Hot Boudin, Cold Cous-Cous...

Bear Pascoe Is Who We THOUGHT He Was: Week 8 Preview:

So this Fresno State game has kind of snuck up on us, I don't know, maybe because the New Orleans media has had some other things to talk about. Really, it's rather troubling that I'm not worried at all about this game-- Fresno State probably has more talent than anyone we've beaten. And people wonder why we're ranked so low in the BCS... they're almost answering their own question. Our five victories are ULL, Arizona, Tulane, Mississippi State, and Kentucky. You can't get any more anti-quality than that.

But Fresno State is 1-5, narrowly losing games against Oregon and Washington by a combined four points. Apparently their otherwise balanced offense has turned completely one-dimensional with the run, and we're biding our time as they visit the stadium of the eighth-ranked rush defense. Then again, we're the fourth-ranked pass defense. And first overall. Seasons like this make CFBstats.com quite an entertaining bookmark.

Hi, I'm Wilford Brimley.

Don't know much about Fresno State, other than three things: Pat Hill still sports a solidly trailer handlebar, the team narrowly blew it in USC last season (probably explaining their 2006 hangover), and Bear Pascoe looks pretty much like you'd expect him to. Dan Bornay will wholeheartedly enjoy saying that name any chance he gets Saturday night.

Jim Hawthorne, too, is secretly hoping for a big game from Bear.

It's hard to believe that, with the 31 games Fresno State has played under Hill against BCS schools, this will be only the third against an SEC team. Stanford should actually watch their back in the Pac-10; Fresno State's almost an honorary member by now. But here's to teams like Auburn. Wait, Auburn paced them 62-0 back in 1996 when they were actually equivalent to Auburn mainstays like the Citadel and Appalaichan State. Apparently their passing game has been atrocious, as redshirt freshman Sean Norton became the starting quarterback halfway through their blowout loss in Hawai'i-- and racked up some impressive scrub stats. Sounds like an Anthony Scelfo in the making.

Think of an opposing quarterback who played better than Anthony Freaking Scelfo in Tiger Stadium this year. Not possible.

But, hey, we've scored more points this season through seven games than any since 1930! Please. Just link me to the defensive statistics in the future and save us all some valuable time, LSUsports.net. That's how I get my Tyson Jackson School of Thought going everyday.

You knew I was gonna go the facebook route with this one, Ali.

This did make me feel a little better about the season. Ali Highsmith! A-lee Highsmith, in the same category as H.B. Blades (hardest. name. ever.), Buster Davis (... the other one, at FSU), Paul the Penn State Linebacker Whose Knee Turned to Dust, and the mighty James Laurinaitis (you must say it in the Musberger voice). And some other people who have normal names. JAMES LAURINAITIS, GREEK EMPEROR. Actually, he's the son of Animal, one-half of the Road Warriors/Legion of Doom wrestling duo. If you mute Brent every Saturday night like some, you probably didn't know that.

Probably already blocked his MySpace from user 'MuSbErGeR1939'

Another bit of trivia: the green 'V' on the back of Fresno State's helmet represents the Valley, and Fresno State's subsequent pride of its rich agricultural history. Other than that, hopefully a by-the-book game with this team. Redshirt freshman... making his first start ever in Tiger Stadium... probably the most apathetic crowd of the year... JaMaicus... Jesse Daniels...

Nickname is Country ... Born Jan. 8, 1984 ... Majoring in general studies ... On pace to graduate in the spring of 2007 as he enters the 2006 fall semester just 22 hours shy of earning his degree ... Hobbies include fishing and hunting ... Has a stocked pond in his backyard ... Listens to "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins before every game ... Aspires to coach high school football or serve as a little league baseball coach.

Keiland Williams has a big game. LSU 44 Fresno State 9 Final. Now I'm worried.

- P.T.