by Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
LSU’s secondary is anchored by two senior safeties who live in two different worlds. One is a popular player who has received numerous accolades and notoriety since his arrival at LSU, the other is a talented player who too often gets lost amongst the star names on LSU’s defense.
The vocal leader of LSU’s defense, free safety Ryan Clark is well-known in the LSU football community. His reputation is well-deserved, as he is the heart and soul of the secondary. Meanwhile, strong safety Lionel Thomas has quietly established himself as one of the top players on LSU’s defense in 2001. However, fame and acknowledgement seemed to have eluded this warrior.
Call them Batman and Robin, call them Jordan and Pippen, call them whatever nickname might best describe this dynamic duo. But the truth of the matter is, regardless of where they rank in a popularity contest, Clark and Thomas are both pivotal members of the Tiger defense. The two veterans are combining forces and pushing toward a common goal — which they desperately desire — in equal yearning.
“I don’t want to lose a game this year,” says Clark. “That’s my goal. If everything works out, I think this team can accomplish a lot and be known as one of the great teams here at LSU.”
Thomas has big ambitions this year as well.
“We want to be SEC champs. Nothing less,” he says.
The two will attempt to lead LSU back to Atlanta. Except this time, they want to book a hotel in late November for the SEC Championship game.
Ryan Clark has been roaming LSU’s secondary forever, it seems. He began playing as a “dime” back his red-shirt freshman year. As a sophomore, he took over the reins as LSU’s starting free safety, and he has developed into LSU’s most talented defensive back in the process.
Clark was a blue-chip prospect out of powerhouse Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La. Highly coveted by coaches across America, he received a full-court press from college recruiters. Frustrated with the recruiting process, Clark knew he needed to make a decision soon on where he would attend college. He claims divine intervention assisted him in his decision.
“I tell this story to people all the time and they never believe me,” Clark explains. “I never bled purple and gold as a child like a lot of other people did. I was wide open on where I would go. I got really tired of the recruiting process. I told my Mom that I needed to make a decision. We prayed and I asked God to send me a sign. That night I had a dream that LSU beat Florida 28-21 in Tiger Stadium.”
Clark accepted the dream as his sign and committed to LSU soon after.
His dream came true the very next year as a freshman at LSU when the Tigers upset the top-ranked Gators 28-21 in Tiger Stadium.
As a true freshman, Clark red-shirted, but he was still able to be a member of an LSU team that won nine games and trounced Notre Dame 27-9 in the Independence Bowl.
With a limited role on defense as a red-shirt freshman, Clark took advantage of his opportunity to showcase his talents on special teams.
For his efforts, Clark earned Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 1998.
“It let the coaches know that I could make plays,” Clark says. “Even though it wasn’t playing defense, they could see that I was going to play hard.”
Heading into Clark’s sophomore season, free safety Mark Roman was moved to cornerback, making room for Clark to start at safety.
“I knew that Mark Roman was freshman all-American when I came here,” Clark says. “I knew beforehand I would have to wait my turn. I was excited when they moved him. It worked out well for me.”
Excited about his chance to shine, Clark took full advantage.
He is a tenacious player with a feisty attitude and a knack for making big plays. He has a great ability to read an offense, and he pursues the ball as well as anyone.
Clark hauled in a huge interception in last year’s thrilling 38-31 win over Tennessee. The Volunteers tried a little razzle-dazzle with an end-around pass, but Clark never bit on the play and picked off the throw. It was one of the biggest plays of the game and helped push the Tigers past the Volunteers. Throughout Clark’s career at LSU, he has made a number of big plays.
“I guess I was just blessed with a lot of ability,” Clark says. “I’m in a good enough position to make a play, but not good enough position to make an easy play. A lot of it is just luck, too. Hopefully this year I can put myself in position to make a lot of big plays.”
Don’t be deceived by Clark’s size (5-11, 198) and assume that he is not a big hitter. Many opponents have had to learn this lesson the hard way.
“A lot of people look at my size and don’t think of me as a hitter,” Clark says. “Often running backs aren’t expecting me to hit them hard and they run straight at me, and that just makes it easier for me to hit them hard.”
Clark began hitting people hard at a young age thanks to his father, Michael.
“When I was little playing pee-wee football my Dad use to gave me $10 every time I made a big hit,” Clark explains. “When you’re little and you have that incentive, you begin trying to hit people hard at a young age.”
Without a doubt, Clark’s biggest legacy may be his vocal leadership. He can be heard yelling out defensive signals and words of encouragement to his teammates for 60 minutes every Saturday.
Whether it’s helping his teammates learn the game plan on Monday or making adjustments in the game on Saturday, Clark helps point his troops in the right direction seven days a week.
“I’ve always liked to talk,” Clark says. “My Dad talks a lot and my Mom talks a lot. I think it makes me a better player that I can communicate so well. I think it plays a big part of the position I play. If you have a quiet free safety or a quiet quarterback, that’s not good. You need somebody that’s able to be vocal and communicate. It’s also important that when somebody else makes a big play, that there be someone on the field jumping around congratulating him and getting everyone else excited.”
The Tigers look to Clark for leadership in all situations. He has been a part of ups and downs in his tenure at LSU. Through it all, he has gained the respect of his teammates and earned recognition as a great player.
“After those two losing seasons (1998 and ?99), it was hard,” Clark says. “But, I always knew there was hope for it to get better. It was a big turnaround that made me happy. It made me feel like I was part of something. I can know that I was a part of making LSU a winner.
“I get some praise from the media and I receive many accolades, but I still care about the team more than anything. It’s never about me. I don’t try to be a leader by fussing all the time. I just try to go out there and play hard every day and do a little extra. My teammates look at me and say, ?He’s been starting for three years, but he still works as hard as a walk-on.'”
As Clark has made his mark on LSU, the university has made its mark on Clark. He has been overwhelmed with the support of the faithful Tiger following.
“I will always remember the people here at LSU,” Clark says. “Football is important to everyone around here. We love the support we receive from the fans. I’ll never forget seeing thousands of students waiting over eight and nine hours in the heat for tickets the first week of school. Even when it started raining hard, no one left. Everyone stayed in line for tickets. That’s something I will never forget.”
Tiger Stadium, as it has for all LSU players, has left Clark at a loss for words when describing the feeling a player receives when stepping on the field.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to play defense in Tiger Stadium,” he explains. “It’s a spectacle. The whole time we’re out there the fans are screaming. If we are doing well, they’re cheering us on. If we’re not doing well, they yell because they want us to pick it up. When you make a big play, the stadium starts to shake and it just gets crazy.”
Meanwhile, the other half of this safety duo is coming off a team-leading eight-tackle performance against Utah State. Lionel Thomas may be LSU’s most improved player on defense from a year ago. He is playing with more confidence than he ever has before.
Unlike Clark, Thomas was not heavily recruited in high school. Heading into his senior year at Opelousas High School, Thomas attended the LSU football summer camp.
“I wasn’t recruited by anybody in high school,” Thomas explains. “I came to LSU football camp thinking maybe I can get noticed. I thought, if I do that’s great, if not, oh well. I was definitely not going to walk-on anywhere.”
Thomas gained some notice at camp and by week’s end found himself sitting in former head coach Gerry DiNardo’s office with a decision to ponder.
“I guess I turned some heads at camp, and the next thing I knew I was in DiNardo’s office and he was asking me to commit,” Thomas recalls. “I committed on the spot.”
Thomas decided to optimize his situation and work hard to prove that DiNardo had made the right decision in giving him a scholarship.
Thomas maintains one of the hardest work regimens on the team. He is extremely strong and possesses a muscular physique. He prides himself on being in shape, and his off-season workouts are what separate him from the average player.
“In the off-season, I spend a lot of time working out with my friends,” Thomas says. “We run hills and lift weights until we can’t feel our arms anymore. When I report for fall camp over here, I can handle it because I’m in shape. I always liked to work out.”
Thomas is one of LSU’s surest tacklers in the open field. Last year, he recorded 71 tackles, 42 unassisted. In the first two games on 2001, he has 11 tackles. When the Tigers face power running teams like Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama and Arkansas, his tackling ability will be imperative to LSU’s success in stopping the rushing attack.
Thomas has become more comfortable in head coach Nick Saban’s defense. Under DiNardo, Thomas played drop linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Playing strong safety fits Thomas’ abilities much better.
“I get to be in the open field, I get to make tackles, I’m in a position to make plays,” Thomas explains. “When I was a drop linebacker, I couldn’t play in the open field.”
Thomas has been a beneficiary of the success LSU football has enjoyed recently. His experience at LSU has been a rewarding one. The friends he has made and memories he will cherish are everlasting.
“I will always remember my teammates,” he says. “This team has some great chemistry. I love stepping out on the field with these guys and playing in front of 91,000 fans. “I think there is no better place to play. I’ve played in a lot of other stadiums and I don’t think any of them compare to Tiger Stadium.”