Tennessee defensive end Chris Walker (84) reacts as members of the LSU football team celebrate their comeback win last year in Baton Rouge, La.KNOXVILLE — Tennessee defensive back Prentiss Waggner went to high school less than 40 miles from LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge.
Derek Dooley, the Volunteers’ second-year head coach, was an assistant coach for the Tigers for five years.
Given their respective past proximities with the LSU football program, the two probably have the most credibility to speak about what they see in the Tigers. But for Dooley, Waggner and the rest of the Vols, what’s jumped out more than anything this week is the little number preceding the school name.
“When I look at LSU on film, I see a disciplined team,” Waggner said this week. “I see a hard-nosed, sound team and a very physical team on offense, defense and special teams. I would say that’s what a No. 1 team should look like.”
The top-ranked Tigers visit Knoxville today as a clear favorite against a UT team that will start backup Matt Simms at quarterback in place of the injured Tyler Bray. With a neutral-site win over ninth-ranked Oregon and a road win at No. 13 West Virginia — two teams that could very well win their respective conferences — LSU rolls in with what appears to be its best team since winning the 2007 national title.