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Started By
Message
Change two plays, and we live in a different world.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:25 am
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:25 am
I've been thinking about this since the end of football season, but haven't had a chance to post anything about it before now. Apologies if someone else has raised the same point, but I don't check the rant every day, and I easily could have missed something.
There is a lot of hype these days about the new Bama "dynasty", but many people don't realize how close we are to living in a completely different football universe. In fact, the difference is just two plays.
Let's go back to 2011 for play no. 1. If the Okie State kicker doesn't miss a late field goal (and he missed only by a couple of feet), we would have played them in the NC game and most likely beaten them. Bama would have played in the Sugar Bowl, but who cares. We would be the undefeated national champs and hailed as having one of the greatest seasons in college football history.
Play no. 2 obviously occurred at the end of our game with Bama this past season. Pick any play from our last offensive series or Bama's last drive and change the result. We would have beaten Bama for the the third straight time and would have won the West for the second straight year. Don't know if we would have beaten UGA and played for a second NC, but the larger point is, we, and not Bama, would be perceived as the program to beat in the West.
Of course, one could conceivably find two plays that would have cost us two victories during the past two seasons, but I would argue that this wouldn't alter in any appreciable way the national (and local) perception of the LSU program and its place in relationship to Bama. Change the two plays I listed above, however, and the perception of the two programs (and, I might add, the two coaches) is COMPLETELY different.
So, anyone who might be worried that there is a widening competitive gap between us and Bama should think about how close the two programs actually are....literally two plays away from switching places in the national pecking order.
There is a lot of hype these days about the new Bama "dynasty", but many people don't realize how close we are to living in a completely different football universe. In fact, the difference is just two plays.
Let's go back to 2011 for play no. 1. If the Okie State kicker doesn't miss a late field goal (and he missed only by a couple of feet), we would have played them in the NC game and most likely beaten them. Bama would have played in the Sugar Bowl, but who cares. We would be the undefeated national champs and hailed as having one of the greatest seasons in college football history.
Play no. 2 obviously occurred at the end of our game with Bama this past season. Pick any play from our last offensive series or Bama's last drive and change the result. We would have beaten Bama for the the third straight time and would have won the West for the second straight year. Don't know if we would have beaten UGA and played for a second NC, but the larger point is, we, and not Bama, would be perceived as the program to beat in the West.
Of course, one could conceivably find two plays that would have cost us two victories during the past two seasons, but I would argue that this wouldn't alter in any appreciable way the national (and local) perception of the LSU program and its place in relationship to Bama. Change the two plays I listed above, however, and the perception of the two programs (and, I might add, the two coaches) is COMPLETELY different.
So, anyone who might be worried that there is a widening competitive gap between us and Bama should think about how close the two programs actually are....literally two plays away from switching places in the national pecking order.
This post was edited on 3/12/13 at 11:35 am
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:28 am to TigerCard
If I had only picked those 6 numbers, I could have won the Powerball!
Oh, and if I had bought a ticket.
Oh, and if I had bought a ticket.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:30 am to liquid rabbit
quote:
If I had only picked those 6 numbers, I could have won the Powerball!
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:32 am to SenorTiger9
quote:
LET IT GO!
The point is NOT to rehash the past and kick ourselves over how it played out. That's over and done with. But I think some people on the board (e.g. those who are constantly questioning whether we are an "elite" program or not) need to be reminded how narrrow the gap is between us and Bama.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:34 am to TigerCard
quote:
If the Okie State kicker doesn't miss a late field goal
I don't think he did.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:35 am to LaBR4
All valid points. That is the way it goes unfortunately. Yes Bama has won the last 3 out of 4, but they have had a lot of luck and help getting to that point. The two programs are neck and neck for being the two best teams in college football over the past few years.
This post was edited on 3/12/13 at 11:36 am
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:36 am to TigerCard
This has not been discussed here before. Thanks for posting.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:36 am to LaBR4
I'm going to bring up that point return by odb in the ole miss game just because we needed desperately something to happen in that game
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:38 am to TigerCard
If LSU hadn't:
Lost 21-20 to Arkansas in 2002
Lost 10-9 to Auburn in 2004
Lost 7-3 to Auburn in 2006
LSU would have went to the SEC championship 7 years in a row.
Lost 21-20 to Arkansas in 2002
Lost 10-9 to Auburn in 2004
Lost 7-3 to Auburn in 2006
LSU would have went to the SEC championship 7 years in a row.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:39 am to TigerCard
Man I'm tired of this kind of stuff. Can't wait till next season. (although no rush for baseball season to end)
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:39 am to NorthshoreTiger76
quote:
If, If, If
If Brett Favre hadn't been so good at Southern Miss, then the early 90's would have been so much better for LSU football...
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:42 am to Nissanmaxima
quote:
The two programs are neck and neck for being the two best teams in college football over the past few years.
Thanks. That was EXACTLY the point of my post. I get so tired of hearing all the wailing and gnashing of teeth by those who think the program is "in decline," etc. when the reality is that we are right there with the best of the best, in spite of the problems we've had on offense since '07.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:43 am to gjackx
quote:
If the Okie State kicker doesn't miss a late field goal
quote:It was extremely close. I remember thinking it could've been called either way watching the replays right after it had been called no good. Had no idea at the time how much this kick/call would come back to frick us.
I don't think he did.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:45 am to Papa Tigah
Bama's luck will run out eventually. And yes, a lot of what they have accomplished recently is based on luck.
Posted on 3/12/13 at 11:47 am to TigerCard
The gap is not between "us and Bama". The gap is between Saban and Miles. ... And the gap is quickly widening.
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