Ohio State may boast the team that is ranked number one in the nation, but I don't think there's any question that the nation's best team hails from Baton Rouge. It is virtually impossible to go undefeated in today's SEC. In fact, it hasn't been done since Auburn took home the division crown in 2004. The competition is simply too tough. Even last year's national champion Florida Gators, who manhandled Ohio State (also undefeated at the time) in the national championship game, couldn't escape the regular season unscathed. This trend has continued in 2007, as an undefeated team is nowhere to be found in the SEC standings. However, atop those standings, with a record of 5-1 (8-1 overall) you will find the LSU Tigers.
This season has been one unlike any other in college football history. Never before have so many dark horses emerged (Kansas, UCONN, South Florida, Oregon, etc.). Never before have so many pre-season giants turned out to be nothing more than paper champions (USC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Arkansas.....) However, the one team that has turned out to be exactly WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY WERE is LSU. Despite their one OT loss on the road at Kentucky (again, you can't go undefeated in this conference. The teams are just too good), this team has proven that they have all of the intangibles of a championship team. They have been tested every single week, facing six ranked teams and several others who are right on the cusp of cracking the top 25. They have taken knockout blow after knockout blow from powerhouse teams like Florida, Auburn, and Alabama and still found ways to come away victorious. We've known since before the season began about all of the speed, strength, and playmaking ability this team has on both sides of the ball. However, what we didn't know was how much resolve and moxie this team plays with every week. These championship qualities were never quite so evident as they were on Saturday evening in Tuscaloosa.
Saturday night's game was one of the most exciting in all of college football this season. As the game progressed, I couldn't help but be reminded of LSU's Saturday night game against Florida just about a month before. This had been the game in which LSU had, at least to me, clearly separated themselves from the rest of the teams in the nation. Tim Tebow had this team with their back to the wall several times, and they never showed the slightest hint of panic or frustration. However, things were going to be a little more hairy on Saturday night. The Tigers were playing before a hostile crowd of over 90,000 people. Across the way from them stood Nick Saban, who coached LSU to its last national title and has been the source of a great deal of controversy within the state of Louisiana since leaving to coach the Miami Dolphins only to return to the SEC two years later. Saban also has his own painted bus, which makes him a douchebag. The Tigers found themselves up by two touchdowns early, but faltered and were down three going into the half. LSU trailed by ten heading towards the end of the third quarter before a 61-yd toucdown put them within three.
The Tigers tied the game early in the fourth quarter but gave up a 61 yard punt return to Javier Arenas with seven and a half minutes left in the game. This should have been the backbreaker. Sitting there, watching the game, I said "that's it, game over." This would have been a loss for any other team in the nation. After surrendering a comfortable lead early, you claw your way back into the game, but give up a huge special teams touchdown late that proves to be the difference maker. The momentum was all in Alabama's favor after this play, as it had been for much of the time since the mid-way point of the second quarter. However, what LSU has shown us this year, both against Florida and against Alabama on Saturday, is that they don't feel these shifts in momentum. They play the same way from start to finish regardless of the situation. It's the same way the New England Patriots played yesterday at Indianapolis after Gary Brackett's interception. Everyone, including the Colts, felt the momentum shift had reached the tipping point. But, the Patriots kept playing and came away with a win (now please, let's not ever discuss that again). The Tigers rallied to score two touchdowns in the last three minutes and came away with a huge road win. The final touchdown of the game, a 1-yard run by Jacob Hester, was reminiscent of the way LSU sealed their victory four weeks ago against Florida.
The Tigers are only getting better as the season goes on. Having star wideout Early Doucet (2 TDs against Alabama) back from injury will only make their offense more dangerous. Frankly, I can't see them losing again. If this team meets the Buckeyes in the national championship game, you can expect a game very similar to last year's blowout. As football fans, our only hope is that Michigan knocks off Ohio State in week 12 and opens up the door for a LSU-Oregon or an LSU-Oklahoma matchup. Both of these would be much better games, but I expect both to have the same outcome. This LSU team has been pushed to the limit on several occasions this season, and they will draw on those experiences as we enter the bowl season.
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