30 yrs ago this afternoon : LSU 20 - Alabama 10 at Legion Field

Truly one of LSU's finest wins.That 1982 team was one of LSU's most talented and exciting teams and really was as good as any team in the country. Sadly prior to the Orange Bowl the three blemishes were to three of the leanest 5 or 6 teams on the schedule. But this is to praise Caesar, not bury him.



LSU was 6-0-1 and 11th in the nation, Alabama was 7-1-0 and 7th in the nation after being ranked as high as 2nd after beating eventual national champion Penn State, 42-21 on the same field a month earlier. Oddly enough, both team's blemish was to Tennessee, which woefully underachieved under Johnny Majors for year. Tennessee tied LSU 24-24 and the following week the Vols upset the Tide 35-28 in Knoxville.

LSU was ranked in the top 20 this late in the season for the first time since 1978. The Tigers had lost 11 straight to Alabama since winning 14-9 in 1970. Alabama was a 7 point favorite.



On a perfect afternoon for football with clear and 'crisp' skies, neither team scored in the first quarter. Twice Alabama took over inside LSU territory but went 3 and out. Finally midway in the second quarter freshman Dalton Hilliard scored from 16 yards out to cap a 90 yard drive and LSU led 7-0. Alabama then fumbled a few minutes later and Liffort Hobley recovered at the 27 of Alabama. LSU scored on a 3 yard pass from Alan Risher to Malcolm Scott and LSU led 14-0 with :58 until haltime.

Earlier in the season after Tennessee's Willie Gault returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD, LSU went to 'sky kicks' on kickoffs. Juan Betanzos' sky kick was fumbled by Craig Turner and Alvin Thomas recovered at the 30. The Tigers moved to the 6 but with :05 settled on a 22 yd fg by Betanzos for a 17-0 halftime lead.

Alabama, the SEC's #1 scoring offense, had 32 yards and zero first downs at halftime.



LSU received the second half kickoff but this time Alabama's defense was fired up and the Tigers went 3 and out.Clay Parker's punt only went to midfield and on the Tide's first play,Walter Lewis picked up Alabama's first first down to a chorus of relief and Bronx cheers.The Tide stalled at the LSU 14 after reaching the 5 before Lawrence Williams hit Lewis causing him to fumble out of bounds. Hawaiian Peter Kim kicked a fg and it was 17-3.

This time it was LSU's turn to turn it over after an opponent scored. Hillard fumbled Risher's pitch out and Alabama had it at the LSU 28. On first down Lewis hit current South Alabama coach Joey Jones for a TD after he had beaten James Britt and suddenly it was only 17-10 with 7:42 left in the 3rd quarter.

But LSU didn't panic and put togethor a drive with two first downs which didn't produce points, but righted the Tigers and stole some of Alabama's momentum. The Tide then punted back and then LSU put togethor a nice 13 play , 67 yard drive which resulted in an LSU field goal to extend the lead back to two scores at 20-10 with 10:41 left.

LSU's defense rose up again after an exchange of punts and Bill Elko forced a Lewis fumble that Gregg DuBroc recovered at midfield with under 5:00 left. The Tigers ground game ran out the clock as LSU got to the Tide 9 as time ran out.

Bryant was extremely gracious and classy in defeat saying that the 20-10 loss was Alabama's "worst whipping since the '60's" The Tide only had 119 total yards.

Great game to have attended and great win for LSU.