Midfield behavior - helmet to helmet hit on Tuitama

First and foremost - that was a good old fashioned a$$ kicking and as an Arizona fan, very humbling. I have been careful to be very respectful of the significant challenge we faced yesterday - limiting my bravado to predicting a competitive, 10 point loss. All I can say is, WOW!

I'm disapointed to hear about the teams behavior at midfield before the game - there's a fine line between good natured competitive posturing - and disrespect. I'm sad that at such a early stage in the rebuilding of our program that we would have done something so arguably stupid. To the extent it *did* rile up LSU I would think we learned a good lesson from it.

My question: Do you honestly believe - as I have seen written on various LSU boards - that the helmet to helmet hit on Tuitama was "payback" for the disrespect? I personally hope it was not - and believe that it was an adrenaline induced agressive hit. I have no question that it was a "statement" hit - but it may have been a bit borderline if the helmet part was intentional.

Also - are LSU fans buying the concussion excuse out of Arizona on Tuitama? I'm skeptical - as it sounds a bit like a way to provide cover to a young QB to deflect criticism that could impact his confidence. The hit was massive though - and the helmet to helmet contact decked Tuitama extremely hard to the turf, so it's certainly possible (and why that kind of hit is so dangerous and crosses a line if intentional).

Please paste Auburn next week... you guys were fun to watch (when the non-Arizona fan in me allowed me to watch objectively.)

SeaAZCat

 

I think that the hit was a statement hit as to how LSU wants to play defense, not as revenge. A concussion could have occurred, but even Stoops said he was not sure if one had occurred.

 

Thanks for being a great fan! That first hit, I don't think it was so much "payback" as some are saying. This defense just looks relentless this year and will hit anything they can as hard as possible. Honestly, so far it's one of the, if not THE, hardest hitting defenses I've seen in a long, long time. I definately underestimated them.

 

I don't think it was intentional, but the only person who knows for sure is the guy that delivered the hit, Jackson.

 

No crap. How do these guys get their jobs? Honestly, I think I can do better than them....hell, anyone probably could.

 

I don't believe the helmet to helmet was intentional. It was intentional to hit him hard though. He had a full head of steam with a great shot on the QB and he went all out.

I don't think he had a concussion because they would've noticed that earlier. It was an excuse for the coaches.

BTW, welcome to forum SeaAZCat. Your kind are welcome around here. Good luck with the team, I don't know if Stoops will get you where you want to be, I was expecting the defense to be a little better than that. You guys need a QB, neither of those guys could hit a WR.

 

His arms were in front of him and he pushed Tuitama forcefully at the same time as his helmet hit Tuitama's. Red ,I am watching the replay now and you have hit the nail on the head. I don't think it should have been called now that I see it slowed down and replayed. Thats ok, Auburn will "fear the defense".LSU!

 

No, the Helmet to helmet wasn't on purpose. I do think Les told them to give the QB a wake up call but I don't think that was to go helmet to helmet. It'd just be classless specifically call for that and I don't think Les would.

The Concussion as reported by ESPN if it did occure came from LaRon Landry's hit. Not the first hit of the game. If it had occured from the first hit, what kind of coach leaves his QB in after that?

 

I don't think it was intentional, either. I think we're just the hardest hitting defense in the country. It's like we're on a mission--wait a second...We ARE on a mission. We want another crystal ball!