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LSU's 1969 team was among its best ever, but it got 'screwed' out of a national title game
Posted on 1/6/20 at 11:39 pm
Posted on 1/6/20 at 11:39 pm
LINK /
But there is another team that is regarded as one of LSU's very best of all time. Fifty years ago, this month, LSU was 9-1 with one of its most well-rounded teams in history. It was a team believed by most to be the best ever coached by Charles McClendon – the Tigers' coach from 1962-79. But LSU had no place to go for the holidays.
There was no playoff system. The organization of the bowl system often left a lot to be desired and could be clandestine, as LSU learned. And there were only 11 bowls as opposed to 40 now, including the three playoff games.
"We got screwed," said LSU's co-captain on the 1969 team – offensive tackle Robert "Red" Ryder of Alexandria – said last week from his Baton Rouge home.
In fact, Cotton Bowl officials told McClendon going into the last Saturday on Nov. 15 before the bowl invites went out that if his then-No. 12 and 7-1 Tigers beat a 3-5 Mississippi State convincingly, LSU would go to the Cotton Bowl.
And the Tigers played one of their best games of the season, destroying the Bulldogs, 61-6, in front of 59,746 at Tiger Stadium.
"That's the thing that breaks my heart still to this day," said linebacker George Bevan, a first team All-American in 1969 along with cornerback Tommy Casanova, in a LSU video about that season.
"After we beat Mississippi State, we got into the locker room, and Coach Mac informed us that we had an opportunity to go to the Cotton Bowl," Bevan said. "The team cheered. We left that locker room that Saturday night thinking we were going to go to the Cotton Bowl."
But there is another team that is regarded as one of LSU's very best of all time. Fifty years ago, this month, LSU was 9-1 with one of its most well-rounded teams in history. It was a team believed by most to be the best ever coached by Charles McClendon – the Tigers' coach from 1962-79. But LSU had no place to go for the holidays.
There was no playoff system. The organization of the bowl system often left a lot to be desired and could be clandestine, as LSU learned. And there were only 11 bowls as opposed to 40 now, including the three playoff games.
"We got screwed," said LSU's co-captain on the 1969 team – offensive tackle Robert "Red" Ryder of Alexandria – said last week from his Baton Rouge home.
In fact, Cotton Bowl officials told McClendon going into the last Saturday on Nov. 15 before the bowl invites went out that if his then-No. 12 and 7-1 Tigers beat a 3-5 Mississippi State convincingly, LSU would go to the Cotton Bowl.
And the Tigers played one of their best games of the season, destroying the Bulldogs, 61-6, in front of 59,746 at Tiger Stadium.
"That's the thing that breaks my heart still to this day," said linebacker George Bevan, a first team All-American in 1969 along with cornerback Tommy Casanova, in a LSU video about that season.
"After we beat Mississippi State, we got into the locker room, and Coach Mac informed us that we had an opportunity to go to the Cotton Bowl," Bevan said. "The team cheered. We left that locker room that Saturday night thinking we were going to go to the Cotton Bowl."
12
Posted on 1/7/20 at 12:00 am to blackjackjackson
My dad was a junior that year. The seniors voted to not go to a bowl after they did not get the Cotton Bowl.
That trophy with the screw is in my dad’s trophy case.
The defense held teams to 38.9 yards rushing a game. Less than 400 yards for the entire year.
That trophy with the screw is in my dad’s trophy case.
The defense held teams to 38.9 yards rushing a game. Less than 400 yards for the entire year.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 12:05 am to bishop
That was my freshman year at LSU. We were screwed by the Cotton Bowl. BUT, we screwed ourselves in Mississippi Memorial Stadium in Jackson when we lost to Ole Miss 26-23. We played piss poor in that game and that ended-up doing us in when Notre Dame ended their bowl ban. If we had been 10-0 instead of 9-1, we would have played Texas for the NC no matter what ND chose to do.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 2:51 am to GeorgeWest
GeorgeWest you are right on. Old Archie beat us in Mississippi and that cost us what I believe would have been our second NC. LSU D was great and our O was for some reason that year a little more prone to throw a pass when you did not expect it. Man that team was fun to watch.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:03 am to blackjackjackson
This was Coach Mac's national championship team. Texas dodged us, because they knew we would beat them. We lost to Archie 26-23 in Jackson. Texas should have lost to number 2 Arkansas in the "game of the century", but the Longhorns won late. Ole Miss trounced Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl just like LSU would have whipped Texas. I hate Texas football to this day, and I hope that we destroy them next year in Baton Rouge.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:06 am to blackjackjackson
Dad still hates Notre dame
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:24 am to blackjackjackson
quote:
Fifty years ago, this month, LSU was 9-1 with one of its most well-rounded teams in history.
This has mostly been lost in time. I certainly don't know all of LSU's historic records although I may have seen 9-1 on a list of LSU's seasons before. But with no natty it just becomes a footnote to future generations. The same will happen to 2011. Those of us who seen it will remember the screw job, but for those who are born many years later, 2011 will be totally forgotten. That just goes to show that the only thing that matters in time is the hardware.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:28 am to blackjackjackson
I remember that ‘69 team well. My grandson was a freshman on that team. He got hurt in that Miss St game and never played again.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:40 am to 3HourTour
quote:
remember that ‘69 team well. My grandson was a freshman on that team. H
Wait a minute. You had an 18 year old grandson in 1969? Your son (or daughter had to be about 40. You must have been about 60. That would make you about 110 now, unless your family tends to get started VERY early.
Hell, even if y'all had kids at 17 years old that would make you 101.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:45 am to bishop
quote:
The defense held teams to 38.9 yards rushing a game. Less than 400 yards for the entire year.
That sounds miserable to watch. In a great way but boring as hell. Wow.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:49 am to 3HourTour
quote:
I remember that ‘69 team well. My grandson was a freshman on that team.
So your grandson was born in '51 or '52? So tell us about the Roaring '20s! What was it like growing up during WWI?
Posted on 1/7/20 at 6:53 am to EasterEgg
Maybe he meant godson.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 7:44 am to 3HourTour
quote:
remember that ‘69 team well. My grandson was a freshman on that team. He got hurt in that Miss St game and never played again.
How frickin old are you?!?!
Posted on 1/7/20 at 7:46 am to GeauxtigersMs36
quote:Terrible reason.
Dad still hates Notre dame
Posted on 1/7/20 at 8:36 am to AlxTgr
quote:
quote:
Dad still hates Notre dame
Terrible reason.
There is never a terrible reason to hate Notre Dame.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 8:41 am to EasterEgg
quote:
Those of us who seen it will remember the screw job, but for those who are born many years later, 2011 will be totally forgotten.
undefeated sec titles wont be forgotten
Posted on 1/7/20 at 8:56 am to GeologyGrad88
quote:There isn't even a good one
There is never a terrible reason to hate Notre Dame.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:12 am to Rickdaddy4188
quote:
undefeated sec titles wont be forgotten
First off, they were not undefeated; they were 13-1. Second, I said we would not forget it, but future generations will. LSU has won 16 conference titles including 12 SEC titles. Can you name all 16 years without the help of Google?
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:13 am to blackjackjackson
Even if LSU had gone to the Cotton Bowl and had won, Penn State or Southern Cal would have been #1. Texas had already won the UPI title (and the President Nixon title.)
The highest this 1969 team was ever ranked was #8.LSU was #8 when they lost to then unranked Ole Miss.There were two other SEC teams ranked higher, Tennessee and Florida.Even if LSU had beaten Ole Miss,gone and defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl it is very debatable. This article itself references "No. 12" LSU. You really think a win over #1 while ranked 9th through 12th would have capitulated LSU to #1?
Lot of mystery to the 1969 LSU team and bowls.The Sugar Bowl had offered LSU, but LSU was under the impression they could go to the Cotton. Also, Darrell Royal of Texas tried to talk Joe Paterno into playing in the Cotton. What probably happened was a lone one or two Cotton Bowl scouts led LSU to believe they were going to get a bid. But in reality the majority of Cotton Bowl execs bit on the Notre Dame rumors.
LSU could have played in the Sun or Bluebonnet and did string the Peach Bowl along for about a week before the Peach pulled its bid back.
The highest this 1969 team was ever ranked was #8.LSU was #8 when they lost to then unranked Ole Miss.There were two other SEC teams ranked higher, Tennessee and Florida.Even if LSU had beaten Ole Miss,gone and defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl it is very debatable. This article itself references "No. 12" LSU. You really think a win over #1 while ranked 9th through 12th would have capitulated LSU to #1?
Lot of mystery to the 1969 LSU team and bowls.The Sugar Bowl had offered LSU, but LSU was under the impression they could go to the Cotton. Also, Darrell Royal of Texas tried to talk Joe Paterno into playing in the Cotton. What probably happened was a lone one or two Cotton Bowl scouts led LSU to believe they were going to get a bid. But in reality the majority of Cotton Bowl execs bit on the Notre Dame rumors.
LSU could have played in the Sun or Bluebonnet and did string the Peach Bowl along for about a week before the Peach pulled its bid back.
Posted on 1/7/20 at 9:21 am to GeauxtigersMs36
It's not Notre Dame fault. It's not Texas fault either.
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