After reading all of the posts, I am torn on how big this game really is.... If we lose, I can't think that Miles would be labeled as a coach who "Can't win the big one"..... We beat #3 Alabama last year and embarrased Miami in the Peach Bowl. Yes, we did get beat in the SECCG-no excuses there. We lost to # 3 Auburn on the road this year and that was a questionable game from an officiating perspective. I am very happy that we expect to win every game, no matter who we face. That shows how the Program has really grown into one of the elites. Just as almost everyone who post's here, I would be crushed if we didn't win. Although the game hasn't happened yet, I can't think I would jump out of a window if we were 4-2 at the end of regulation. We are going against the #5 team in the country and a spread offens we are not used to seeing. The good thing is that we have alot of speed that can hopefully keep them in check. If (When) we win, all we can do is move up in the polls and strengthen our justification for a BCS at large bid. Yes, this is a BIG game, but will the team fall apart and call for Miles head if we don't win this Sat? To me that would be a knee-jerk reaction! :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige :geauxtige
With all of the head to head matchups that Auburn is going to face over the next few weeks, I can't imagine why LSU would not consider this game to be critical to still being in contention for the SEC West. Florida knows quite well that to fall behind or even with Tennessee and/or Georgia has been the kiss of death for the Gators in recent years. Not to mention the impact on ranking for either team. This is a big swing game...
This Saturday is the difference between LSU playing it's last game (of the season) in 2006, or in early 2007... Provided we run the table from there.
This game is the definition of "Must Have", IMO, not just for this year but for next. The surest way to lock in a oh so valuable top 2 preseason record is to put up a double-digit win season this year. With LSU's returning talent (esp if JR comes back) and favorable schedule, a 10-plus win season in 2006 all but assures a ticket to a top 2 start in 2007---and a great shot at playing for another :crystal: in the Sugar Bowl in early '08. Oh yeah, there's the not so inconsequential reason that it keeps LSU very much in the running to be the highest-rated one-loss in the country come December. A break or two and :crystal: is still not an impossible dream this season (remember, we're closer still to the start of this season than to it's end, so there's plenty of football left to be played). On a scale of 1-10, this is a 10-plus.
I agree with that statement, though I don't think it's fair. True, most fans will see him as the guy who can't win the big game, but that is just not true. We beat Auburn, Bama, and Miami last year. You surely can't win all the big games, even Nick Saban knows that, lol. But, that whole post was a really good one.
Since when is beating, a top 5 Alabama on the road, Fla and Auburn in 05 not winning big games? How quickly everyone forgets that Miles is the first coach in LSU history to do that in the same year!! Even years suck. We all knew that coming into this year. This game is huge. When Miles wins, it gets all the folks w/short memories off his back.
This is very true. Auburn was not as good last year like they are now, Alabama was over-rated, and Miami is not as big a win to brag about now after seeing the state of that program this year, and UF was struggling with the offense last year. My point is that UF and AU weren't nearly as big a games as they are now because they have national title and BCS implications this year, more so than last year. UF and AU had a loss already when we played them. They were big games but not as big. The Tenn of last season was a big game where the coaching staff completely floundered, the AU game this season was very mediocre in play calling even though AU had referee's help, LSU still should've won the game. The AU game last year, could've easily have gone to AU because of the missed FG's. Miles and the staff are good, but they have seemed to flounder in making adjustments and in play calling in the big games. They try not to lose too often. What good is it going to do if you are aggressive against mediocre teams and have huge success but you become conservative in the big games. This doesn't make sense to me. The defense gets very aggressive in big games, why not the offense when they have shown they too can succeed with aggressive play calling and spreading the field. Now do I think they should be labeled as a staff or coach as not winning the big games if they lose to UF? Not necessarily but the rumblings will begin and I do think rightly so.
It depends on how we lose. If it is because we go ultra-conservative, Miles & Jimbo will deserve the criticism. If it is a failure of our players to execute, then I don't think fans will view it that way.
