think that development in his own mindset and the way he attacks things, is probably where we’ve seen that growth. And that’s been exciting to watch,” Kelly said of Daniels’ growth during a press conference.
There are similarities in how LSU football’s roster is constructed compared to its championship winning counterparts in baseball
SHAKEUP, from page 11 was also new, having transferred from East Carolina. Ramos was the only returner and he was just a redshirt freshman.
As the most experienced of the group, Bramblett took some blame for the lack of preparation last summer.
“It was a lack of leadership from me. We definitely could’ve done that,” Bramblett said.
Bramblett knew a renewed commitment and investment in special teams was sorely needed after a disastrous season from the unit in 2022.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, LSU was No. 130 out of 131 FBS teams in special teams efficiency last year, an astronomically low rank for a team that spent time in the top 10 of national rankings.
Special teams often goes overlooked in favor of offense and defense, perceived as the more exciting and impactful phases of the game, but don’t be fooled—special teams wins and loses games, as was the case for LSU last year.
It’s often said that special teams is all about the hidden yardage. Teams want to win the field position battle, consistently put their offense in good spots and the opposing offense in bad spots.
A punt that goes 45 yards instead of 50 might not seem like much, but over the course of the game, it adds up. When one team has a consistently shorter field ahead of them and a consistently easier time scoring, it can decide a game.
LSU didn’t do the little things well last year, which contributed to their poor ranking, but you
and women’s basketball, but there are also similarities in competition.
The easiest comparison is in women’s basketball where LSU entered the season with high expectations but were still firmly behind an SEC East juggernaut.
In LSU football’s case, that juggernaut is Georgia. While LSU made the SEC Championship in 2022, it was humbled by Georgia,
don’t finish No. 130 by just failing in the minutiae or along the margins. As every Tiger fan knows, there were explosive mishaps on special teams last year.
Beginning the season with a rematch of previous year’s opening game against Florida State, LSU sees the ghosts of its special teams mistakes in last year’s matchup.
The Tigers had a field goal blocked, fumbled away two punts, shanked a 31-yard punt that produced a touchdown drive for FSU and finally had the potential game-tying extra point blocked on the final play of the game.
There were more mishaps during the season, including a fumble on the opening kickoff against Tennessee that spurred an avalanche of a blowout and a blocked kick returned for a touchdown in the Southeastern Conference Championship against Georgia.
At its best last year, LSU’s special teams were mediocre rather than glaringly bad and producing costly mistakes. The unit was never exceptional. The team recognizes that something has to change going forward.
“Last year was more about learning,” Ramos said, adding that so far this year has been “a lot smoother.”
Increased effort is the name of the game for turning around LSU’s special teams this year, led by coordinator Bob Diaco.
Although LSU has made an effort to decentralize its special teams coaching and get other assistant coaches involved, the leader of the unit is Diaco.
The former UConn head coach and longtime Kelly assistant stepped into the special teams co -
losing 50-30 in a game that never felt close.
LSU women’s basketball had a similar hump to get over entering the season, trying to get past SEC powerhouse South Carolina. Even in the championship season, LSU lost by over 20 points to South Carolina, but avoided the Gamecocks in the NCAA Tournament.
LSU football could follow a similar path. It doesn’t face reign-
ordinator role, after John Jancek took on the defensive line position with coach Jimmy Lindsey currently dealing with a personal health matter.
“I don’t think there’s a more energetic guy in the building. He brings life to our meetings. Guys want to play for him,” Bramblett said of Diaco.
Diaco’s positive approach has encouraged the players around him to put work into a thankless part of football. Even some of LSU’s starters have been involved on special teams, with Kelly noting that their experience there will help them stick on NFL rosters and improve their football resumes.
“We talk about our best players being invested. Special teams isn’t always the shiniest, coolest thing,” Bramblett said.
That attitude extends to some unexpected players, including Roy. Long snappers are usually uninvolved in special teams coverage, but Roy routinely guns down the field after punts and often is involved in the tackle.
“The dude likes attention,” Bramblett said, laughing. “He wants to be in on the play. A lot of teams may just mark him out and say, ‘he’s getting blocked somewhere down the field.’ We’re counting on that.”
For all the emphasis on unnoticed effort, one of the unit’s biggest additions is about flash: transfer receiver Aaron Anderson and his speed have the potential to add a dynamic element to the return game. Anderson will be the team’s punt returner this year and the primary kick returner, with freshman running back Kaleb Jackson slotting in as the off-ball returner on kickoffs.
from last season.
When he took over for Ed Orgeron following the 2021 season, a culture reset was needed. Now in his second year at the helm, Kelly leads a team that he says understands the process he implemented and knows what it takes to be consistent.
“We understand the process, we understand the things necessary to become more consistent in everything that we do to be a championship football team and that is right down to the smallest of details,” Kelly said. “This is a hard thing to do, to be consistent in anything in life and our guys clearly understand that a lot better than they did coming into the season last year.”
ing SEC and national champion Georgia in the regular season, and if it can make it past conference championship week with no more than one loss, the odds are in LSU’s favor to make the College Football Playoff.
For Kelly, though, the focus isn’t on the schedule or any other team’s path to a championship. What gives him confidence is the growth and maturation of the team
Kelly’s process-oriented approach brought him success at each of his previous coaching jobs. It took him just two seasons to lead Cincinnati to the Orange Bowl and three to lead Notre Dame to a national championship game appearance.
With the talent LSU has, if it can consistently play to its strengths, a path to the College Football Playoff exists. Given where LSU finished while still learning how to be consistent, a team that now knows how to implement its process and be consistent in each game can reasonably expect to build on an already impressive start to Kelly’s LSU tenure.
“He’s as comfortable of a punt returner as I’ve seen,” Kelly said about Anderson.
What sets Anderson apart is his desire to be great, according to Bramblett. He picks the punter’s brain during practice on the nuances of returning punts, like assessing how the ball will bounce based on its spin.
Anderson’s explosiveness is something that was missing last year. LSU averaged only 3.3 yards per punt return compared to 10.9 on average for their opponents in 2022. With a revolving door at punt returner, the Tigers were content to finally settle on someone who could at least catch the ball consistently in Gregory Clayton Jr., but there’s a higher standard now.
Perhaps in line with those higher expectations, Bramblett is
quick to caution that there’s still plenty of work to be done.
“We’re maturing. We’re not where we need to be yet,” Bramblett said.
However, there’s confidence that LSU’s special teams will be a strength this year, not a hindrance. Ramos is comfortable with where the field goal unit’s timing and ball placement is, and Kelly has described Bramblett as a “weapon” during fall camp.
Most importantly, the approach has changed, and there’s teamwide buy-in.
“We think special teams should and can be a positive force and influence games,” Kelly said.
From the jump, LSU will be in close contests this year. If all goes to plan, the special teams overhaul could tip the scales in its favor.
TRANSFERS, from page 11 a dynamic tackler as you will see him hunt ball carriers and wrap them up on the first attempt.
This was a massive pick-up for the Tigers as having someone to be a leader in the middle and being able to talk to the defensive is crucial to winning games. He brings experience to a linebacker core that is still trying to find its identity. Now adding Speights with Perkins, LSU is building one of the best linebacker cores in college football.
Logan Diggs
LSU’s running back rotation is still a mystery as it features multiple talented players such as Noah Cain, Josh Williams, John Emery, Trey Holly and Armoni Goodwin, but no one has emerged as the true No. 1 option.
However, Kelly went into the portal to find someone who could become a playmaker for the team, and that was Logan Diggs.
He began his career with Kelly at Notre Dame and stayed for one more year after Kelly took the job at LSU and had a solid season.
The 6-foot-1-inch, 215-pound running back had 820 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Diggs also had 10 receptions for 211 yards along with two receiving touchdowns.
Something that he brings to
the team is his ability to catch out of the backfield. He shows that he can be a weapon as a passcatcher, and being able to catch the ball as a running back will continue to make him a more consistent option.
Diggs also displays patience as a ball carrier, allowing his offensive line to develop his blocks rather than going full speed as soon as he gets the ball. He waits for the holes to open, then once he sees the openings, he goes to his top speed. He is a strong back who most likely won’t go down on the first tackle attempt.
The addition of Diggs gives LSU another talented player at the position who can make a difference.
Ovie Oghoufo
The front seven for the Tigers is their heart and soul this season with players such as Perkins, Wingo, Maason Smith, Speights and more who can change the game. However, the Tigers weren’t done as they added edge rusher Ovie Oghoufo from Texas.
Oghoufo is a 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound defensive end from Lathrup Village, Michigan, and will be entering his senior season with the Tigers.
Last season for the Longhorns, Oghoufo had 53 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and three pass deflections. Now the numbers may not pop out on paper, but watching him play shows how he creates havoc.
Oghoufo does a great job disrupting the quarterback and making him uncomfortable. Even when he’s not making direct contact with the quarterback he does a great job getting his hands up, disrupting the passing lanes and making throws harder. Finding ways to impact the game is some -
thing he is natural at.
He does a great job of setting the edge and not allowing the running back or the quarterback to beat him around the corner. He can fight through blocks and shows off excellent block shedding with a high motor. He is also extremely versatile and ath-
letic, lining up on the outside as an edge rusher, lining up in the middle during a blitz and can be a spy for mobile quarterbacks. Oghoufo brings valuable traits to this defense. Adding a lot of experience as a senior and being incredibly athletic, it’s going to be hard for him to not shine.
President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk
Yeol met at Camp David on Aug. 18 to discuss further cooperation between the three countries over regional security and economic ties — including ways to mitigate future supply chain disruptions.
The meeting was fruitful, meaning Biden has inched closer to the elusive goal of a successful “pivot to Asia.” This pivot is a U.S. initiative attempting to further diplomatic and economic ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden’s first Camp David summit with international leaders was a historic meeting between the three countries. While South Korea and Japan have been strong allies of the United States since the beginning of the Cold War, the two countries
have suffered from strained relations stemming from the harsh Japanese colonization of Korea during the early 20th century. But with increased global troubles and a rising geopolitical phoenix in China, all three countries have recognized the importance of greater cooperation.
But somehow, this meeting is eerily reminiscent of the past American attempts to gain reliable partners in the Indo-Pacific region. For example, former President Richard Nixon made an ambitious endeavor to normalize relations with China in 1972, which seemed to be an apt maneuver to gain another ally against the Soviet Union.
Nixon speculated that China had the potential to become the greatest nation on Earth in the 21st century. His theory did come true — just not in the way he expected. After the fall of the Soviet Union, America’s most powerful adversary, China filled the void with ease.
To counter Chinese dominance over the Pacific, former President Barack Obama aimed to create a
free trade deal that would eliminate tariffs for many of the United States’ Asian trade partners. The ultimately unsuccessful Trans-Pacific Partnership could have strengthened America’s position in the region with 11 eager trade partners.
Fortunately, the rise of American protectionism in both major parties shot down Obama’s flawed attempt to “pivot to Asia,” with 2016 presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump united in their opposition to the trade deal.
Valid concerns over the trade deal arose, with many labor unions and environmental organizations concerned it would lead to further losses of American manufacturing jobs as well as an eventual failure to enforce the worker protections laid out in the deal.
These concerns led President Biden to continue the protectionist stance of former President Donald Trump, with his administration promoting American-made goods. In July 2021, his administration increased the threshold for products
to be considered American from 55% to 75%, meaning that at least 75% of any product has to be made here in the United States for it to be considered “Made in America.”
There are benefits to this stance, but it must be balanced to ensure we tap into the increasingly important developing economies in the Indo-Pacific, while also maintaining American economic competitiveness and well-paying jobs.
Consequently, the Camp David talks held on Aug. 18 are a small step to countering Chinese influence in the Pacific and erasing the notable American policy failures in the Indo-Pacific. President Biden wisely saw the need to continue the “pivot to Asia.”
Earlier this year, Biden successfully negotiated with the Philippine President “Bongbong” Marcos over adding American bases in the Philippines, restoring the historically friendly ties between the two countries.
At the end of the day, President Biden is only solidifying ties be -
tween countries that have a long history of friendly relations with the United States. Economic deals with other countries in the region are the only way to create an effective “pivot to Asia.”
Securing those deals will be a difficult task to accomplish, especially when both Republicans and Democrats seem to be protectionist and wary of any trade deal. Additionally, the concerns many had with the Trans-Pacific Partnership will undoubtedly apply to any future ambitious free trade agreement.
In some way, Biden will eventually have to reconcile his protectionist agenda with his foreign policy goals. But his meeting in Camp David is a great start to restoring the American international presence that is still reeling from Trump’s unabashed “America First” policy.
Nathaniel Dela Peña is a 20-yearold political science and history senior from Alexandria.
SERIOUSLY KIDDING
FRANK KIDD
@FK446852315
Editor’s note: The following column is satire.
The 90-year-old California U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has given power of attorney to her daughter, according to a document published by Insider.
Katherine Feinstein, 66, took on the power of attorney role following an eyebrow-raising scene that occurred during a vote on an $823 billion military budget when her mother began speaking and was interrupted by colleagues instructing her to just vote “aye.”
This incident has amplified the calls for Feinstein to resign; however, a point that has largely been ignored is the underlying bigotry of her critics.
Feinstein is being targeted because of ageism. Those calling for her resignation believe that her mental faculties are declining, when in fact, she is simply expressing herself alternatively.
Utilizing the art of rambling while speaking publicly is a generally frowned upon tactic, but it is often used by plus-aged people. It is a skill that only reveals itself dur-
EDITORIAL BOARD Claire Sullivan Editor in Chief Managing Editor Lauren Maddening one’s golden years. President Joe Biden is only 80 years old, and he’s already given some of the best rambling performances this country’s ever seen. Imagine the beautiful word salads that Feinstein will deliver being 10 years his senior.
Ageism is behind the denigration of this artistic and special tool of communication. Rambling is a beautiful method of expression, and criticizing it is the height of ignorance.
Did society ask Michaelangelo
not to use paintbrushes? Or lambast Ernest Hemingway for using paper? Feinstein’s detractors would probably call Martin Scorsese a hack for using cameras.
Age brings wisdom, and we should be ruled by the wisest among us. There have been calls for an upper limit age cap on those serving in public office. It’s not only morally abhorrent but also completely backwards. There should be an age limit, but it should limit people younger than 65 from serv-
ing.
People under 65 should be too busy having kids and working to fund social security; they shouldn’t have the time to serve in Congress. They should leave the governing to the people who can devote the proper attention to the job.
For an example of why we shouldn’t let young people make decisions for the country, look no further than the big screen. Characters in movies never solicit advice from the young and naive; they
correctly rely on the knowledge of an elderly sage. Despite this fact, many would still like to see younger people in office.
The way people are talking about Feinstein, one would think they want a government entirely run by babies. Ageists’ youth-obsession would lead them to elect a baby president, and he’d be getting his diaper changed during the State of the Union address. They’d like to see infants ordering drone attacks after their afternoon naps, and Republican babies upset over the availability of Dora the Explorer on their streaming services.
If blatantly bigoted sentiments continue, expect massive organizing. Senior citizens are more acutely aware of discrimination against them after one of the most ageist viruses of all time, COVID-19, ravaged their community.
Prepare for early bird sit-ins and bingo boycotts to sweep the nation. The nation’s capital should prepare for a month-long march from Congress to the White House. Such actions will be necessary to clean up the discriminatory attitudes that unfortunately have a hold on our public discourse.
“Age is something that doesn’t matter unless you are a cheese.”
Billie Burke
