My father and I have combined to attend over 500 LSU games over the past 40 years. This period includes 297 wins, 26 bowl games, 10 Top Ten finishes, 6 SEC Championships and 2 BCS Titles. We’ve been through the good, the bad and the ugly with this team and we wanted to sit down and put together a team that reflects what we feel embodies the spirit of LSU football as we’ve seen it. It’s not necessarily about who had the best statistics or who won the most awards (although both were taken into consideration). Since this team spans the last 40 years, we picked a total of 40 players (including honorable mentions). Justifications for each player were written by my dad for those who played from 1970 until 1995, and myself for those who wore the purple and gold from 1995 till the present.

Honorable Mentions

Henry Thomas (DE) (1983-1986): How can this man not be first team? Only reason is that LSU has had sush a history
in the defensive line. This player’s blocked field goal at South Bend will always be remembered. That
stadium was loud but you could still hear the resounding THUMP all the way to touchdown Jesus as
Henry SMOTHERED this ball.

Corey Webster (CB) (2001-2003): Known mostly for huge moments (INTs vs UGA and Oklahoma during the 2003 season), Corey Webster was as good of a corner as I’ve ever seen. He provided leadership and toughness on the greatest defense in LSU history.

Greg Dubroc (LB) (1981-1984): Number 44 was all over the field all the time. Not big, not fast, just everywhere.

Tommy Banks (FB) (1996-1998): While his iconic touchdown dive against Florida in 1997 is the standout memory for Tommy’s career, his blocking led the way for LSU’s lethal mid 90′s rushing attack.

Eric Andolsek (OG) (1984-1987): spiritual leader of the great 1986 Championship Team, from the offensive line hit almost
as hard as Eric Hill. Was so ready before the Sugar Bowl that he nearly knocked himself out.

Rondell Mealey (RB) (1996-1999): Forever in the shadow of #3, Rondell showed time and again that he was one of the most electrifying runners in the school’s history. His performance against Notre Dame in the 1997 Independence Bowl will not soon be forgotten by the LSU faithful who were on hand to witness it.

Dalton Hillard / Gary James (RB) (1982-1985) the arrival of these two running backs in 1982 signaled the return of LSU to prominence after a long dry spell. I will never forget leaving Tiger Stadium after destroying Oregon State
knowing that the next four years were going to be great years in LSU Football History.

Chris Jackson (K/P) (2003-2006): Rarely does a kicker bring the kind of electricity necessary to become a fan favorite, yet he was an integral part of the mid 2000′s LSU teams that were the winningest in school history.

Marcus Quinn (S) (1977-1980): Heart and soul of the 79 & 80 defense. Picture perfect interception on the goal line
against Auburn and eighty yard return won the game.

Defense

DE- Tommy Clapp (1984-1987): He was a furious pass rusher that ate quarterbacks. I remember a game where his initial hit on the quarterback in the pocket propelled the signal caller into the air followed by a two armed tackle in mid air and a resulting sound when they hit the ground that was heard throughout Tiger Stadium. In his 3 years as a starter, Clapp’s teams never lost an away SEC game.

DT- Chad Lavalais (2000-2003): The anchor of the 2003 defense that allowed just one opponent to score over 20 points, Chad Lavalais had as quick a first step as I’ve ever seen, spending most of his time in the opposing team’s backfield. In 2001, I thought Tennessee’s tandem of John Henderson and Albert Haynesworth was the most destructive interior defensive line presence I had ever seen. Lavalais, by himself, gave that impression a serious run.

DT- Glenn Dorsey (2003-2007): Other than Billy Cannon, Glenn Dorsey is the most decorated player in LSU history. His true value, however, was revealed during the 2007 season, when an injury limited his ability to impact the game, and statistically the LSU defense suffered significantly, dropping from one of the best units in the country to merely average. His return in the BCS National Championship game required so much attention from Ohio State that Ricky Jean-Francios was virtually ignored, allowing him to wreak havoc on the Buckeye offensive front. To the last, Dorsey’s value was revealed not in his own accomplishments, but how he affected others.

DE- Marcus Spears (2001-2004): Spears deserves to be on this list almost for his pick-6 against Oklahoma in the 2003 Sugar Bowl alone, however his career was truly defined during the 2004 season, when he stabilized a revamped LSU defense that lost the pressence of Chad Lavalais and Corey Webster. Spears answered the call, earning All-American honors and cementing LSU as a program that consistently produced outstanding defensive lineman year after year. His performance against Arkansas in 2004, where he harassed Matt Jones all day and helped pace a blowout LSU win, highlighted his career as an all-time great.

OLB- Eric Hill (1985-1988): Probably the biggest hitter I ever saw which became a hallmark of the teams in the mid eighty’s that brought LSU Football back from some very dark seasons. Specifically I remember numerous tackles that broke receivers and running backs from the football that just don’t even show up in the tackle statistics. Fans would go to the games just to see a hit delivered by Eric Hill.

ILB- Mike Anderson (1968-1970): Middle linebacker in the good old smash mouth days. Destroyed the Auburn running back at the one yard line late in the game to highlight one of the great goal line stands in LSU history and for the win.

ILB- Bradie James (1999-2002): #11 Bradie James, along with #7 Trev Faulk, often spelled CRAPS for opposing offenses in the early 2000′s. Bradie, however, separated himself during the 2002 season, recording over 150 tackles on the first great LSU defense of the millennium. He also played a critical role on the 2001 SEC Championship team, holding together a defense that was woefully thin in the secondary. Lou Tepper doesn’t deserve much praise for his tenure at LSU, but recruiting James is one of them.

OLB- Michael Brooks (1984-1987): Big and nasty, great player against the pass and the run. Highlight was Georgia away

where every man he touched fell backward…..hard.

CB- Willie Teal (1976-1979): highlight was the Ole Miss game in Jackson. The Tigers were down 21 – 0 late in the second quarter. A huge hit in the end zone took away a score in the third quarter and a late interception set up the final touchdown in the Tiger 28 – 21 victory.

CB- James Britt (1978-80, 1982): Straight A student and outstanding cover player. One handed interception against Old Miss in Tiger Stadium sealed the deal in front of one of the most raucous crowds in Tiger Stadium history.

CB- Patrick Peterson (2008-2010): I can hear the groans. How can Patrick Peterson be on this team? He’s only played 2 seasons, we haven’t seen him fulfill his potential yet, yada yada yada. I get it. But answer me this, if you had to have one player out there to shut down the other team’s #1 wideout, who are you taking over PP7?

S- Greg Jackson (1985-1988): The Heartbreaker. Greg broke the hearts of team after team with fourth quarter interceptions for touchdowns many of which were on the road including right up the middle at Gainesville to seal a win and the incredible 90 plus yarder at Starkville to win the game AND the SEC Championship. The Starkville touchdown return was right in front of the LSU section on the goal line. A moment that all that was there will always remember.

S- LaRon Landry (2003-2006): A one man wrecking ball, LaRon Landry brought the wood week in and week out for 4 years. His value was apparent almost immediately, when he lead the 2003 defense in tackles. His savage hits against Alabama Quarterbacks Brodie Croyle and John Parker Wilson in the 2005 and 2006 games stick out as his most memorable moments.

Offense

OT- Kevin Mawae (1990-1993): The lone bright spot on the worst period in the history of LSU football, Kevin Mawae played most of his career at Tackle before being switched to Center as a Senior, a position he dominated for 15+ years in the NFL.

OG- Tyler Lafauci  (1971-1973): One of only two LSU All American Offensive Guards. One highlight was during the final drive of the LSU / Ole Miss 17 – 16 game that was the result of this player’s energy and on one play his pancake of TWO defensive linemen.

C- Nacho Albergamo (1984-1987): Hardest working smash mouth lineman I ever saw. I remember several games that his jersey was caked in sweat and dirt – actually visually different than anyone else on the field.

OG- Alan Faneca (1995-1997): While Kevin Faulk got the headlines, Alan Faneca helped paved the way. LSU’s dropoff in 1998 can be attributed at least partially to the void left by one of the true all-time greats.

OT- Lance Smith (1981-1984): Big and fast as a Big Cat – a REAL Tiger! His block on the frozen five yard line at Notre Dame in the fourth quarter sprung Garry James for the only touchdown of the game and a win in the Ice Bowl.

TE- David Lafluer (1993-1996): The one position where there was no debate. David Laflueur was head and shoulders the best tight end LSU has produced in the last 4 decades. He was the model of consistency as a pass catcher and a very effective run blocker who was never caught out of place.

QB- Bert Jones (1970-1972): The only quarterback at LSU to be named All American. On the final play of the game in the 1972 Old Miss game he hit Brad Davis in the corner of the end zone for the win. Brad Davis said after the game that he lost the football in the lights but it hit him right in the hands.

RB- Kevin Faulk (1995-1998): What can be said about #3 that hasn’t been said? Coming to LSU as the top rated high school player in the country, Kevin began the modern era at LSU. There’s a reason we picked 1995 as the cut off date between my Dad’s generation and mine. Kevin Faulk is that reason. He was an absolute game changer and his performance in the 2nd half against Houston to open the 1996 season stands as one of the greatest efforts in college football history.

RB- Charles Alexander (1975-1978): The definition of electric. In a rare early afternoon game in Tiger Stadium in those days this Heisman Trophy candidate ran from every position in the backfield and as a wide out as well gaining over two hundred yards in one of the most memorable performances in Tiger Stadium history.

FB- Jacob Hester (2004-2007): The spiritual and emotional leader on the 2007 team along with Glenn Dorsey and Matt Flynn, Jacob Hester showed the heart and the toughness that champions are made of. The Florida game that year will forever stand as one of the legendary games in LSU history, and Jacob Hester is the single biggest reason LSU won that game.

WR- Josh Reed (1999-2001): Unstoppable. That’s the word that comes to mind when someone mentions the best wide receiver to ever wear an LSU uniform. The best route runner of his generation, Josh helped electrify an LSU offense in 2001 that outscored it’s way to the SEC Championship. His 297 yard effort against Alabama that year set an SEC record for receiving yards in a game that might not be broken in our lifetime.

WR- Wendell Davis (1984-1987): Best LSU wide out I ever saw highlighted by his performance in the Gator Bowl. The highly touted “fire ant” South Carolina defense was determined to stop the Hodson to Davis tandem. The South Carolina fans filled the stadium with the “Blitz Blitz” chant before the game. Davis shredded the strategy time after time and by the second half the LSU fans were chanting “Blitz Blitz” whenever LSU got the football.

WR- Andy Hamilton  (1969-1971): Tall and lanky and very elusive. “Hamilton Over The Middle” highlighted this career with opening touchdowns in great LSU victories over Notre Dame and Auburn. The same route burned defenses time and time again that were built to stop getting this player in space.

Special Teams

K- David Browndyke (1986-1989): Mr. Automatic. I never had a doubt that this consistent kicker would make whatever attempted kicking for two SEC Championship Teams including the Auburn and Alabama game winners in 1988. Jackson Carney caught an extra point kicked by this player in Birmingham at the age of seven.

P- Chad Kessler (1994-1997): The punter is often the most underrated player on a football team, but they can change the field position and with it the momentum of a football game. Chad Kessler helped LSU control and win games during the mid 1990′s.

Tommy Casanova (1969-1971): only three time All American in LSU history played both sides of the ball. The highlight was the two punt returns for touchdown in the SEC Championship game against Olde Miss in 1970. This game was also highlighted with the downpour of Oranges thrown by the student section during and after the game as it had been announced that a win sent the Tigers to the Orange Bowl.

Steve Rehage (1983-1986): watching Number 7 head hunt on special teams was worth the price of admission. No hesitation. No thought of his body. Just whatever it took to help the Tigers win.