re: If y’all beat Bama, is all forgiven with Coach Eaux?

If he beats Alabama, then wins the 3 games after that, then yes, everything is forgiven for this year.

The Troy loss would still suck, but you could arguably mark it up as the necessary evil it took to get LSU going in the right direction. If the Troy loss refocused the HC, players, etc., allowed the program to gain a direction, and became the galvanizing event that led to an SEC West (potential SEC title), then so be it.

That is EXACTLY what happened in 2001. LSU got beat at UT then was crushed by Florida at home. A few games later they were beat at home by an average Ole Miss team. In fact, Saban and the team were booed going into halftime of that game. Fans were furious that Sanban and OC, Jimbo Fisher were too conservative.

The following week LSU completely opened up the offense vs. Alabama (Josh Reed game). They went on a tear to finish the season as SEC champs.