Fresh off a disappointing 8-5 season, one which LSU began ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press Top 25, Tiger football fans are ready for a change.LSU coach Les Miles officially introduced John Chavis as the team’s new defensive coordinator last Monday. Chavis spent the past 20 seasons at Tennessee, 14 of those as defensive coordinator for former coach Phillip Fulmer. The position became vacant after co-defensive coordinators Bradley Dale Peveto and Doug Mallory announced they would be leaving LSU. Peveto accepted the head coaching job at Northwestern State, and Mallory accepted a job to become New Mexico’s new defensive coordinator.Chavis is no stranger to producing great defenses. Tennessee allowed only 263.5 yards per game in 2008 — tied for No. 3 in the nation — despite the Volunteers’ sub-par season.LSU’s defense under Peveto and Mallory was below par, finishing ninth in the SEC in yards allowed per game.Fans have been happy with Miles’ decision to shake things up. Carlos Almeida, graduate student, said he’s excited to see someone new and experienced come in to try and improve the defense. “A fresh start can only lead to good things,” he said.Jimmy Graham, petroleum engineering sophomore, said he likes Chavis’ familiarity with the Southeastern Conference.”I am happy for a change,” he said. “We’ll see if it makes a difference. Getting a guy from the SEC should help us.” He said Chavis will have  enormous pressure on him next year because leading a high-profile SEC defense like LSU’s demands high expectations.Many fans showed great   displeasure in the previous co-defensive coordinators. Brian Leblanc, kinesiology junior, didn’t like the idea of co-coordinators because opinions and strategies can easily clash.”Obviously it didn’t work out too well,” Leblanc said.At least one student thought the blame shouldn’t be entirely on Peveto and Mallory. Micah Bedard, mass communication freshman, said a lack of talent ultimately hurt the defense. “The defense was young,” he said. “That’s what killed us in a lot of games. Considering the talent, they didn’t do a bad job. The better talent you have, the easier it is to coach.”Miles also announced Wednesday that Ron Cooper would join his staff as the new defensive backs coach. Cooper had been an assistant at South Carolina since 2004. He served as safeties coach last season and was responsible for a secondary that produced the country’s No. 2 pass defense.Fans are curious to see how the new staff will perform next year. Bedard thinks the defense will be fine, despite graduating several players and potentially losing junior defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois to the NFL draft.”A lot of guys are returning so there will be no short of talent,” he said.He said Cooper can play a major role in developing young cornerbacks Jai Eugene and Patrick Peterson.Chavis and Cooper’s contracts have yet to be released. Chavis is expected to make around $500,000 per year, according to ESPN. Cooper is expected to make $300,000 per year, according to The State in South Carolina.With these recent hirings, some fans think LSU is overpaying to get back in the national spotlight. “Most people won’t consider it too much, but personally I think it’s too much,” Leblanc said. “Fans here are willing to give whatever to get back in the national championship.”With all the money being tossed around, fans will be looking for a much better season next year. “I expect to go back to a game, like the Sugar Bowl or Fiesta Bowl, not some small bowl like this year,” said Chris Julien, biological sciences senior.Not all Tiger fans are upset with the spending, saying sometimes change comes with a price tag. “I don’t think they are overpaying,” Almeida said. “The SEC is the leader in the country in spending money. You have to spend money to make money.”
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