The Day After...

It is the Day After. The Day After Hell erupted for the LSU Nation. I went to the much anticipated game. The hype was unbeatable. LSU fans showed up and from my experiences were much louder than the Georgia fans. The activities that were arranged due to the SEC Championship game were numerous. Through all the tailgating, all the football activities, I kept thinking in the back of my mind about the fact that this Bulldog team was good. Georgia had 2 losses. One to the Gators because Shockley was out. The other, Auburn, resulted because the UGA defense couldn't make a play on 4th and 10. Once the game started the tension grew even greater inside the Georgia Dome. Going into the game, my friends and I knew that JaMarcus needed to put on a performance like he did against various teams during the course of the season. If he came out sloppy, then the crowd of UGA would become even more of a factor. I knew Georgia fans would outnumber LSU fans, but not 2:1. To get a delay of game, then a sack on our first offensive possession was not the way to start the game. JaMarcus was flat, but the score was still 0-0. That changed instantly once DJ Shockley nailed Sean Bailey for a long TD pass. To make matters worse, on the next possession JaMarcus threw an INT to a Bulldog. Not just any INT, an INT that made JaMarcus Russell come off to the United States of America as a quarterback with little experience. It immediately set the tone for the rest of the game. With the blink of an eye the Tigers were down 14-0 and Sean Bailey had 2 TDs. LSU didn't fall down. A long drive by the Tigers ended on a JaMarcus Russell QB sneak for 6 points. It was 14-7 and I was thinking LSU was back in this game. Our defense disappointed the LSU viewer once again as Georgia put up 6 more points. UGA 21 LSU 7. With under a minute left LSU was going to get the ball back and have a chance to do something right before halftime. For those of us who watched the game, that punt UGA booted was something I've never seen. On initial contact with the ground, the ball hit at the 1 yard line. You would think just like 99.999% of the time, the ball would roll into the endzone. Not today. The ball rolled back and was downed on about the 3 yard line. As I look back that punt play was a perfect picture of the day the Tigers had. After halftime the Tigers got the ball. LSU needed to score, something needed to be shown. Life was still there inside that Les Mile's football team. 3 and out. Georgia got the ball and BOOM! it's 24-7. I didn't give up then, but my thoughts of really winning dramatically decreased. To make matters even worse (it's possible) JaMarcus was injured. Number 4 had a nightmare of an evening for the first SEC Championship Game he started. When Matt Flynn came in the next series, the LSU fan was once again thinking that good things were going to happen. Sure it was 27-7 UGA, but we had Mr. Flynn under center now. (Hopefully he plays like Frank Reich.) Deep in our own territory Flynn threw an INT that was taken back for 6. All hope was officially shattered. Down 34-7, Les knew the Tigers had to score for pure dignity. LSU cut it 34-14, and then got an onsides kick. As silly as it was sounds, I still thought that the Tigers could pull out the amazing come from behind victory. Flynn was sacked on 4th and 10. Nevermind about that thought. Final score: UGA 34 LSU 14. It was a huge disappointment. The loss can't be thrown entirely on JaMarcus's shoulders. The WHOLE team looked bad. The defense and offense were both beat physically. Getting beat physically is the worst feeling because that's the point that every viewer knows you are at the mercy of your opponent's will. As lousy as LSU played, going to the Peach Bowl is still a raw deal. With only 2 losses you are telling me LSU is not good enough for a January bowl game? Wow. I don't know what to think or say. Nothing can be done. Though at least LSU is playing a very worthy opponent in Miami Florida. So many thoughts are racing through Tiger Nation. What happened? Are we that bad? What is going to happen on the 30th against the Hurricanes? All in all, my trip to Atlanta was enjoyable and fun, yet it ended in the way I only think is fitting for a nightmare. A nightmare were the Tigers of LSU were outplayed, outcoached, and flat out beaten by the Georgia Bulldogs. 34-14. Shivers are still shooting up my spine...