By GEORGE MAHL

Sports Editor

GARYVILLE – It was truly a magical season for the LSU Tiger football team and their fans. One of the players that was a part of that team was former East St. John defensive player Kirston Pittman. The Tiger Freshman is currently home in Garyville working out and preparing for the 2004 season and a defense of the Tigers National Championship.

“I just completed summer school and have been working out at home. Everything is good these days,” he said.

The highlight of the season for Pittman, who played in 13 games this year, and the rest of the Tigers was a hard-fought 21-14 victory over Oklahoma in the National Championship on January 4. Pittman said it all started with God.

“I would say God looked down upon us this year. He enabled us to win.”

This was a team, according to Pittman, that had no-selfishness and blended together on and off the field.

“No one on this team wanted the spotlight.”

Before attending LSU, Pittman racked up an impressive resume.

He was ranked 26th as a defensive lineman by College Football News and was ranked fifth by Rivals.com as an outside linebacker. He also made the Baton Rouge Advocate’s Super Dozen list.

Going into the National Championship, many college football fans were upset that the Tigers were playing Oklahoma, which had lost badly to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game, instead of Southern California. Pittman predicted the same result would have happened had they played USC.

“We basically saw the National Championship as another game,” he said.

“If we had played USC after the Sugar Bowl, I think we still could have beaten them. We were in full stride and brought too much to the table. I do not think USC could have competed.”

In 2003, he recorded 15 tackles (six solo and nine assisted), two of which were for losses, two sacks, two breakups and 17 quarterback hurries.

“I was happy with my individual performance, but felt that I could have done better,” Pittman said.

A member of the 2002 All-L’Observateur Dream Team, Pittman said he enjoyed playing for a defensive minded coach like Nick Saban.

“He (Saban) always puts you in position to make a play. He has a mastermind for defense.”

Overall, Pittman described Saban as a “great man”.

Interestingly enough, two of Pittman’s closest teammates are players he played against in high school, safety LaRon Landry and running back Alley Broussard. Landry attended Hahnville and Broussard went to Acadiana.

“LaRon had an amazing season. To lead the team in tackles as a freshman is incredible. He did so much for us.”

See Pittman page 7

See Pittman page 7