BATON ROUGE — A poll of the Southeastern Conference Sports Information Director’s conducted by the Birmingham News at the conclusion of spring practice has LSU picked to once again win the Western Division of the league in football.
Tennessee, the team LSU beat 31-20 last year in the SEC Championship game, was selected as the favorite to win the Eastern Division of the league.
LSU, who finished 10-3 overall and won the Western Division in 2001 with a 5-3 league mark, took five first place votes from the division’s six SID’s for 25 points, followed by Alabama with 16 points and Auburn 14 points. A SID could not vote for his school.
“That’s some high expectations,” LSU coach Nick Saban said. “I think we have a lot of pretty good players on the team. And the attitude of the team is pretty good. But the leadership helps you when things don’t go your way, and I think that’s still there to be challenged.”
Tennessee topped the Eastern Division with 22 points, followed by Florida with 21 points, Georgia with 19 points and South Carolina with 14 points.
In the overall poll of all 12 teams, Tennessee ranked first in the league with 109 points, followed by Florida with 103 points, Georgia (101 points), LSU (83 points), South Carolina (7 3 points), and Alabama (69 points). Rounding out the bottom six were Auburn (62 points), Arkansas (55 points), Ole Miss (52 points), Mississippi State (36 points), Kentucky (17 points) and Vanderbilt (16 points).
The Tigers had two players earn First Team Pre-Season All-SEC honors in running back LaBrandon Toefield and linebacker Bradie James. Last year, Toefield rushed for 992 yards and an SEC record tying 19 touchdowns, while James finished with 113 tackles and three sacks.
Wide receiver Michael Clayton and defensive tackle Chad Lavalais were both Second Team All-SEC picks. In 2001, Clayton ranked second on the squad with 47 catches for 754 yards and six touchdowns. Lavalais had 53 tackles, including five for losses.
In the 2002 Best of the SEC voting, LSU’s James was voted as the league’s top inside linebacker, while Toefield was named the SEC’s top running back. LSU’s Domanick Davis was the runner-up for the league’s most versatile selection.
LSU opens its 2002 season on Sunday, Sept. 1 against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.
2002 Birmingham News Preseason SEC Football Poll
Eastern Division
Team Points
1. Tennessee 22
2. Florida 21
3. Georgia 19
4. South Carolina 14
5. Kentucky 8
6. Vanderbilt 6
Western Division
Team Points
1. LSU 25
2. Alabama 16
3. Auburn 14
4t. Arkansas 13
4t. Ole Miss 13
6. Miss. State 8