I never thought football would fire me up, until I tagged along with LB this year to watch LSU football. I was a fair weather fan until LSU’s phenomenal rise to number 1 rank in the SEC. Until this fall football season, I thought SEC was an acronym for the Securities and Exchange Commission. Did you know that the SEC is the toughest conference in college football? Did I mention that LSU is ranked number 1?
Most games we watched in sports bars in Atlanta and on our annual leaf watching fall trip to the Smoky Mountains. A winning season for a home state team is an interesting phenomenon.
Some really nice guy sitting next to me at an LSU game LB and I viewed at Taco Mac explained that Southeastern conference football is a college athletic conference operating in the southeastern part of the United States. I felt inept at that point. When he started to subdivide NCAA, FBS, Division I-A, I felt like I was back in Trig class. I politely remarked that I appreciated the information, pointed to the big screen television, and yelled, “A touchback!” I have no idea if that is a good or bad play, but I have heard this term used by sports announcers. His eyes were glued to the screen. I hoped there was no replay.
Since my interest in football has peaked, I have learned some ridiculous terms used in games: birdcage, blind side, blitz, clothesline, down and out, flanker, mousetrap, and pylon . . . [ are you kidding me!] and the term most used by sports announcers: penetration. Count the times that term is used next time you watch a football game.
The LSU-Kentucky game, 35-7 LSU reminded me of a football weekend game in Baton Rouge that I attended in the 60’s with some very good friends. This fifth game of this season was played in Tiger Stadium. I remembered the fans booing the return of quarterback Jordan Jefferson who rejoined the team shortly after his suspension following an arrest for second-degree battery. Coach Les Miles, the Mad Hatter, seemed visibly upset by the fans’ reaction.
I really like defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, not only because his name sounds French, but also because he knocked the ball out of the Kentucky quarterback’s hands, picked it up, and ran 23 yards for a touchdown. That’s called a forced fumble. LSU scored 21 points in the first quarter, very embarrassing for the Kentucky wildcats. Tiger bait. Score: 35-7.
LSU’s win 41-11 over the Florida gators in the sixth game of the season was another embarrassing loss. LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee committed no mistakes according to someone. Florida seemed to make a lot of mistakes. Perhaps Jordan Jefferson redeemed himself when he added a touchdown toss on a jump pass early in the fourth quarter.
LSU-AUBURN 45-10 eighth game of the season.. To all my friends who are Auburn fans--HOOAH. It was a rough week for them when they took a beating. Guess it’s not yet their time to return to the mountaintop.
And my favorite game, LSU in Tuscaloosa wins against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Nick Saban, I understand, coached LSU to a national championship in 2003. Then he left to coach the Miami Dolphins. Aren’t they a professional team? Why yes, they are. He left the Dolphins to coach Alabama. In his fifth season, Alabama was ranked second in the country; LSU first.
Do LSU fans hate him? Do they view him as a turncoat? I think this win against Saban meant a great deal to LSU fans.
This game had lots of field goals. You gotta love that cutie Drew Allemand who kicked a 25 yard field goal in overtime to lead LSU to a 9-6 victory. He is now the poster boy for field goals, I suppose, because Alabama missed four field goals and threw a goal line interception. I kinda felt sorry for the Bama fans who sat in stunned silence after that last play. I know it takes a team to win a game, but isn’t Allemande a hero to LSU fans? I like him. Sha bebe!
LSU-GEORGIA 41-11----Nuff said.
Did I mention that I wear my rhinestone LSU shirt to every location we watch LSU play? Today I carried a folding chair bearing an LSU logo to my granddaughter’s soccer game. The LSU flag waves at the front door of our house. And LB flies LSU flags in his car windows. It’s almost overkill. I am reminded about the time the Saints didn’t play very well and Louisianians called them the Aints. Heaven forbid this fate on LSU.
We watched the Georgia-Auburn game earlier at Taco Mac. Tonight we watch LSU-Western Kentucky at home. I have no idea how Western Kentucky ranks because I have never in my life heard of them. I saw in the sports section today that they are called the Hilltoppers. I can’t wait to see what their mascot looks like.
“The stakes will be much higher this weekend when Georgia (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) takes on the Tigers (6-3, 4-2) in the Deep South's oldest rivalry. The Bulldogs are leading the SEC East and can claim a spot in the league championship game by winning their next two games against Auburn and Kentucky.” Okay, I copied that statement from an online data base.
I have no idea what this convoluted prediction means for LSU. I just hope I get to wear my LSU shirt to the grocery store if they win the game against the winner of the SEC East.
Geaux Tigers!
[BTW--Does anyone know why Les Miles eats grass while he coaches?]
[BTW--Does anyone know why Les Miles eats grass while he coaches?]
