Three years into The Hat's legacy at LSU, our team continues to play to the level of its competition each week. Why? To say that this season has been thrilling is the understatement of the year. But it's more of the same in year three for :milesmic:. I've seen this same song and dance over and over for three years now. What gives? Why aren't our tigers able to put together solid performances on a regular basis? We get the occasional displays of dominance - Miami, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech. More often than not though, we get the unexpected - beating Ole Piss at home last year in overtime, leading Tulane 10-9 at half this year, losing to Arkansas in triple overtime at home today. Then again, that is exactly what is to be expected. If it's not that, then it's a nailbiter of a game every other week against the better teams on our schedule! Oh how I hate the sinking feeling of having lost that last bit of hope for a NC run. (more power to islstl and his believers for keeping hope alive though) To lose that hope to the likes of Kentucky and Arkansas though. Lets get real here, if we're losing to these teams then the :milesmic: is not getting the job done. Oh wait, I am supposed to avoid promoting threads like this. Oops...... Guess this one will have to slide.
I have to agree that this is not the way you want to go out. Ideally, if we were to miss out on the chance for the MNC, then lose to UGA in the SECCG. But that isn't how it works, especially this year. At any rate, we could have easily lost 3 other games this year, so everything probably works out at the end. LSU just couldn't translate the paper talent to the field and win the MNC. Coaching? Quite possibly.
I was leaving a buddy of mine a voice mail at halftime, which is something of a tradition. It occurred to me halfway into my message that I've left almost the exact same message during just about every game this year. Something like: "This is some ugly football. The defense is decent enough, but the offense is garbage. How is RP never seeing the field when Flynn is spraying the ball like this (insert overthrowing or into coverage or underthrowing)?? They never get into a rhythm." It's been the same thing over and over and over, yet nothing changes. Should we just be thrilled as punch about this, since we're 10-2, or should there be some self-awareness that we could just as easily be 7-5? To hear a lot of folks here, 10-2 is all that counts and the inexplicably dumb things that happen every single week are quite alright.
I agree completely with what you are saying, but I bet the 10-2 crowd is just trying to be positive about the situation when there really isn't much positive to be found, at least not tonight.
Playing to the level of the competition. Someone on the board has a signature that goes something like this: "Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." Sort of the same thing, isn't it? I miss the games like the one the Tigers played against V-Tech. Why couldn't they be that prepared and emotional and dominant every week? Any thoughts.? ldskule:
We're 2 plays from being 12-0. We lost 2 teams absolutely determined to take us down. Kentucky wanted us pretty freaking bad after what we did to them last year. They were to us this year what we were to Florida in '97. Just talented enough to make the plays to win. Arky hates us. That ugly phucking boot they brought home with them today is the most important trophy in their case. We always get their best game. We lost. That happens in "rivalry" games.
I am tired of the nail-biting games. I don't know why we can't play a clean, solid game for four quarters more than once or twice a season. I have to say, though, the Virginia Tech game was a thing of beauty. I don't think I'll ever forget it. I have never seen LSU play such a perfect game on both sides of the ball. I don't understand where the team that played that game went. It's been a good ride this season, or at least very memorable, and I hope we can regroup for the SECCG.
We are also a few plays away from being 7-5. That said, 9-2 is like splitting the baby. We got some breaks, didn't get some others. Time to move forward. Team needs to not worry about the rankings and try to wrap up the Conference Championship next week. Tall order. The rest will come if it comes.
i think besides the game in 2003 Saban struggled with Arkansas yearly. What does RP bring to the table right now? He has not shown an ability to throw this year except against MTSU, and who are they in the grand scheme of things? Is Flynn the greatest QB ever at LSU - hell no! But remember that we used to complain about JR as well making boneheaded plays. These are 18-22 year old kids out there, not Marinos and Elways and Mannings. We have some key injuries on defense that hurts as well, and the backups are not the same caliber. Be happy for what these kids are accomplishing for LSU and Louisiana - it may not always be pretty and happy, but it is better then being a ND fan, ATM fan, etc.
If your QB is absolutely no threat to throw (for whatever reason) and the defense spreads a bit because of the option threat, you should absolutely bring in RP. That provides a chance to get yards, but more importantly, gives the defense a new look. It also may get the offensive guys more engaged. I don't know if that would work -- but after watching the first half of at least half of our games, I know what DOESN'T work.
