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article: From The Bleachers

Discussion in 'The Tiger's Den' started by cadillacattack, Sep 18, 2006.

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cadillacattack Illegitimi non carborundum est

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an interesting article that provides a viewpoint for how I hope this classic game will be remembered. One of the best defensive matchups of our era:

http://fromthebleachersblog.blogspot.com/2006/09/glory-glory.html

by Will Collier:

On the rare modern occasions of a true defensive struggle, television commentators and the profoundly stupid (sorry for the redundancy) will often opine, "Oh, it was so boring. Nobody scored the whole game."

What idiocy. What ignorance.

As I've noted once before, there is nothing like the tension in a low-scoring ball game. When any one play can be the difference in the game, you live on the edge of your seat for three excruciating hours. And what a game!

I haven't seen a football game like that since I was a kid, and there weren't many even back then. There hasn't been that much combined speed and power in Jordan-Hare Stadium since the epic Auburn-Florida games of the mid-1980's, and this one was every bit as physical as any of those--and then some. A lot of people have aptly compared AU-LSU '06 to a heavyweight prize fight. Every play was a slugfest running at hypersonic speed. Both sides were superbly conditioned, well prepared, and utterly determined to win. Neither side deserved to lose.

Unlike the exercise in futility down in the Orange Bowl a couple of weeks ago, this wasn't a couple of good defenses playing a couple of sorry, fraudulent offenses--this was two outstanding teams on both sides of the ball going strength against strength for the duration. The two breeds of Tigers had amassed a combined 164 points in their previous four games--LSU alone had scored 90 over two games.

Saturday's result: One touchdown. One field goal. One hell of a football game, and no shame to be had on either side.

I heard a couple of talk radio yahoos in Atlanta talking about how Auburn "needed to reassess their offense" after the LSU game. Considering that LSU almost certainly has the best defense AU will see this year, that was a pretty dumb comment, but to give the benefit of the doubt, if you weren't at the game, you literally couldn't see why the Bengals were able to bring so much pressure up front. Thanks to the camera angles from Can't Broadcast Sports, you couldn't see the incredible play of LSU's defensive secondary. The back four were playing lights-out man coverage for the duration, allowing the front seven to mass in the box. Thanks to their play, Auburn was outmanned up front until the second half, when Al Borges brought in a second tight end to counter the pressure.

Appropriately for such an old-school Pat Dye game, the difference came down to running the ball. Auburn could only run for a little, but LSU couldn't run at all. The Tiger defense just devoured LSU's rightly-touted trio of behemoth running backs. LSU's only notable rush from scrimmage was Jemarcus Russell's fumbled scramble, and it only went 12 yards. AU's monumental 75-yard scoring drive ate up most of the third quarter, and the Tigers' six-minute advantage in time of possession was the real key to the ball game. You can talk all you want about his accuracy or lack thereof, but if Russell had another six minutes to play with the ball, I think he'd have finally found the end zone.

After being humiliated by Kenny Irons on their home field last year, LSU's defense was clearly keying on Irons all day long. Credit to Irons for still gaining 70 of the toughest yards he'll ever get, and credit as well to Borges for picking the right times to use Irons as a decoy, most notably the touchdown-setting-up pass to fullback Carl Stewart. Brandon Cox got the stuffing beaten out of him in the first half, and still went the distance with a fire and determination that won't be forgotten by his teammates.

Regarding the increasing whining from the bayou over the waved-off interference call in the fourth quarter, I can but say: grow up. As SMQ insightfully pointed out, that ball was not going to be caught, whether Zack Gilbert had laid a pinky on Early Doucet or not--Eric Brock was in front of both of them and would tip the ball away regardless. There's no such thing as interference on an uncatchable ball.

But really, the "controversy" is an unworthy distraction from the harsh beauty of the football game. It was a glorious, too-rare exhibition of power football and passion to win. The Auburn-LSU rivalry has become pretty nasty as the stakes have risen this last decade, but I didn't see anything but handshakes and backslaps in the stands after the clock ran out. With the exceptions of the utterly wasted and hopelessly stupid, everybody in the stadium could appreciate the grandeur of what they'd just witnessed.

It was a privilege to be at that game. Revel in it, regardless of which side you were on, or even if you were on neither side. There will not be many more like it in our lifetimes.
posted by Will Collier at 9:43 AM

1 Comments:
BlurryVision said...
The appreciation for a great defensive effort in college football gets lost in today's focus on flash and scoring points. The intensity of the play in the Auburn - LSU game was off the charts. I can't tell you how the rest of the season will go for either team, but I am comfortable with saying that the two defenses on the field on Saturday are not only the two best defenses in the SEC but those are the two best defenses in the country. Both teams have very good offenses and plenty of weapons, but the level of play from the defenses refused to let either offense get any momentum.

Defense, field position, and special teams - that is the difference maker when two great tams collide. Auburn and LSU did not disappoint. The game was hard hitting but cleanly played, both schools should be proud of the men that represented them on the field on 9/18/2006 in Auburn, AL. Great players, well coached, laying it on the line. College football at its best.
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cadillacattack, Sep 18, 2006

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JSracing Founding Member

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I think he has Auburn glasses on.
I think with the Stakes so high as he put it........... he and you are very naive to think that the REFS weren't in the game.

Early could have caught the ball, maybe .. maybe not.... the truth is that a very poor call among many won't ever let us know who the true best team was. maybe it was Auburn, maybe not. The Ref's thought it was though.

good for you bad for us.
next game.

JSracing, Sep 18, 2006

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TwistedTiger Founding Member

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Really great article but he missed a very important point, Tiger fans aren't crying about one bad call but a double handful of horrible horrible game changing calls that all went Auburns way. LSU still should have won the game, no excuses but don't say LSU fans don't have the right to cry foul. It's like being raped on national tv, yes we know it's over and we need to move on with our lives but something needs to be done about the criminal(or in this case criminals) that commited the crime. Other than that really good and well thought out article. Good game Aubies now it's time for toolame.

TwistedTiger, Sep 18, 2006

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cadillacattack Illegitimi non carborundum est

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js, you're correct as Will Collier is an AU grad, but I thought he did a good job of emphasizing the rarety of games like these and what a memorable priviledge it is to witness such a game. like he stated, neither team deserved to lose such a matchup.

My personal opinion, out of 10 games played between these two monsters, they would split 5 & 5 ..... good luck the rest of the way :thumb:

cadillacattack, Sep 18, 2006

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TigerBill661 Life is Good

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I am glad you posted the article. It is the best I have felt since Saturday after JR threw his last pass.

TigerBill661, Sep 18, 2006

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red55 curmudgeon Staff Member

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AU's monumental 75-yard scoring drive ate up most of the third quarter, and the Tigers' six-minute advantage in time of possession was the real key to the ball game. You can talk all you want about his accuracy or lack thereof, but if Russell had another six minutes to play with the ball, I think he'd have finally found the end zone.
Click to expand...

An excellent point.

Regarding the increasing whining from the bayou over the waved-off interference call in the fourth quarter, I can but say: grow up.
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Speaking of whining . . .

I've spent a lot of time on the AU board and believe me . . . they are whining louder that there were no bad calls than LSU fans are whining that there were. And they are very sensitive about it. Don't even think about going there and arguing, especially with photo evidence.

They know . . . and they are a little embarrassed about it. :hihi:

red55, Sep 18, 2006

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LSUAthletics Founding Member

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cadillacattack said: ↑

js, you're correct as Will Collier is an AU grad, but I thought he did a good job of emphasizing the rarety of games like these and what a memorable priviledge it is to witness such a game. like he stated, neither team deserved to lose such a matchup.

My personal opinion, out of 10 games played between these two monsters, they would split 5 & 5 ..... good luck the rest of the way :thumb:
Click to expand...

I'd say AU wins 7 out of 10 at AU with the same officiating crew and a 5 & 5 split with good unbiased officials. At a neutral site with good unbiased officiating I'd say 6 out of 10 in favor of LSU. At LSU with good unbiased officiating I'd say 7 out of 10 in favor of LSU.

LSUAthletics, Sep 18, 2006

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MeauxJeaux Founding Member

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Thanks for a good read Caddy.
:thumb:

MeauxJeaux, Sep 18, 2006

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lsu_dane Founding Member

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BlackJack said: ↑

Whining is when there is one bad call that wouldn't have affected the outcome of the game.

LSU fans are rightly pissed that there was an obvious bias and an overwhelming amount of not only "bad" calls but "no calls" that ABSOLUTELY affected the outcome of the game.

To say that the amount of calls/non-calls and the critical timing of when they occured had no affect on the game is to be completely ignorant or dishonest.

Even with Jimbo's boring, uncreative and downright ineffective use of his offensive weapons, LSU still managed to beat Auburn on the field. The difference is that the corrupt and/or inept officiating gave Auburn a win that they certainly did not completely earn.

Auburn got the win and thats what the record books will show. The reality is that LSU is the better team and beat Auburn on the field and was unjustly penalized with a loss.
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god. totally good point.

lsu_dane, Sep 18, 2006

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edyel edyel

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It will always be known as "the game the refs stole from LSU" to me. PERIOD!:geauxtige

edyel, Sep 18, 2006

#10

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