The scoreboard trumps the microphone.
I’ve always felt that way, and most sports fans do, too. What a player or coach says is outweighed by performance in the arena. That’s almost always the case.
We’re six weeks away from anyone powering on a scoreboard. I’m confident Lane Kiffin and his quarterback will pile up points this fall. Mainly, because Kiffin and his quarterback always pile up points no matter who happens to be taking snaps.
This year, that quarterback will be Sam Leavitt, but Leavitt will be essentially nameless and literally faceless next week in Tampa at SEC Media Days. He’ll be left at home while Whit Weeks makes his second appearance at the event. Trey’Dez Green and TJ Dottery, a transfer, will round out the LSU convoy.
I think it’s a missed opportunity.
It’s entirely possible that Leavitt has a prior commitment, a doctor appointment, a class or someplace other than a Tampa ballroom to be. That said, it’s an eight-hour day, all in, and the odds of that are low. These players can see a medical team at any time, and multi-million dollar quarterbacks generally have a pretty flexible academic schedule.
This felt like a great chance for the starting quarterback to come be the face of the team for the first time. Leavitt did not speak during the spring. I understand why. He was hurt. I’m told he’s running 21 mph these days and has been on the practice field with his teammates all summer.
This is his fourth season in college football, third as a starter. He’s played in a College Football Playoff. Media is nothing new for him. Next week appears to be a great spot for Leavitt to talk about his decision to play for LSU, update everyone on his recovery from Lisfranc surgery and discuss learning the Kiffin-Charlie Weis Jr. offense without spring football.
Instead, LSU joins seven members of the league leaving its quarterback at home.
Perhaps no one in the media scrums next week will value press conferences less than me. It’s a bit ironic, kind of a carpenter lamenting his tools thing. I just know that 95 percent of sports press conferences are littered with coach speak, cliches and empty compliments for the next opponent.
I use the quotes for content, both written and audio, but in these mass interview settings, there’s rarely much meat on the proverbial bone.
I’ve always preferred writing and talking about the action on the field or court. I’m generally less concerned about the people. That’s because I don’t know them. I know their laundry. One of the reasons I don’t know them is the protective nature of athletic departments when it comes to access to the players.
This is a perfect example of that.
When the Tigers come roaring out of the north endzone tunnel for the first time Labor Day Weekend, not a single person in that 102,000 will remember or care that Leavitt didn’t make the trip to Tampa. This event will be a less than a distant memory. However, we’ve got six weeks before that happens.
LSU is going to be, in some ways, the talk of the week. Bring the second headliner. Kiffin will play the leading man.
Instead, three really good players who don’t necessarily generate a ton buzz with a microphone will take their turn. That’s nothing against Weeks, Green and Dottery who all figure to be massively impactful this fall. Leavitt just has a more fascinating story to tell.
This is no crime from LSU. It’s just a missed opportunity.
Leavitt will just have to let the scoreboard do the talking.
