ORLANDO, Fla. - Just more than a year ago here on a sunshine-filled Florida day, LSU ran then-Heisman Trophy winning Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and his team out of Camping World Stadium with a dominating 20-point Citrus Bowl victory.
Even from the junior and senior Tigers departing for the NFL, there was unbridled optimism for the 2017 season.
After all, running back Derrius Guice, who led the SEC in rushing, and defensive end Arden Key, who set a school single-season sack record, would return for their junior years.
New offensive coordinator Matt Canada was going to provide an innovative scheme that would finally be the unpredictable attack that newly named head coach Ed Orgeron sought.