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In the 2001 SEC Championship game, Nick Saban went for it on 4 & 1 from our own 23...

Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:33 pm
Posted by Chicken
Jackassistan
Member since Aug 2003
28297 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:33 pm
Tennessee was leading 14-7 with 4:48 left in 2nd quarter...Tennessee stuffed the play (a botched QB sneak by Rohan Davey) and the Vols took over on downs...fortunately, Tennessee ended up only getting a FG to go up 17-7.

Of course, LSU had time to come back and win...

You can absolutely question whether it made sense for Saban to do it then and for Lane to do something similar yesterday, but both coaches clearly thought the reward outweighed the risk.

Losing sucks, but beating Texas and Tennessee puts up back in the conversation...suck it up, Tiger fans!

Here is that 4 & 1 play from the 2001 SECCG for anyone interested:
Posted by Macintosh
Lane State University
Member since Sep 2011
57526 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:35 pm to
Anyone remember when he did an onside kick on the opening kickoff after a team (I think Florida) kicked up the grass that was painted for the eye at midfield during warm ups. We recovered it
Posted by rpg37
Biloxi, MS
Member since Sep 2008
55863 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:37 pm to
This game remains my all-time favorite LSU game. It was a pivotal moment in the game. LSU missed it, but players said post-game that the trust placed into their hands by Saban elevated this confidence even though the failed. The defense held UT to a FG on that drive and Corbello hit a 48-yarder just before half to get the three points back.
Posted by Byrdybyrd05
Member since Nov 2014
26920 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:37 pm to
Auburn game last game of the season due to 9/11.
Posted by rpg37
Biloxi, MS
Member since Sep 2008
55863 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:37 pm to
quote:


Anyone remember when he did an onside kick on the opening kickoff after a team (I think Florida) kicked up the grass that was painted for the eye at midfield during warm ups. We recovered it


That was the game before the 2001 SEC Title game vs. Auburn. Michael Clayton recovered.
Posted by CBandits82
Lurker since May 2008
Member since May 2012
59839 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:37 pm to
It was against Auburn.

That game was awesome.
Posted by therick711
South
Member since Jan 2008
26160 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:38 pm to
I think it was Auburn in the 9/11 makeup game.
Posted by Macintosh
Lane State University
Member since Sep 2011
57526 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:38 pm to
quote:

Auburn game last game of the season due to 9/11.
ahh okay I knew it was either Florida or Auburn
Posted by Tigerstark
Parts unknown
Member since Aug 2011
7305 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:38 pm to
I remember several players talking about how Saban doing it told the defense how much faith he had in them and gave them confidence they could stop Tennnesee

I also believe there is a big difference between a coach who barely ever went for it and one who goes for it all the time.
Posted by rpg37
Biloxi, MS
Member since Sep 2008
55863 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:39 pm to
quote:

ahh okay I knew it was either Florida or Auburn


We got drilled by Florida that year. Thank God UT beat them 34-32 in the Swamp the last week.
Posted by JYD
Pineville
Member since Oct 2003
8808 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:39 pm to
Auburn 01, I believe.
Posted by Byrdybyrd05
Member since Nov 2014
26920 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:41 pm to
Florida was a bad matchup for us.
Posted by CBandits82
Lurker since May 2008
Member since May 2012
59839 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:42 pm to
quote:

This game remains my all-time favorite LSU game


It’s probably my favorite as well, easily my favorite that I’ve seen live

Posted by prplhze2000
Parts Unknown
Member since Jan 2007
59706 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:43 pm to
Auburn 2001
Posted by rpg37
Biloxi, MS
Member since Sep 2008
55863 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:43 pm to
quote:


Florida was a bad matchup for us.


Spurrier left after that season. We destroyed them the next year in the Swamp - Blaine Bech's moment - but then they were only blemish on the 2003 season. In 2004 we beat them in the Swamp, again, after JaMarcus' disastrous start and Marcus Randall's best game in the comeback ending in the Addai screen pass TD (my favorite play design - worked against Miami in the Peach Bowl the next season).
Posted by Byrdybyrd05
Member since Nov 2014
26920 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:46 pm to
I thought after Spurrier left we would never have a boogie man in the SEC not realizing Saban would be at Bama a few years later……..
Posted by rpg37
Biloxi, MS
Member since Sep 2008
55863 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 8:48 pm to
Zook at Florida was lackluster....Meyer had a strong tenure at UF....just not very long in retrospect. Those games were THE GAME in the SEC for five years.
Posted by Bob the Terrible
Oakdale, LA
Member since Nov 2004
1280 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 9:10 pm to
2001 was a crazy season. We started off 2-2 and didn’t play Auburn on 9/15 because of 9/11.

Tulane…whooped them good. Dom Davis ran opening kick about 66 yards. First play from scrimmage of the year, Toe takes it to the house. Knew it was going to be a special year but at the time, so far from knowing how and why.

Utah State - Boring and one of those OOC games where we were just ready for Auburn. Ready for revenge after Tubberville wouldn’t take a knee and scored on us near game’s end.

Auburn — postponed.

At Tennessee - felt outmanned and still felt like we weren’t ready yet. We scored first on a Ro to Clayton bomb. But their D line pushed us around too much. Ended up a close game. 0-1 in SEC.

Florida - first home game since 9-11 and emotions were thick on a 2:30 kick day as it felt like a night game. That atmosphere disappeared quickly as Grossman and Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney torched our secondary and I mean TORCHED! We got embarrassed and now 2-2 and 0-2, we felt like it was another basic LSU year unfolding.

At Kentucky - must win. Must. Got off to a good start. Ended up letting them back in the game in typical Commonwealth Stadium fashion. Somehow, Davey found Clayton late in the game. Second Left I believe. Huge win over a tough opponent. 3-2 and 1-2. Meanwhile, Auburn is cakewalking in the SEC west.

At Miss State - this one felt good as we abominated State in typical fashion in Jackie Sherill’s last year. We looked dominant and now 4-2 and .500 in SEC.

Ole Miss. Night game and a good one loss Rebels team and Eli were in town. Even Steven until the 4th and Manning pulled away. Low low low feeling after that game as we were now 4-3 and 2-3. 4th place. Atlanta was out of the question.

Middle Tennessee - a game we just wanted to hurry up and win. Night game Tigervision. Before the game, we watched Georgia blow it at home against Auburn who were running away with the west. But we handled Middle Tennessee with ease. 5-3 and 2-3.

At Alabama - this one registered. Rohan and Josh Reed absolutely went off and Josh solidified himself as one of the best WR in LSU history. Locked up a winning season and now 6-3 and 3-3. Rohan’s 528 yards was just unreal.

Arkansas - just win and see what happens and this one was close. Rohan and Reed went off again with Reed catching a crucial 3rd down pass to ensure Arkansas didn’t get the ball back as momentum was shifting their way. 7-3 and 4-3 to end a Black Friday. The next day we got major major help from Bama, as they beat Auburn — huge iron bowl upset at Jordan Hare. And we play Auburn next week. And the winner goes to Atlanta. Stars were aligning.

Auburn — earlier that day, Florida was upset at home by UT, who would advance to Atlanta. If we were going, we’d much rather play Vols. Yall were on it…Auburn penalized 15 for stomping on the Eye. LSU scored early on a 6 play drive from the 50. Auburn and Jason Campbell and Tim Carter burned Ryan Clark a drive later and it was 7-7. Much of the first half was close but near the end of half, Ro to Reed made it 21-7. At halftime, PK Damon Duvall and the LSU band had a shoving match. The good Tigers took control on D and kept Auburn out of end zone until a mercy late TD. The west was won and for the first time ever, LSU was headed to Atlanta.

Vs UT SEC championship- most of you know what occurred. Matt Mack and Dominic Davis filled in for Rohan and Toefield and we beat the second ranked Vols. That day in Atlanta, UT fans were strolling around Buckhead with roses in their mouths. They just knew they were going beat us again and end up in the Rose Bowl vs Miami. I’ve never seen a more dejected fanbase on the subway ride back.

Illinois - we would get our 10th win in the Sugat Bowl. Rohan and Reed had their second best combo performance and the Illini were unable to stop. We looked like we could play with anyone. We had a swag. Offensive fire power with Rohan throwing for over 400 and Dom Davis rushing for 4 TDs. Josh Tees once again had over 200 yards receiving.

There’s a half arse recap of a great season as I remember it. Enjoyed that season so much.

This post was edited on 11/8/26 at 9:38 pm
Posted by Byrdybyrd05
Member since Nov 2014
26920 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 9:21 pm to
2001 was such a fun season
Posted by LSUJuice
Back in Houston
Member since Apr 2004
18083 posts
Posted on 11/8/26 at 9:31 pm to
PSA one of the SEC's first internet memes Junior and Lulu at 2:39:07 of that video.
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