LSU owes Bianco

The first thank-you note LSU baseball coach Smoke Laval should sit down and write needs to go to Oxford, Miss., and Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco.

Because Bianco had his team fired up and ready to play Saturday, the Tigers are going to the SEC Tournament. Had the Rebels come out flat against Mississippi State on Saturday, LSU would be sitting at home wondering about its NCAA Tournament chances for a week.

Instead, Bianco's Rebels jumped on the Bulldogs and held on, eliminating their most bitter rival. So Tiger Nation, time to thank Bianco, a former LSU player, for saving your baseball season.