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Tampa's Lane: LSU has special spirit

By BRIAN LANDMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - LSU defensive line coach Earl Lane, a native of Tampa who coached at numerous Hillsborough County high schools and then at USF before joining the Tigers, was all smiles Saturday in the Superdome.

"I'm extremely blessed and fortunate," Lane, 51, said of being part of the Tigers as they prepare for the national title game.

But it's not the wins that he finds the most rewarding.

"One thing I've always said is no one will ever outfight our guys; they have a fighting spirit and a heart second to none," he said. "And when you're in the middle of it and you see it in practice and games, especially when tough times set in, how they attack things and bond together as a unit, that's what special to me.

"Obviously to be in a position to play for a national championship is special, but how you got here and watching the young men do it, that's something and I'll take with me always."

NICE GIFT: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and his staff struck upon a unique motivational tool - a DVD given to the players before the Christmas break that for 10 minutes shows snippets of players and pundits pointing out nothing but Buckeye flaws.

"Kids these days, I think, are better football players because they've learned so much in their lifetimes about football," Tressel said.

"They turn on a TV at any time and they can watch football. They can listen to the analysis. They can learn while they're just recreationally watching the game. And so, data is huge to kids because they can assimilate that. And not necessarily is the positive data all you want to bring in."

Offensive tackle Alex Boone made the mistake of watching it with his grandmother, who stopped folding clothes and went "nuts" and needed to be calmed down.

"Obviously, you watch films like that and you realize just how much everybody hates you," he said. "I think it was a great thing to watch because it made us more humble."

FAMILY AFFAIR: Ohio State receiver Brian Robiskie's dad isn't at all conflicted about Monday's game.

"He's behind me 100 percent," the son said, adding his dad, Terry, was wearing an OSU sweatshirt when he arrived in town on Friday.

Terry Robiskie, a longtime NFL coach who was Miami's receivers coach last season, is from the New Orleans area and was a running back at LSU in the early 1970s.

"When I was first getting recruited, LSU was one of the schools that briefly talked to me; they were never highly interested," Brian said. "I think they figured out the only reason I was talking to them maybe was because of my dad.

"But I decided it wouldn't be the best fit for me and my dad didn't have a problem with that."

HOLLYWOOD STAND-IN: LSU quarterback Matt Flynn bears a remarkable resemblance to actor Matt Damon, who was People's "Sexiest Man Alive" this year.

"If you're going to be compared to someone," Flynn said with a grin, "I guess that's a good person to get compared to."

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 22:35:39]