Oxford Road Trip Looms Large for Tigers

The raucous, traditional cheer is inevitably heard by thousands. Hell-bent Revelers in the Grove ensure it with a certain sanctimonious flair. "Hotty Toddy Gosh A' Mighty, Who in the hell are we?" It will happen, as sure as the setting evening sun. Are you ready Tiger fans? They are the Ole Miss Rebel faithful, and they're anxiously staring down the prospect of two straight wins over the hated purple and gold of LSU. The matchup has Tiger fans wondering if their beloved team has enough punch to defeat a tandem of gritty, talented Western Division foes remaining on the schedule, and whether or not the Tigers' recent golden age of football has come to a precipitous, unceremonious end.

In this piece for TigerDroppings.com, the real McCoy when it comes to SEC sports websites, we'll assess the big picture of LSU Football, preview the upcoming tangle in Oxford, and take our regular armchair quarterback jaunt across the nation's toughest football conference.

Les Miles Behind

Les Miles and his jagged band of battle-wearied warriors assaults a final two-game regular season run amidst drumbeats of dissention. There are those that grumble the recent loss to Alabama was a turning point in the SEC West-that now Nick Saban is the top dog on the proverbial Western Division football food chain and Les Miles has been terminally relegated to wrestling for scraps and the occasional consolation BCS bowl berth as the league's third-best team. Such monikers are coveted at Ole Miss, where they hang banners for division championships. At LSU, it's a reminder of unattained goals and the price that must always be paid to become a champion.

Even if Miles and the Tigers win out the Ohio native will still have vocal detractors. There will be those that will cite that Nick Saban now owns him, even though Miles has won more games in five years than he did at LSU and took less time to do it. Nevertheless, winning out is a necessity for Miles and LSU, who want much to play in a significant, New Year's Day bowl game. Doing so would maintain LSU's current elite status among America's perennial college football powers. For Miles, it is time for his team to regroup and reassess what is needed of them to go on an undefeated three-game run. Anything less means the fan backlash will be even harsher.

A Conference of Champions

The LSU Tigers played valiantly in their two losses this season, although there is no solace in losing in Baton Rouge. A year ago the Tigers appeared disorganized, unmotivated and generally disinterested in their later contests that saw them fall to Ole Miss and Arkansas. The consecutive conference losses were a bitter pill for spoiled Tiger fans, who felt previously omnipotent over such lesser league foes. In today's SEC, no team is an easy victory. All wins must be earned. In a conference of champions, there is never rest for the weary, and that is where LSU currently finds itself.

While LSU has a more than respectable record, it must finish strong in order for its season to be considered reasonably fulfilling to the fans. It does not matter that the team has played exceptionally hard in two tough losses. The two losses in many people's eyes tarnish the season effort. These people say that Les is the "Modern-Day Charlie Mac,” which is hardly an insult to anyone who knows anything about college football. All I can think of is, "Welcome to South Louisiana Coach Miles.”

Unrealistic expectations are everywhere in college football. Not every program can win the national championship every year, which is oddly what Florida is trying to do this season. Therefore, maybe it can happen. We shall see. But for LSU, winning out and finishing possibly among the top five teams in the country at 11-2 is pretty solid recognition and an achievement certainly worthy of the recognition bestowed on previous great Tiger teams. Albeit bittersweet, going 11-2, winning a New Year's Day Bowl game and finishing in the top five is a great college football season, regardless of what the Les Miles haters say. If you don't believe it, just ask an Ole Miss fan what it's like on the flip side of the coin. They're used to it.

Getting Offensive

Prior to the start of the season Coach Les Miles stated that this year's offensive line was the best he'd had since he began coaching in Baton Rouge. Tiger fans that saw Jordan Jefferson execute the option and pass the ball almost flawlessly in the blowout win over Georgia Tech were optimistic about his chances to lead the Tigers in 2009. As it turned out, he's done an admirable job, given his age, and the circumstances. Jefferson is just a sophomore, and remember that not even Matthew Stafford, last season's number-one NFL Draft pick from the SEC-could lead the Bulldogs with Knowshon Moreno to a conference championship. In fact, he lost two big ball games as well, and he's now a multi-millionaire. Nevertheless, LSU's offense needs help, and it's starting to look like a coaching problem, as the Tiger offense has had little coordination throughout the year.

While the Tiger defense has showed vast improvement over last year's dismal effort that ranked last among league totals, the Tiger offense has claimed a similar low point. Gary Crowton has not been able to mold this impressive talent array into a consistently productive unit. LSU has had to work hard for points, and they have come sparingly as of late, placing it dead last in the league in total offense. The LSU offense needs a quick shot of adrenaline, and the surest thing the Tigers possess to remedy the situation is a healthy dose of Russell Shepard, LSU's most dynamic and threatening offensive weapon.

If Crowton fails down the stretch with this group there should be no complaining of lack of talent on his part. The talent is there. He simply has not developed it. Miles fired two defensive coordinators a year ago. Firing a single offensive one at the end of this season-if needed, would certainly be half as easy.

Invading Oxford and Taking the Rebels

LSU has to go into Oxford and beat the Johnny Rebs in their own backyard. This isn't as tough as Tuscaloosa, where the referees are local folk heroes, but it's still not Death Valley. This isn't going to be a cakewalk, as Ole Miss is more athletic and capable, than it has been in years at football. Jevan Snead is a proven, albeit sometimes inconsistent quarterback. He can get it done-as can their head coach, Houston Nutt, who is equally capable at his craft. Beating the Rebels without the senior leadership and talent of Charles Scott will be difficult. Are the Tigers up for a fight? Can the offense muster the courage and pride to play together for four quarters and execute? That is the key question for LSU.

LSU's defense will again be tough. They have been the one staple the Tigers can count on this season, and they should again play well against Ole Miss. However, the Tiger offense will have to awaken if the Tigers are to return home happily for the season finale against the Hogs. Saturday night's offensive effort was just that-offensive. It was one of the worst displays of offense by a Tiger team in some time, and it is the reason I earlier noted that a coaching change may be imminent. LSU's offense has personnel better than a unit last in the league in total offense. Gary Crowton knows this; as does his highly-criticized boss.

Alabama and Florida on a National Championship Collision Course

The dream matchup is now in place. Only pesky Auburn stands in the way of the league having two undefeated teams in the SEC Championship Game on December 5, 2009. While it is unlikely that Auburn will win, you never know what might happen in