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Learning lesson for Tigers
Well, I guess it's only fitting that a season that started with turmoil and added turmoil during the season would end with turmoil.
Unfortunately, LSU was not able to overcome the turmoil at the end, but you have to credit Alabama for a lot of that.
There have been all kinds of stories and rumors about disagreements before the BCS game surrounding Jarrett Lee's status and even at halftime.
The players and coaches are the ones who know the entire story and some have gone out of their way to dismiss those rumors. I hope they are right, but judging from the play and the look of the players in that game I can't help but wonder if there is even some little bit of truth to those rumors.
At first I thought it would not have mattered if Lee would have played or not. But just maybe some of the lineman would have given more effort and showed more determination with Lee in there.
Here's hoping LSU learned something from it's BCS disaster in New Orleans.
I mean besides the fact that you face a team for the second time in a championship game you do not try the exact same thing you did in your first meeting when the other team has a month to prepare.
One thing the Tigers may need to learn is a little humility.
I know, swag is good, but it's kind of like running the option to the short side of the field, you can have just a little too much.
When Alabama came out of their dressing room LSU players ran over to the sidelines and stood there looking at them.
Wow, I'm sure that really had them shaking in their Crimson Tide shoes.
If it did anything, it made them even more focused.
And then Brad Wing hits a great punt on his first punt and runs down there and gets in the face of the Tide punt returner and says something.
My guess is the punt returner laughed at him after he got over this shock that this guy actually did this.
OK, I'm all for playing with a lot of confidence and trying to wear down your opponent mentally as well as physically.
But there is a fine line there. And there were a number of times LSU players crossed that line this past season.
That works against the teams without any kind of tradition.
It doesn't work against the Alabama and Georgia and other teams used to being there.
And those are the teams you are going to have to beat to reach or even win the BCS.
I would love to see the 2012 LSU football team go out and just take care of business without pointing at themselves, talking smack and acting like they are opening up their shirts to display their Superman underwear.
I'm okay with waving the arms to the crowd, pointing to the sky, jumping on top of a teammate after a big play.
But the other stuff, keep it off the field on Saturdays.
You want to get in the heads of your opponents? Go out and perform o your best each play and act like it's nothing new or spectacular. This is not the WWE. You don't have to sell tickets. People in the stands came to see you win games, not grab the microphone and self-promote while ripping your opponent.
And, Miles, get in somebody's face if they are not performing. The most emotion I saw from the BCS game was Nick Saban after one of his players went offsides on a punt in the fourth quarter when the game was way past in doubt.
Miles barely flinched at any of the dozens of mistakes by his team.
I still believe in Miles. But he needs to understand that his team is not going to always win because they talk the talk.
And be more creative next year instead of wearing an opponent down who you could have put away in the first half with a little more imagination.
Greg Strudawa showed that imagination against Oregon, but it steadily disappeared right up to the final game. I have a strong feeling that is not all on Strudawa.
Special teams and defense won the Arkansas and Georgia games.
LSU's offensive line should be even better next year, especially if Josh Dworaczyk is granted a medical redshirt after missing the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
With Zach Mettenberger taking over the reins at quarterback and Stephen Rivers serving as a capable back-up, hopefully the Tigers will have more of an effective passing game next year.
Spring football practice is right around the corner.
Let's hope everyone can get along and stay out of trouble. |
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