First things first, Alabama is a fine football team. Their defense and running game is all that it’s cracked up to be.
But that’s not the reason that Alabama won this football game.
Secondly, LSU is a fine football team. They have just as many playmakers or more than Alabama, and they played the Crimson Tide to the final whistle in front of a raucous home crowd.
But a lack of talent and playmakers is not why they lost this game.
The reason this game was won AND lost is because of some home cooking and terrible officiating. And that’s sad. It’s an injustice to college football and the SEC.
But that was the way it was supposed to be this season, right? The tickets were already printed for Alabama vs. Florida in the SEC Championship. Just ask the SEC Commissioners office, CBS, and ESPN.
So, in order for all of this to happen, Alabama had to beat LSU at home. According to most pundits, that was going to be easy and it sure is when everything that needed to go their way, goes their way.
As the first half played out, Alabama realized they had more than their hands full with the LSU Tigers. It looked as though Alabama had a game plan coming in to get their quarterback Greg McElroy back on track instead of using what made them undefeated to this point, the legs of their workhorse running back Mark Ingram. (Credit Nick Saban for making an adjustment in the second half because that would have been a huge coaching blunder had they stayed that course for the entire game). So they made the necessary adjustments and came out in the second half with a much better game plan. Even with a better attack, the Crimson Tide needed a little home cooking to steal away this victory. Cue the officials.
How is it that two of the same calls against either team both go against LSU? Patrick Peterson was called for pass interference on Julio Jones after some contact, but the ball was thrown five yards out of bounds, yet the same thing happened to LSU’s Terrance Toliver and the flag is picked up?
How is it that there is a blatant hands to the face against LSU guard Lyle Hitt, directly leading to a sack, right in front of the head referee?
The officials catch a slight nudge (false start) by LSU right tackle Joseph Barksdale on a key fourth down conversion, but miss the slight nudge by the Alabama left tackle on the fourth and inches conversion following the running into the kicker penalty?
Ok, ok. All of that can and should be dealt with in game situations by both teams. I get that. Teams have to overcome penalties and miscues, even if it favors one team over another. There should be no excuses. But there is NO EXCUSE for missing the call in the fourth quarter when Patrick Peterson picked off Greg McElroy with five minutes left in the game with the Tigers trailing by six. So, the officials missed the call on the field, but that’s why instant replay was instituted, to keep the integrity of the game and to get it right. They got it wrong and everybody knew it. Three camera angles showed evidence of the play yet the call was not reversed. The bias CBS announcers, Alabama play by play radio, and millions of T.V. viewers across the country saw that it was an interception. How can they explain that or will they?
Even with an overturned call, it still didn’t guarantee victory for LSU. They still had to drive 70+ yards for a touchdown on a defense that was playing well. What it did do for LSU was prevent them from having a CHANCE at victory and that’s the injustice.
The Tigers played well enough to win the football game. In the end, adversity and injuries is what cost the game. The Tigers were without tight end Richard Dickson from the outset of the game. Jordan Jefferson, Charles Scott, and Perry Riley all went out the game with injuries. Patrick Peterson, who was playing the game of his life against Julio Jones, went down multiple times with cramps. He was out of the game when Jones made his hitch, catch, and run that put the Tide up for good. Had he been in the game, it may have had a different outcome. But that’s football, that’s the way it goes sometimes. The coaches have to play somebody and Julio and the Alabama offense took advantage of that particular situation.
As for coaching, those who say Coach Les Miles was outcoached just don’t get it and never will. Sure, there were coaching mistakes on the LSU sideline. There always is and always will be. In my opinion, you can argue the great Nick Saban made more coaching blunders than Les Miles. How do you explain his first half game plan? How do you explain throwing the ball at the end of the first half, costing Alabama probable points? How do you explain throwing the ball, which was intercepted, when your team is up six points with five minutes to play? Especially when Mark Ingram is running wild? No, it wasn’t coaching LSU fans; it was home cooking and terrible officiating.
So life goes on and so does this season. The Tigers still have three games to play and will look to get to that double digit win total for the fourth time out of five years since Les Miles took over. Three more wins will put the Tigers in a New Year’s Day bowl game and a chance for a fifth straight bowl victory. That’s a great season, one that any Tiger fan would have taken at the start of the year. So, the Tigers must finish. They must put this game behind them and make the best of their situation. When we go to the booth for a review of this season, we sure don’t want to see this game as the reason we lost a season. We, as fans, at least have a clue.
For more information: LSUsports.net
Comments
Quit whining and accept your loss by an obviously superior team.
And you forgot to mention Jared Lee. When will they learn this boy can't throw a football? I would have rather seen Russel Shephard in at quarterback than Lee.
Exactly, Mad Mark.
And how about that clear big catch by Jones in the first quarter which was called out of bounds while the review booth was Out of Order? A terrible call in favor of LSU and changed Alabama's momentum negatively for the rest of the half.
Mad Mark, an obviously superior team? What game were you watching? This article was not a whine, it was a mere dose of the reality of football games in Alabama. (Auburn included)
The BEST team won! There was bad calls against both teams all day long. Even if they called it an interception doesn't mean you get awarded 6 points for an interception. They (LSU)had 9 TOTAL yards in the 4th quarter. Get over it and quit crying. Every game on every Saturday can be picked apart and one could say there is calls that were wrong and missed in EVERY GAME.
By the way... Why did Jordan Jefferson leave the game with a ankle sprain and seen jumping up and down on the sidelines after the so called injury? The truth of the matter is LSU was beat down and their players repeatedly got hurt and wanted out of the GAME! Alabama took out half the LSU team, over and over their players were seen limping or hobbling off the field causing the game to last too long. In my opinion Florida better look out, Alabama is much better than Florida is. LSU has a lot of talented players but poor coaching and preparation cost them the game. I have to agree with the Mad Hatter Les Miles, Alabama is the most dominant and complete team in college football and will find a way to beat you week in and week out. Their kicking game, passing game, running game and coaching is superior to all the teams this year. To blame the referees for missing a call or two is sour grapes and makes one look silly.
Julio Jones touches the ball while he is out of bounds so the ball is dead and no interception.
Jon,
Did you read the article or just the headline? Can you read? I gave credit to Alabama and even said that LSU still had to drive 70 yards for the touchdown if the call on the field would have been awarded to LSU. A knowledgable football fan, even in Alabama, knows that call was a hose job. Why was that the lead point in every national article regarding the game? Take your Crimson and creme glasses off. LSU was flagged twice as many times than Alabama. In 2007, in was the same thing, LSU flagged 14 times for 130 yards while Bama was flagged twice for 15? Come on.
P.S. Alabama is a good team....but not as good as last year. Good luck with Florida, you're gonna need it....and the refs.
Good article. Don't let myopic Bama fans get to you. The talent difference is very slight and if not even. I don't accept losses to teams helped by crooked or incompetent officiating. Injuries happen. I think it is classless and pathetic certain Bama fans thumping chests about the Tiger injuries as if their supermen (sarcasm of course)were just man handling everything in their site and that it was an accomplishment for young student athletes to be injured. Our team was scared of no one and fought til the end. Most folks outside of bama land know better too. UGA fans/friends/family called to say how bad we were hosed. And there own team was hosed on one call when we played them? But last Saturday it was not just one call it was several. And this has been going on all year with Bama and UF. Its a fix and a sham. I have no respect for that type of underhandedness on part of SEC and certain powers that be that wanted the UF / bama matchup all along. GEAUX TIGERS
Mad Mark I don't accept cheating and certain folks proud that our players were injured. I don't accept spearing our qb and INTs being robbed. Bama is only superior in an unfair contest. On the field I saw too very good teams where someone had to win. And where one side had a lot of outside help. Nothing can change that. Be proud of your team but understand the outside influences that helped you all. I will try to be civil from here on out and refrain from posting or reading. The inane, illogical responses that are sure to follow are a waste of my time to deal with. But one parting shot...I wonder why some of these Bama examiners are so touchy about the officiating and the article? Hmmm tainted wins huh???Even many LSU fans admitted that the excessive celebration call during UGA game was bogus (yet we got the same call too). But, no clear honesty here huh? Matt, great article and GEAUX TIGERS!!! asterisk mark**** 2009 SEC champions whomever they may be.
Oh one very last thing. Sorry Ryan I used the name Matt. That is another Tiger on another blog that I subscribe to who post articles. I was thinking of the blog we were posting on when I saw yours.
It's one thing to be upset about the one call you focused on but to accuse Alabama of "home cooking" shows how classless you are.
The only reason that play has been focused on so much is because of the really bad game changing calls made in previous SEC games that LSU and Florida benefited from.
Ironic that anyone named Big Bama calls someone else classless. Alabama is the most universally despised school / program in the Southeast Conference. Thug tactics since Bryant was there, serial NCAA probations, red-neck alumni / fan-base, and now, your hissy-fit liar pretty boy coach. Have I left anything out? Hell will freeze over before the NY Athletic Club sends a Heisman Trophy your way. Enjoy your tainted season Crimson Klansmen. LSU will see you again next season. Bring bandages.
Bayou Philosopher - Don't forget to wear you're tin foil hat when you go out.
First of all what's ironic is anybody from Louisiana calling anyone from Alabama a red neck.
Second, Bama's 19-4 in Baton Rouge and after Saturday, 12-11-1 when playing in Alabama. If that's "home cooking" we must not be good at it.
Third, I could tit for tat on bad calls but the fact is LSU got the ball back with over 3 minutes left in the game. Time enough to score and onside kick. Tennesseee could do it LSU couldn't.
To Jeff. You must be wearing the same eye glasses/contact lens that the officials were wearing saturday. Jones never touched the ball. Peterson clearly made the only play on the ball and intercepted it with two hands and feet in bounds. So no, illegal touching cannot be the call. Peterson made Jones look like a CHUMP all day.
Bayou Philosopher - Don't forget to wear you're tin foil hat when you go out.
First of all what's ironic is anybody from Louisiana calling anyone from Alabama a red neck.
Second, Bama's 19-4 in Baton Rouge and after Saturday, 12-11-1 when playing in Alabama. If that's "home cooking" we must not be good at it.
Third, I could tit for tat on bad calls but the fact is LSU got the ball back with over 3 minutes left in the game. Time enough to score and onside kick. Tennesseee could do it LSU couldn't.
Bayou Philosopher - Don't forget to wear you're tin foil hat when you go out.
First of all what's ironic is anybody from Louisiana calling anyone from Alabama a red neck.
Second, Bama's 19-4 in Baton Rouge and after Saturday, 12-11-1 when playing in Alabama. If that's "home cooking" we must not be good at it.
Third, I could tit for tat on bad calls but the fact is LSU got the ball back with over 3 minutes left in the game. Time enough to score and onside kick. Tennesseee could do it LSU couldn't.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!