New Orleans--BCS Week has seen LSU's football Tigers participate in what has seemed like hundreds of interviews, and Saturday's session was one that had the players loosening up a bit on what has become an annual event at the BCS national championship game.
Punter Patrick Fisher put his education to use as the recent mass communications graduate conducted interviews on his own -- talking with teammates about Monday's game with OhioState as well as getting the input from some national media members on their take of the Tigers-Buckeyes game. Fisher even interviewed former LSU coach Gerry DiNardo, who now serves as an analyst for the Big Ten Network. Fisher also did interviews with ESPN correspondent Shelly Smith among others.
Armed with a small digital video camera, Fisher has been at work all week, creating both blogs -- both written and video for LSUsports.net this week.
"It was really exciting," said Fisher of being able to participate in BCS Media Day. "You can definitely feel the game-like atmosphere. Over-all, it was a positive experience and we are just ready for the game to get here.
"We as a team have been in the media spotlight all year. We have a ball. We have dealt with it really well. I know this is a bigger game than the rest. As a team, we know how to put distractions aside. We know when it comes time to focus and play."
Still, with all that will be on the line Monday night, Fisher and his teammates have managed to have a good time this week. Some of the highlights on Saturday's media day had wide receiver Demetrius Byrd doing his best Michael Jackson imitation (dance, of course); defensive tackle Marlon Favorite rapping, and defensive back Jai Eugene, considered one of the best dancers on the team, strutting his stuff.
Not even the Tigers coaches were spared as offensive line coach Greg Studrawa was interviewed by freshman center T-Bob Hebert about his affinity for coffee among other things. Hebert asked the coach how many cups of coffee he drinks in a day to which Studrawa replied, "cups or pots? Id say on a good day I go through four pots of coffee."
Hebert, who obviously has the personality of his father Bobby Hebert, the former Saints quarterback now a sportscaster with WWL Radio, also got Studrawa going by saying that LSU tight ends coach Josh Henson could take him in a fight. Hebert then followed by asking Studrawa his opinion on "who would win between you and Coach Henson in a WWE Ladder Match?" Studrawa replied with a laugh, "I'd wrap the ladder around his neck and then knock him upside the head with one of those pots of coffee that I like to drink." Of course, this was all in good fun.
With Hebert and Fisher and others having an entertaining time with the media, there was business being conducted as Tigers coach Le Miles along with quarterback Matt Flynn, running back Jacob Hester, wide receiver Early Doucet, safety Craig Steltz and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey spent an hour on a podium in front of the media.
"This is just part of the responsibility that goes with playing in this type of game," said Doucet. "It can be overwhelming, but having gone to SEC Media Day earlier this season, I was used to it. Now since this is done, we can turn all of our attention to getting ready and playing the game."
