It's not the loss that hurts, it's the performance...

I agree whole heartedly with your take. I too can handle the loss but the way it happened was an awful pill to swallow. Unfortunately we'll never really know what happened with the decision makers on the sidelines. All we will get is coach speak and talking in circles like a politician. Glad it is finally over. Geaux Tigers. See ya in thespring!

 

There was plenty of blame to go around, mostly on offense (especially the game planners). Guess perspective is not a requirement for bandwagoners. The loss hurts but my guess is you'll live.

 

My sentiments exactly. I could have accepted a loss had LSU actually showed up. The players were flat, I think they felt entitlement and were too confident. THe gameplan stunk, plus no adjustments. If LSU plays is best and loses Im happy and accepting. But this loss leaves a sour taste. As HC I put most of it on Miles for the illpreparation and lack of adjustments. The players have their part as well, but its more on the HC.

 

We know...hog fans have never seen a championship game PERIOD.

 

The powers that be gave up at some point in the game. One thing that's eating at me is that they finished the second half with 2 timeouts remaining. They didn't truly try to win; they just wanted to keep the point margin respectable.

 

The saddest thing was that I felt nothing as they lost. The only other time I felt like that towards sports was last year when the Lakers were swept by the Mavs. They played so horribly and flat, that by the third quarter, I lost all emotional connection to the game. This is what happened last night. I was so hyped up for this game and for it to go down like that, was hard. I felt sadness for the defensive players, defensive coaches, the seniors, and all the LSU fans. I did not feel any sadness over the loss. It was like the horrible play sucked all the emotions out of me. I still can't believe that they played like that. Geaux Tigers!

 

Man .. I don't know.

Last nights game was completely a failure in coaching. It makes me wonder ......

Is Miles really a good coach ... OR ... did LSU get by this year with a great Chavis Defense and some super athletes on offense who were able to do enough to win??

I'm not so sure that Miles IS a great coach. A great coach would not have created the QB controversy that he did .. and most certainly wouldn't have left a struggling QB in the game to be embarrased on National TV in front of millions of people. [in a way ... I kinda feel for JJ ... last night was like having his pants pulled down on national tv showing he wasn't wearing any underwear ... and it weren't impressive]

I'm kinda worried for Mett next year. He's definitely got the talent, but with play calling like last night, and a game plan like last night, and all the drama of the last 4 years ... I'm not sure that all of his talent will be maximized. That is clearly a coaching weakness ... not a player weakness.

 

Without doubt it is perplexing as to why the Tigers were THAT bad. I have no answers. Nor can I lay it on the coaching with any certainty. Look at all the lopsided Superbowls through the ages. One great team, more often than not, lays an egg and its not the coaching. Something about the pressure, the big stage...who knows. But it happens a lot. If they played again next week, the outcome could be reversed.

A truly great NFL dynasty doesnt get tricky or try to mix up the playbook or even hide their gameplan. You know exactly what they are going to do...but it doesnt help the other team stop it. Maybe Les was thinking "we are going to run the ball down your throats and there is nothing you can do to stop us."

 

I feel as though the plan was straight option, based on the Nov 5th game and the subsequent Bama/GA Southern game, during which Bama gave up 320+ yds rushing and 21 pts.

That said, when you go 'all in' with that plan, and only one QB that runs it, (albeit not very effectively), if it doesn't work or he's off or both, you're DONE.

Bama schemed perfectly for it as if they KNEW what we were doing, and then it was over. When you install that kind of game plan, there is no "let's put JL in or Mett in and run our regular offense". Hell, apparently they spent 5 weeks working on this thing. JL hasn't played in two months in that "regular offense".

They just had to continue with that plan, and it sucked.

 

At the end of the day, we are all human beings.

If you think it stings to be a fan. Imagine being Les Miles. He knows that he is responsible. Everyone goes through ups and downs, and life lessons. I believe that this type of embarrassment will make him a better coach. Hey. Saban isn't flawless. If he was, he'd have 12 titles, instead of 3. Miles got out coached, and underprepared his team.

If you can't sleep, imagine how he feels. Nothing is better than learning the hard way. And the best thing is, we see Bama every year. Miles and staff know, if they don't adjust, and open it up, then we are doomed to fail. We may have gotten a little cocky with our back to back victories. If overconfidence was the case, then this was a butt kicking well deserved.

I am in the same boat with the original poster. I really felt as if I was in the twilight zone as I was watching the game. I have nothing more to say on that because visually imagining what I witnessed on the field brings about an instant headache.

This why I am all about given congrats to the Tide, and moving forward. You'd have to be blind and out of your mind to not realize that Les is playing with a stacked deck.
In my honest opinion, the next 2 BCS titles or ours (and if not for him believing in a terrible QB, he would have had this one).

With the news that this thing could go to a playoff as soon as 2014, we could win one every year, and face Saban and the Tide religiously. I love it! And wouldn't have it any other way.

P.S.

I (like many), have the great fortune of being an LSU grad, who was born and raised in New Orleans. Not only do I bleed purple and gold, but I'm also black and gold to the bone.

If you are a die hard Saints fan, you've seen Sean Payton mature as a coach and play caller. In Sean Payton's previous history, the Saints would blow many games, because the coach was too pass happy of a play caller. And after the games he would admit that we needed more balance. In 09, we had balance, and won the Super Bowl. This year, we have balance, and or setting every offensive record known to man.

Point being, Les hasn't seemed to have any clock management problems this year (though our games weren't close enough to call for a time crisis) and he has done better overall. He's began to infuse the younger, more talented players, which he didn't use to do early in his LSU career. So, hopefully, this but kicking, was the last thing he needed to push him over the edge to where he needs to be as a coach.

But if this one loss wants some to get the man fired, then, it speaks volume for there lack of understanding of what it takes to win one football games, let alone 13. I'm certain than more than 100 FBS coaches would take a 13-1 SEC championship season, with an appearance in the national championship game every year, every month, every day, 10 times out of 10.

And we all know, that deep down in our hearts, that there was know way in hell, that the football gods would let it be factual, that "the greatest team" in college football history, be quarterbacked by Jordan Jefferson. Come on, now, we have to be honest, now that it is all said and done, would that reality have ever made since. It make me laugh every time I consider it. It just wasn't meant to be. We know this now because it isn't.

Life is to short and sweet to complain about the trivial, when you can smile and laugh about all that is.

So, I mean really. Imagine a world where kids grew up being told that the greatest college football team ever, was led by (insert your favorite image of) Starting QB, Jordan Jefferson. That is a world that just could not be.

In my opinion.
Things are as they are supposed to be.

Saban got his 3rd. He is a great coach, and we all know it.

LSU was put on the map big time: Awards and national coverage out of the wazoo.

Our Team experienced the highest of highs. 13-0

And the lowest of the lows on January 9th. It's kinda like being blown out in the Super Bowl. How do you hate a team, or discredit a coach that made it to the super bowl. That's why the original post is so dead on. It wasn't the loss. It was the performance.

With still another great recruiting class. The sky isn't falling, it's getting bluer.
Did Miles' team get better? Yes. From 11-2, to 13-1.
Did Miles win his conference? Yes. Undisputed SEC champions.

Imagine a coach as intense as Les Miles is, looking in the mirror and knowing, that his only thing left to do as a coach is run the table. Feeling that if he doesn't run the table, he has let his team down.
What makes this a dangerous motivating factor for the rest of the football world is this.
Les Miles has all the tools necessary to do exactly that. Run the table, run back down the table, and run it again!

We all know, come Spring Game, Jan 9th will be a distant memory.
And come September 1, those Tigers are going to be strapped up and angry.
With a gunslinger at QB and an eye on Nov. 3rd.
If you thought this season was a great one, the party is just getting started.

Geaux Tigers!!!