The Unthinkable is Now a Reality: Part 5 (of 9)

October 20
#18 Auburn

Following a tough Kentucky loss, LSU had no time to mourn as Auburn was coming into Tiger Stadium. Auburn was a team coming in with 2 losses, both early in the season. Tuberville's crew was definitely underrated. More importantly no one on the Auburn squad was the least bit worried to be playing in Tiger Stadium. They were (quote), "looking forward to it."

Again, much like the Florida game, LSU got jumped on right from the get-go. LSU was fortunate to not trail 14-0 when it was 10-0. I will admit I thought LSU had pushed their luck too far this time.

Again down 17-7 at the half?! It was too much gambling. LSU was going to pay the price for playing lousy first half football.

Then again just like clockwork the Tigers rallied in the second half. Slowly the Bayou Bengals chipped away at an Auburn lead. With 2 field goals LSU trailed by the score of 17-13, but as a fan this was aggravating as LSU was missing opportunities in the red zone too often.

After some gutsy play calling on fourth down and a tremendous endzone dive by Jacob Hester, LSU took a 20-17 lead. The Bengals were in control.

Then Auburn gave it back to LSU who was driving in for the kill. Les opted not to go for a 4th and 1 when up 20-17. A touchdown would of sealed it, but a field goal helped.

23-17, Auburn was 83 yards away. The defense was playing stellar.

Key word: was.

Auburn drove the field and scored a TD that stun Tiger Nation. 24-23. LSU was on it's heels, but like he's done time and time again. Matt Flynn drove that LSU squad down the field like time was an irrelevant issue.

Play after play, tick after tick, LSU drove down the field methodically for the game-winning field goal...

Then the clock began to really tick. Under 20 seconds. LSU needs to call a timeout! 8 seconds! In a moment I'll never forget, Flynn called hike and threw one in the corner of the end zone for the Byrdman.

Absolutely incredible catch. Single most exciting play I've ever witnessed in my LSU football viewing days.

Final: 30 Tigers 24 Plainsmen/Tigers/War Eagles/Choose a Mascot!

Play of the Game: It was a hell of a gutsy call. I hear a lot of criticism on Les making that decision, but please we all know more than 1 second should of remained on the clock. Nonetheless, Matt Flynn's perfect throw was only half of that play. Demetrius "Birdman" Byrd had to make a play around the cornerback of Auburn who was all over him. Byrd caught that ball with one hand!

Note: I do not have too kind of feelings for Chaz Ramsey, the offensive lineman responsible for the cheap shot chop block on Glen Dorsey. That move could of ended Dorsey's career, but what it did do was greatly hinder Dorsey for the rest of the season. Dorsey was not near 100% until the Ohio State game.

Karma works it's way around. Ramsey will get his sentence.

The Unthinkable is Now a Reality: Part 4 (of 9)

October 13
#17 Kentucky

Several months have gone by since LSU lost this heartbreaker in Lexington. Several months and the loss still stings. The thing that hurts so much about this game was the fact LSU had Kentucky beat. LSU was up 24-14, Tigers were in control and looking to put the game away, until a missed opportunity took place that changed the entire game.

It was 3rd down deep in Wildcat territory. The ball was thrown in the back of endzone into the hands of Zinger for a sure touchd...wait no.

Incomplete. Zinger dropped it. LSU kicks a field goal to increase it's lead 27-14.

The instant Zinger dropped that TD the game changed 180 degrees. Kentucky went on a surge of scoring and LSU was fortunate to go into overtime.

That was until they barely missed a 57-yard field goal to win the game. I know what your thinking, "Come on there is no such thing as a 57-yard field goal barely being missed."

Well it was. A little more to the right at LSU would of left Lexington with a W. That didn't happen as we know, instead overtime came about.

I have to tip my hat (even though I do not wear a hat) to Andre Woodson and his incredible performance. He kept LSU's D off balance all night. And for the first time this game seemed to be a sign that maybe LSU's D was a little overhyped at the beginning of the season.


Some questionable referee calls did take place, but that did not take away from the fact that the Wildcats seemed to be cutting through the LSU defense like a hot knife through butter. Had Kentucky's kicker missed a field goal from 47 yards out in the second overtime; LSU wins.


After Kentucky went up 43-37 in the third overtime, I alreadyw as planning on the Tigers scoring. Making that two-point conversion was my biggest concern. I obviously jumped the gun as LSU ran the ball four straight plays and just like that the Bengals had loss numero uno on the season.


I was disappointed with Miles playcalling on that drive. Four straight run calls? What?

Play of the Game: There was not specific play that jumps out because LSU lost the game. But if I had to choose something it would be Charles Scott's 55-yard run in the first quarter. Scott is such a bruising back because he gets his body down so low when running. He'll be a joy to watch in the coming years.

The Unthinkable is Now a Reality: Part 3 (of 9)

October 6
#9 Florida

This game could of easily been called the Game of the Century had Florida not lost to Auburn the previous week 20-17, nonetheless I still think the game lived up to the hype. Urban Meyer had never lost 2 consecutive games while at Florida. Could LSU beat an even more pumped up Florida team on what would become the biggest crowd in Tiger Stadium history? Gameday was present so the magnitude of this game was beyond comprehension. Florida jumped on LSU early. The Tigers did not have Early Doucet who was out with an injury. That was huge considering LSU missed some early first downs that lead to Tebow immediately getting the ball back. LSU was down 10-0 before fans could get into their seats. Late in the second quarter Tebow rushed into the end zone to put the score at 17-7 Florida. LSU would drive down the field and missed a crucial 43-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

During that first half I can specifically remember talking to my friends how Tim Tebow just won the Heisman by the way he played in the first 30 minutes of the game. He was deadly in the pocket and even more dangerous when running. No one ever tackled #15 on their first try. He was picking LSU apart.

Tebow's "Call Me" Gesture Back Story: For those of you who watched the game I am sure you saw Tebow make the gesture of "call me" to the LSU Student Section. Allow me to give you some details on the whole story. Facebook is a social networking website many college students use. Tim Tebow used his username and wrote a comment on a Florida girl's Facebook page. After leaving his comment Tebow left his phone number as well.

And as you might guess someone found out about him putting his number on this girl's Facebook page and just like that LSU Faithful were calling up Tebow and leaving intense trash-talking messages. Tebow was simply playing along when he taunted the student section, which is perfectly fine.

But there was one problem.

Do not taunt an opposing team's student section then cry after the game. I am sorry, but you would not tease a person and then cry if they teased you back.

Best quote following the game against Florida: "Tim Tebow drinks milk on Fridays, I think drink his tears on Saturday."

In the second half LSU got the ball right off the bat to march down and cut the score to a margin of 17-14, but before the offense could rest Tebow found an absolutely wide-open Gator.

24-14. Gulp and the 4th quarter was upon us.

In the 4th quarter LSU cut the lead to 3 when Lesticles opted to go for it on 4th down inside the Florida 5. Perrilloux to the Byrdman.

24-21. Hope was still alive.

LSU would get the ball back with about 8:30 left in the game. LSU would end up scoring a TD on a drive that took over 8 minutes. Incredible. 2 for 2 on 4th down the Tigers were on that drive. The one at midfield and the one deep in Gator territory. Both were because of amazing second efforts by Jacob Hester. When Hester finally did get into the end zone on 3rd and Goal, I think my heart stopped.

I am sure I was not the only one who experienced that.

This was the single most nerve-racking game I have ever experienced in Tiger Stadium. When it was announced USC had lost to Stanford the place went nuts. So nuts the decibels in the student section reached 129.8, close to a jet engine (130). After the game, Lee Corso talked about how that game had everything you want in an epic college football showdown. The home team was trailing, field goals where missed, big turnovers happened, gutsy fourth downs were called, and a dramatic come from behind win was lead by the Tigers.

It seems like so long ago when that game happened but just to get that feeling back I had in that stadium after LSU pulled off the impossible, wow, it was just indescribable.

It is what Tiger Stadium is all about.

I still get goosebumps thinking how LSU was down by 10 with 10 minutes remaining and they hung together and pulled out the victory when all hope seemed lost.

Play of the Game: Again, many plays took place in that game for the Tigers that I could claim as the "Play of the Game." The one that sticks out the most was the final of the five fourth downs LSU converted. Tigers could of kicked a field goal to tie the game, but Les Miles wanted the win. On 4th and 1 deep in Gator territory LSU went for it. It looked like Hester got stopped in the backfield and in the student section I was sure he did, but in a last ditch effort #18 dove and just made the first down. Unbelievable.

As painful as it is to remember, the next game I will talk about will be the heartbreaking loss at Kentucky in triple overtime...

The Unthinkable is Now a Reality: Part 2 (of 9)

September 22
#12 South Carolina

Through their first 3 games LSU had outscored its opponents 137-7. The South Carolina team coming into Baton Rouge resembled the biggest sleeper in the SEC. Spurrier was getting into his groove their; a coming out party was a possibly for the Gamecocks and all of Tiger Nation knew it. LSU's speed was hindered by the monsoon that took place throughout the game. Opening drive South Carolina went down the field to go up 7-0. Tiger Nation was watching for the first time all season LSU trailing in a game.

Trailing 7-0, Flynn and Co. did not hesitate to regain the lead. Behind a spectacular run by Trindon Holliday, LSU tied the score at 7 a piece. Holliday finished the night with a season high of 77 yards rushing. With the score 14-7 right before the half LSU brough out the field goal team, but as we all know the lovable fake field goal was pulled. Flawless it ran, and dazzling it was to watch. With a 21-7 lead at the half LSU was in control.

The second half remained no trouble for LSU who ran the score up 28-7 before sending Spurrier & Co. home with a 28-16 loss.

Play of the Game: Without a question Colt David's fake field goal touchdown run. I was disappointed when LSU failed on getting a first down on third down. LSU would get a field goal (I thought) and go up 17-7 at the half. Okay, but LSU needed to put this thing away. I have to give credit to my friend Marica. Prior to the amazing touchdown she told me, "They are going to fake it." I was in the state of shock when they a) actually faked it and b) ran it so smoothly.

The Tigers' win over South Carolina was a big victory, but it does not hold a candle to the magic LSU pulled off against the Florida Gators on October 6.

Up next, the game that ended with the most thrilling fourth quarter in LSU football history!....

The Unthinkable is Now a Reality: Part 1 (of 9)

I still time and time again find myself in disbelief and shock that LSU actually won the BCS National Championship. Don't get me wrong, I hoped for the Tigers to reach the Promised Land the entire season, but when they finally got their it literally left me speechless in the Superdome that evening on January 7. I mean when LSU had officially won that game I thought to myself, "Is this really going on?"


It was.


The Year of the Upset may be over in college football, but its memories do not have to die. There were 9 games LSU played in that where anything but sane. Each game I will relive on my blog and in doing so I will let you know exactly what was going on in my head on those days. Think of this as a 9-part television series.

Enjoy.

September 8
#9 Virginia Tech

LSU had just shutout the Mississippi State Bulldogs 45-0 earlier the week before. That win was good, but nothing special. The VTech game would be a measuring stick on how good the Tigers would be this year. I remembered LSU getting humilated in Blacksburg in 2002 by the score of 26-8. I remember thinking an LSU win would not be easy because the Hokies carried an impressive 11 man defense. Another side note was that the nation would be rooting heavily for VTech as the university would be playing in its first football game since the tragic April school shootings.

LSU didn't play a better game than they did on this Saturday night. Alongside my younger brother and good friend, we watched LSU jump on VTech right from the get-go. Before the Beamer's Boys could catch their breath they trailed 24-0. The final was 48-7, a score that could of been much worse had LSU not put in their second team so early in the fourth quarter.


Following the game, talk about a National Title erupted in Baton Rouge, but for me that didn't catch my attention too much; it was only September.


Play of the Game: Keiland Williams embarrassed the entire Hokies' defense on a 67 yard touchdown run. The thrilling back finished the day with 127 yards on 7 carries with 2 touchdowns.

Up next remembering the September 22nd showdown on the Bayou between LSU and the 12th ranked South Carolina Gamecocks...