Revenge of the Nerd -- Dooley

Revenge is an ancient attribute of the human race. It has been written about since the dawn of civilization and one need only pick up the Bible to find countless stories premised on revenge. We're captivated by those seeking revenge, and that's why what ordinarily would be an under-the-radar LSU/Tennessee game this Saturday carries with it a higher level of interest. It has the revenge factor.

Last year in Death Valley, Tennessee beat LSU as time expired. First-year Vols coach Derek Dooley had secured a signature win. He promptly jettisoned his headset and exuberantly stormed the Tiger Stadium field. But there was a problem. Too many Tennessee players had volunteered for duty on the game's final play. Officials flagged the Vols for having thirteen men on the field and, because a game can't end on a defensive penalty, LSU was given one play with zero time on the clock. The Tigers, of course, pounded the ball into the end zone and what was a Tennessee upset victory turned into a perplexing LSU win. It was by far the most bizarre thing to happen to Les Miles that day.

Fast forward one year later and it's easy to understand why the once-proud Tennessee Volunteer football program has revenge on its mind. (Technically, I'm not sure a stupid, self-inflicted loss entitles the loser to seek revenge. Maybe it's that Tennessee wants to avenge the loss, but you catch my drift.) Since we know revenge is a timeless theme, naturally there's a mind-numbing number of films with revenge as their central premise. From "Gladiator," to "Straw Dogs," to "Once Upon a Time in the West," revenge has inspired filmmakers time and time again.

Perhaps no revenge-themed movie fits Saturday's LSU/Tennessee game better than the 1984 classic, "Revenge of the Nerds." The film follows the struggles of a group of nerds from Adams College who band together to defend themselves against the aggressive tactics of the Alpha Beta fraternity members. The nerds ultimately form the Tri-Lamb fraternity and prevail over the Alpha Betas, ousting them from the powerful Greek Council.

What does this movie have to do with LSU vs. Tennessee? The answer is that LSU is on "nerd alert" against Tennessee's second-year head coach, Derek Dooley. This guy is a N-E-R-D nerd. First, we know Dooley is a nerd because he went to law school. Anyone who goes to law school is, by definition, a dork. Second, Dooley acts like a total geek on the sideline during games. Finally, there's a striking resemblance between main character Lewis Skolnick in "Revenge of the Nerds" and Dooley.

Nerd talk aside, LSU theoretically should dominate this game. But you never know what will happen with nearly 110,000 orange-clad Vols fans packed into Neyland Stadium. With revenge on their minds, the Volunteers may catch LSU a little high on itself and looking ahead to next week's SEC West clash with Auburn. Tennessee is without its starting quarterback, however, who was one of the conference's most effective passers before breaking his thumb last week. UT's running game is anemic at best and LSU's defense should have its way with the battered Vols offense. Late Saturday afternoon, as the sun settles into the western sky, Tiger fans looking for a stress-free affair just might get it.

Prediction:

LSU 29
Tennessee 10

Geaux Tigers!