Tigers Decade of Dominance!

As Tiger fans, we have been fortunate to witness the past ten years of Tiger football. In 2000, after just watching LSU defeat Stanford for the CWS championship, a friend turned to me and stated "Just once in our lifetime, I would like to see LSU football win a Championship". With both of us being born after the '58 NC, and after the previous decade of LSU football, that concept seemed pretty far off. Well, little did we know it was just around the corner. I have made a list of the 10 seasons from the first championship to present, touching on a few highlights and making comments of how I remember them and invite you to do the same.

I know it is long but, sitting around in the North Sea I find myself with plenty of time tonight.

'03-'04 Tigers go 13-1 and win the NC
That game against UGA was awesome and a prelude to the decade to come. Had to give up tickets to the Fla. game to leave for work in the Barents Sea, but did see Skyler Green's punt return in George Bush Intercontinental. And what can I say about the Championship game....Awesome! Screw USC.

'04-'05 Tigers go 9-3
This season had a lack-luster start with an OT win over the Beavers, but was exciting none-the-less. The big game that season was against Auburn with an "only time" penalty call resulting in an Auburn re-kick, which was the difference in the game. That Georgia game, I think UGA just had it out for LSU as payback for what the Tigers had done to them the year before. And the Iowa game, what can you say? Incidently, this was AU's undefeated season being left out of the title game.

'05-'06 Tigers finish 10-2
While it is hard to have a favorite season outside of one of the championship years, this is my most proud season as a Tiger fan. With 2 hurricanes devastating the early schedule, the campus turned into a refugee camp, a new head coach and new D Coord., and being the only D1 school to ever have to play 10 straight regular season games and playing in the SECCG in the 11th week, these Tigers did themselves proud. From having to go on the road, in what was supposed to be a home game and coming back against ASU, to playing a Monday night game due to a second hurricane to hit the state in a 3 week span, to finally dismantling the Hurricanes in their bowl game (I hate Miami). This is one of my all time favorite seasons.

'06-'07 LSU finishes 11-2
I have seen several people tout this team as the best LSU team ever, and offensively, that is probably true. Again, this season's big game was at Auburn. This was the game with all the fine officiating. Forget the pass interference no-call at the end of the game, the interfernece no-call at the end of the first half in the end zone would have given the Tigers the lead and probably rendered the last one insignificant. This was the most one-sided, officiated game I have ever seen. This kept LSU from playing in the SECCG and a rematch with Fla. the eventual NC(LSU's only other loss), which I believe the Tigers would have won. They were that close to a possible chance at their 2nd title shot. Watching them destroy ND in the Sugar Bowl was pretty sweet, however.

'07-'08 LSU wins NC again with a 12-2 record.
What an exciting year this was. The Tigers run the table against the "Big Boys" of the SEC and Lesticles solidifies his place at LSU with his "Damned Strong Football Team". They blast a top 10 ranked opponent in Va. Tech, pull off one of the most amazing fake FG attempts ever against S. Carolina, win one of biggest grudge match games ever with 4, 4th down conversions against Fla., and dismantle the Ohio St. in the championship. The 2 overtime losses to Kentucky and Arkansas dampen the season somewhat, but those were exciting games as well. On a personal note, the Tulane game in the Super Dome is the only game I attended that year.

'08-'09 LSU goes 8-5
This season created a lot of questions about Miles being the man to lead LSU. I believe the most significant thing that season was Miles releasing Perrillou. He did the right thing and I agree with the move, but it left LSU with a questionable quarterback corps, to say the least. They did hand it to the Yellow Jackets, however.

'09-'10 LSU goes 9-4
Another forgettable season by LSU fan standards, but the Tigers did go to Washington, to take on the Husky's that is. The OT win over Arkansas was exciting, as most of those meetings have come to be. The season ender was a bit sour with that loss to Penn St.

'10-'11 Tigers go 11-2
LSU looses to Auburn and Arkansas this year. Auburn wins the NC. The Tigers beat N.C. in the Ga. Dome to start the season and beat eventual SEC foe aTm in Cowboys Stadium to end it. It appears Miles has the Tigers back on pace.

'11-'12 Tigers go 13-1 and play for a 3rd NC!
WOW! What a year this was. College football has never seen a defense like this. While one inter conference rival may have had a defense that was just as good, NO defense has ever been as exciting to watch as this one was. Heck, I don't know if any offense has ever been this exciting to watch? Playmaker after playmaker kept stepping up. I know most people think of the Honey Badger in this situation, but from Claibourne's prowess down the field, to D lineman running down running backs, to Eric Reid's interception against Bama. This D was LOADED! I am not trying to take anything away from the offense, especially, that running game. And what about Brad Wing? He has got to be the most exciting college kicker of all time. Off course, we all know how that season ended. Let me just say that Miles' QB assessments cost him this championship.

'12-'13 LSU LSU goes 10-3
It is hard to maintain the pace set the previous year, but the Tigers made a valiant effort. After losing some key defensive team members and having a 1st year starter at QB, LSU was just won woeful series from playing in the SECCG. That last minute loss to Clemson was dissapointing, but I believe the Tigers were not up for this game so much as they could have been.

Well, that is how I see it. Whether they won it or not, I believe the Tigers have been a contender and/or factor in most of the last ten seasons. I would like to read any events you all may recall, weather listed or not. I have only seen about 50% of all games as I work overseas and have to follow many games on the internet. Although my wife recorded it for me, I have still never watched the 2012 championship game. I just can't do it.