The National L-Club Spring Game is usually about watching the LSU football team’s future.
Saturday’s version felt a bit different, as decadent pre-game festivities honored the Tigers’ recent past.
Nearly the entire 2011 Southeastern Conference title-winning roster was in attendance, and LSU raised the championship flag in Tiger Stadium’s south end zone. SEC commissioner Mike Slive spoke at the ceremony before trekking back to New Orleans to watch Kentucky play in the Final Four.
“I’m really happy the commissioner was able to travel to us and make the event a celebration,” Miles said.
The estimated crowd at kickoff was 33,000, though the stands thinned considerably by the end of the first half because of unseasonably searing heat.
“Just another example of how LSU fans love their Tigers,” Miles said.
YOUNG LBs STAND OUT
In recent seasons, LSU’s linebacking corps have lacked the award-winning chops or name-brand talent that lines the rest of the roster.
But two early-enrollee freshmen, Ronnie Feist and Lamar Lewis, may soon change that if their first action in Tiger Stadium was any indication.
Feist compiled a monster spring, notably embarrassing Kenny Hilliard in the Big Cat drill last month and showing uncanny strength within an undersized unit.
The West St. John product capped his breakout month with a seven-tackle performance in the Spring Game, including 1.5 stops for loss, and tracked down Russell Shepard on an end-around.
Lewis scored the game’s final points, intercepting a deflected pass from junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger and racing 74 yards for a pick-six.
MATHIEU ENTERTAINS
Junior cornerback Tyrann Mathieu didn’t have many quiet days on the gridiron last fall.
While his Spring Game performance was atypically uneventful - he had no tackles and two pass breakups - Saturday was only a calm day for the Heisman finalist between the lines.
Mathieu received his 2011 Bednarik Award during the pregame ceremony and was then one of 10 Tigers after the game to earn the Alvin Roy Fourth Quarter Award for Outstanding Performance in LSU’s offseason program.
In between, the Honey Badger had a little fun on the sidelines, spoofing the LSU quarterbacks’ various dropbacks and pocket mannerisms as he threw with sophomore receiver Jarvis Landry.
Following the game, Mathieu jokingly admitted he had no plans to contend for the starting job.
SPECIAL TEAMS SOLID
LSU’s special teams used crushing hits, consistent kicking and game-changing plays to make it a true asset in 2011.
The unit lacked standout moments during Saturday’s game but still impressed through consistency.
Senior kicker Drew Alleman missed a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter. He responded by splitting the uprights from 47 and 43 yards on his next two kicks and making all five extra points.
If there was one gripe with LSU’s special teams last fall, it was with the lack of depth on many Tiger kickoffs.
Sophomore James Hairston took the kickoff reins for good this spring, recording four touchbacks and putting another two beyond the goal line on Saturday.
With longtime deep snapper Joey Crappell lost to graduation, freshman Reid Ferguson assumed the center duties on field goals and kicks.
Miles said he was pleased with Ferguson’s first Tiger Stadium action.
“We won’t miss a beat at that position,” Miles said. “He’s doing everything we expect from our snappers. It was good to get him that time in real game situations.”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]