Former Lion will have front-row seat

By By Richard Dark / EMG staff writer
Jan. 4, 2003
NEW ORLEANS To be sure, these are very evenly matched squads. LSU has four All-Americans, while Oklahoma boasts five. The productions on both sides of the ball are very similar. The nuances have been well documented since the Nokia Sugar Bowl matchup was set four weeks ago.
But tonight, like the rest of us, former East Mississippi Community College linebacker Kenneth Hollis will strictly be an observer. He isn't in that group of marquee players or All-Americans, at least, not yet.
Hollis in his first season at LSU, a redshirt year, will be on the sidelines in the Louisiana Superdome when the Tigers take on the Sooners in an attempt to win their first National Championship since 1958.
It has been a whirlwind week no doubt, for both teams that have to deal with the distractions of playing in the BCS title bowl to doing so in one of the biggest party cities in the country to dealing with another team out west trying to steal the thunder of all of it. But Hollis, who figures to be the one to step up and claim the mantle from seniors such as Lionel Turner and Eric Alexander, wouldn't change a thing.
Hollis said he spoke to former EMCC coach Tom Goode just before the SEC title game. Goode, who completed his final season as Lions' coach, gave Hollis some words of encouragement, telling him to continue to soak in everything he is experiencing during this run.
Under Goode, Hollis became an MJCAA All-State Selection and All-Region performer, tallying 104 tackles during sophomore season, to go with four sacks. LSU's current defensive middle, charged with the task of slowing down OU's Heisman Trophy quarterback Jason White are all in agreement Hollis will be able to do a capable job of picking up where they leave off tonight.
Hollis isn't the only player with Mississippi ties that will be doing plenty of towel waving on the floor of the Dome. Centreville's Will Arnold an offensive lineman, D'Iberville native and freshman defensive tackle Sean Merrill and senior center Jimmy Courtney, a transfer from Ole Miss, will also be in the cheering section.
One who won't is All-American guard Stephen Peterman from Waveland. Peterman has the difficult task of keeping Oklahoma's defensive front his quarterback Matt Mauck.
And if they do beat this team and win the mythical crown?