BATON ROUGE — LSU coach Les Miles is famous for his «Have a Great Day» speech that he made to reporters before the Southeastern Conference Championship Game of 2007.
That slogan is actually on the LSU equipment truck that travels from game to game and will be on its way to New Orleans this week for the BCS national championship game against Alabama a week from Monday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
There have been other speeches to people more dear to Miles, namely his team. For two weeks before the first LSU-Alabama game this season, Miles’ pregame speech from a previous season could be heard often on ESPN and various radio stations.
«It’s got to be done that way to the finish,» Miles yells to his players. «To the FINISH! Let’s go play for victory. That’s what we do.»
And moments before LSU-Alabama I last Nov. 5, Miles delivered another gem. It is called his «Bring the Wood» speech, and defensive tackle Michael Brockers will never forget it.
«That whole speech was very remarkable, and he kind of moved the whole team,» Brockers said. «He said just bring the wood every play. «
From Brockers and other LSU players and people associated with the program who heard Miles’ speech in person, it went a little like this:
«Alabama has a great big back … but we have big, great linebackers.
«They’ve got a great defense … but we have a great defense.
«They’ve got a terrific offensive line … but we have a fantastic defensive line.
«Alabama’s a great team … but we’re a great team, too.
«Everybody’s talking about Alabama like we don’t even exist. All summer we’ve heard that Alabama is just the greatest team. Well, we’re pretty good, too.
«And when you have the opportunity tonight to show them … you BRING THE WOOD.»
Those last three words had special significance for the Tigers, who charged out of the locker room. Just two days before as LSU was preparing to leave for Tuscaloosa, the entire team was equipped with mini, 18-inch real wooden bats, courtesy of LSU director of athletic training Jack Marucci, who makes bats for Major League Baseball players on the side.
Each bat had and inscription that said, «I am committed to bringing the wood.»
The No. 1 Tigers were not allowed to bring the bats on the plane for security reasons, but they still brought the wood, so to speak, in one of the more physical games in SEC history and beat the No. 2 Crimson Tide 9-6 in overtime in a touchdown-less game.
«We just brought the wood every play,» Brockers said. «Everybody really was talking like Alabama was this great team, and we weren’t even there. And we felt like, yeah, they’re good. But we’re good, too. And I felt like that was the biggest part of his message. «
And after the game, when the Tigers returned to their lockers beneath Bryant-Denny Stadium fresh from huge victory, each got a memento. Marucci had arranged for each player to have the same mini-bats in their lockers if they won the game.
«After we won, we went in the locker room, and there they were,» Brockers said. «It was awesome. It was just a great gift.»
. Then coach said we couldn’t bring them on the plane, but most of us still have them.»
Marucci, whose company Marucci Sports is No. 2 in the bat making business only to Louisville Slugger, and Miles came up with the idea.
«We were looking for a little something there, and Marucci kind of stepped forward,» Miles said over the weekend. «He was able to make bats for us out of the same wood that’s used by guys like Albert Pujols and right around 130 of the best hitters in the majors. So, frankly it was the right example.»
Miles does not plan to reveal what his motivational method will be for LSU-Bama II, but wood could be part of it. Either that or grass, which Miles loves to chew on during key points in games.
«Everybody has their responsibility within the team, and every guy has the opportunity to step to the plate,» Miles said. «You have to play smart. In other words, you just don’t swing. It has to be a strike. But when you have the opportunity to swing – you bring the wood. Something like that.»
Miles did not originate the «Bring The Wood» theme. Saints coach Sean Payton used it before the Saints opened the 2009 NFC playoffs against Arizona after three straight losses to end the regular season. Then-running back Reggie Bush ran onto the field with a single wooden bat. The Saints won 45-14.
«We were just tryiing to instill the intensity back,» Payton said Sunday after his team wiped out Carolina to finish the 2011 season at 13-3 with their eighth straight win.
It worked for Payton. The Saints never lost again in 2009, winning the Super Bowl.
«I didn’t know that,» Miles said of Payton’s ploy. «If I had known that, I certainly would’ve called him and asked permission.»
Marucci said «Bring The Wood 2011″ was more Miles’ idea than his.
«He talked to me about it, and I thought the bats and what he was thinking was the perfect marriage,» Marucci said. «The players really got a kick out of it. They loved it, and they were obviously very motivated.»
Brockers still has his.
«It symbolizes bringing the wood,» he said. «We’ve just got to do it again.
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