The verdict was still out on Gus Tinsley going into 1951. He had perhaps the worst season in LSU history not involving Curley Hallman in 1948, then rebounded with maybe the most magical season in LSU history in 1949. Then he gave LSU near total mediocrity in 1950.
So… was Gus Tinsley a good coach or not? No one really knew, but the natives were starting to get restless. The 1951 campaign would go a long way to either silencing his critics or proving them right.
Give the 1951 team credit: they had personality. Leroy Labat, the team’s leading rusher, adopted the moniker the Black Stallion.