Experts weigh in on how the offseason will affect LSU’s future

College football and Wall Street have more in common than just the hoards of money at stake these days.

Both are chaotic institutions susceptible to rapid changes in fortune, and the power players in each arena are under a persistently stressful spotlight.

While the stock market is mostly controlled by governments and CEOs, the fate of college football powerhouses ultimately rests in the actions of the talented but often immature 18- to 22-year-olds.

After years of relatively few scandals, the LSU football program recently learned that lesson in a big way, as everything from conference realignment talks to self-reported NCAA issues swirled around coach Les Miles and company throughout the summer.

But the off-field issues have remained just that — off the field. However, the Shady's Bar brawl and Russell Shepard's suspension will finally affect the Tigers between the lines with senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson and Shepard out indefinitely.

Two national titles and five 10+ win seasons in the last eight years have put LSU football squarely among the nation's elite.

But with a summer of controversy surrounding the Tigers, where does that leave LSU's current stock as one of the program's prime-time moments — a season-opening showdown against Oregon in Dallas — quickly approaches?

Barrett Sallee, SEC columnist for College Football News, said LSU is too entrenched among college football's best for a bar fight or minor NCAA violations to hurt the program's stock permanently.

"They're a top team in the SEC, which by virtue makes them a top-tier program in the country," Sallee said. "I don't think a bad year here or there, even if they falter this year, knocks them from that spot."

ESPN.com writer Pat Forde said LSU's issues are "more than minor" but hardly damning considering the massive scandals at Miami and Ohio State in recent months.

"I don't believe [the bar fight and the recruiting violations at LSU] are the worst things to come out of this summer by any stretch, but it's still a black eye for the program," he said. "Two weeks before the season, that's a distraction you can't have."

Forde said he doesn't think the loss of Jefferson will derail LSU's season since quarterback play was not likely to make or break the team's title hopes. Nevertheless, he indicated expectations around the country for LSU have been downgraded.

"Even though Jefferson isn't a great player, it's still a big deal because you're talking about a felony charge for the starting quarterback of a top-five team," Forde said. "I had them No. 1 in my preseason rankings, and I think I'd want that pick back now."

While Sallee said he agrees with adjusting expectations for this season, he still sees LSU as one of college football's premier teams for the next several years.

"Overall, LSU is a perennial top-10 program and always in the national discussion," Sallee said. "The expectations for LSU is that they need to win a national championship in the next five years. I think that's reasonable and will happen."

At his weekly luncheon on Monday, Miles said he doesn't feel LSU will fall from its elite status anytime soon.

"I don't think that, over time, our reputation is changed significantly," said Miles, who is entering his seventh season in Baton Rouge. "The body of work that has been done here is good, and people will realize this is still a quality team."

CBSSports.com college football writer Dennis Dodd said much of the media likes Miles, which has shaped reaction to LSU's inauspicious time in the national limelight.

"The perception out there is that these players did him wrong by getting into trouble like this," Dodd said. "Les has stood behind Jefferson, really put a lot of faith in him, and it all fell apart. Still though, I don't think anyone has LSU pegged as a renegade program."

Both Forde and Sallee said no major football program runs completely within NCAA limitations, including LSU, but neither believes the program has a particularly dirty reputation.

Sallee said the national view of LSU football is usually tied to Miles and his eccentric personality, sometimes to the Tigers' detriment.

"I think people associate LSU with its coach, Les Miles, for better or worse," Sallee said. "Regionally and nationally, he can have this perception of being a little aloof. But he's a fantastic coach."

BayouBengalInsider.com publisher Derek Ponamksy said neither the Willie Lyles association nor the Shady's arrests will hurt the Tigers on the recruiting trail.