In February during the NFL scouting combine, former LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery told the media an interesting piece of information.
Montgomery revealed in a news conference the notion that he didn’t give 100 percent against lesser opponents during his LSU career. Though he said he gave everything against quality foes, such as Southeastern Conference powers Alabama or South Carolina, he admitted he looked down on non-conference matchups.
“You know, some weeks when we didn’t have to play the harder teams, there were some times when effort was not needed,” Montgomery said at the 2013 scouting combine.
Now two weeks into the 2013 season, the current Tigers are again trudging through two unranked, non-conference contests, with perceived lightweight Kent State coming to Baton Rouge after UAB experienced a beatdown in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night.
Junior defensive tackle Anthony Johnson said he disagreed with Montgomery’s statement from February, and he denied the issue of LSU players taking plays off against lesser opponents.
“There’s nothing to learn from [Montgomery’s comments] because we don’t take plays off,” Johnson said. “We go out every day in practice like it’s our last play, and we play like it’s our last play. We prepare for Kent State like we prepare for Alabama. We prepare for UAB like we prepare for Florida. No team is different.”
Last season, the Tigers welcomed North Texas, Washington, Idaho and Towson to Baton Rouge during the first five weeks of the campaign.
LSU scored no less than 38 points in all of the contests, putting up a season-high 63 against Idaho on Sept. 15, 2012. The games weren’t close, and no one predicted them to be.
Fans may expect the Tigers’ locker room to be looser for these non-conference opponents, but several players said the atmosphere is actually more intense.
“It’s more intense because these teams that people look over are the ones that can bite you in the butt,” said senior fullback J.C. Copeland. “I think our team looks at everybody like they’re the No. 1 team in the country, no matter who they are.”
Copeland compared LSU’s squad to that of a middle-school bully. He said his team is one looking to pick on any squad, whether it’s a ranked SEC opponent or a non-ranked adversary.
No matter what color an opposing linebacker is wearing, Copeland said he’s looking to hit him and clear a lane for his running back. Even a family member won’t get in Copeland’s way.
“I look at every game as another opportunity to show people what I can do,” Copeland said. “I could play football against anyone. It could be my momma. If she’s flying in front of me, I’m going to hit her. I promise you.”
Whenever SEC teams pop up on the LSU schedule, fans and analysts alike begin hyping the matchups, picking favorites and predicting outcomes. The excitement for SEC games is natural, and the electricity can usually be felt hours before kickoff in Baton Rouge.
But junior defensive end Jordan Allen said the team mentally prepares for the non-conference matchups in the same way they would prepare for Alabama or Florida.
Allen said the coaches are still in the film room, and the players still go through their usual pregame routine. Even the practice squad members sit in the locker room before the game to get the starters mentally ready to play.
Allen said it doesn’t take any extra hype to play non-conference opponents. With Kent State next on the schedule, he expects the team to come out as passionate as always.
“It doesn’t take any extra hype,” Allen said. “I’m ready to go whenever the whistle blows. [LSU strength and conditioning coordinator Tommy] Moffitt said the other day that if you can’t fight hard against the little dogs, then you can’t fight hard against the big dogs.”
“It could be my momma. If she’s flying in front of me, I’m going to hit her. I promise you.”