LSU, Jeff Duncan And The Preseason Football Poll

The USA Today Amway top 25 coaches preseason football poll was released and LSU was ranked 13th., completely out of the top 10 teams.  New Orleans sports writer Jeff Duncan in the Times Picayune of 7/31 says the poll isn't giving LSU enough respect.  Duncan is bullish on LSU and thinks they are a prime candidate to elbow their way into the college football playoff picture.  He hedges his bet a little by adding, IF THE TIGERS CAN JUST BE SOLID AT QUARTERBACK.

There are probably 3 reasons why the coaches ranked LSU 13th.  (1)  LSU's two quarterbacks, Jennings and Harris are both less than average quarterbacks based on their past performance.  (2)  LSU has a new defensive coordinator and it remains to be seen how well they play.  (3)  Coach Les Miles always seems to find a way to lose a game, especially important ones.  And he has falling behind in the many offensive changes taken place in the game.  

This writer believes those reasons are valid and past commentary in "PolitiDose" has pointed out how Miles has been out coached in many games.  He has failed to change in all the years he has been at LSU.  The Tigers recruiting is still very good over all but has failed to recruit top quarterbacks for the last few years.  With Chavis going to Texas A & M LSU's defense could very well be big trouble.

Preseason polls mean very little now with the play off system.  Also, in sports there are too many factors involved, factors that are even unknown until the first kick off.  Can LSU finish in the top 10?  Sure they can.  I'm not from Missouri (the show me state) but I am from Louisiana and have followed the Tigers for over 50 years and Miles will have "to show me."

This commentary written by Joe Lorio

The Presidential Campaign Of 2016.

I like the way this Presidential campaign is starting.  The republicans, especially Donald Trump are in the news media daily, especially cable news, while the democrats are taking their campaign on the road directly to the people.  The 17 republican candidates are enjoying a lot of media exposure thanks to Trump and the Fox News Network's up coming debate next week.

Fox news has managed to shoot itself in the foot over the debate format and many republican candidates are angry that the RNC has not taken up their cause of being left out.  The democrats won't have that problem when they debate and will be a more healthy debate for the people.

Most of Trump's republican opponents are elected officials who are in office or who have held office in the past and have more political experience than him.  But Trump has a double digit lead over almost all of them in the polls.  That is an indication that the republicans polled think very little of those nominees ability to govern.  Since several of those republicans are serving in the congress that fits in with the low rating congress is given by the American people.  Trump has magnified the issue by pointing out they have no accomplishments.  Trump is only pointing out what "PolitiDose" has been saying for years.

Fox news still thinks Clinton will be the democratic nominee and keeps up a steady barrage of negative comments about her.  Clinton and her democratic opponents have wisely taken their campaign to the people and not the media during the early stages of the campaign.  It allows them to stay focused and talk about the issues the country and its people face.  If Vice President Joe Biden decides to enter the race next month when he is expected to announce his plans, the democratic party will have a great debate and the voters will reap the benefits.

In the mean time the 17 republicans will continue to try and knock each other out of the race.  Will the tone be civil?  Don't count on it.


This commentary written by Joe Lorio