USD Football 1996

COVER STORY _____BOR ON THE AFTER

YEARS OF SILENCE, GERRY

DINARDO HAS GIVEN LSU FANS REASON TO SHOUT AGAIN. F rom six straight losing seasons to 7-4-1 to the pi ck to win th e So utheaste rn Confe re nce West. Ge rr y Di ard o was n o t around for the most extended football famine in Louisiana State University history. He checked in prio r to last season, sho rtly after his Vanderbil t team had taken a 65-0 hit from Tennessee in tl1e 1994 regula1·-season finale, and , here he is, in his second year as coach of th e Figh tin g Tigers, being told LSU will win tl1e West. DiNardo smiles. "I don't worry about anything I can't control," he says in 1·eference to media cr ystal-ba llin g. "Win o r lose, tl1ere 's always going to be a chal– le nge out the re. A coach 's job i to handle it. " So far, so good, say fam ished Tigers fans about tl1ej ob done by

CONTINUED

BY PETEil FINNEY

Strike up the band: LSU's football famine appears to be history.