The week before the cataclysm in terms of what we know…
So it all comes down to this. We’re in rivalry week. Win here, and the single most important moment of your life returns into sequal form. (That is, unless you hate both Alabama and Florida.) Lose? And the BCS dystopia just might return in the form of Texas v. Cincinnati/TCU (but likely Cincinnati if they win out.)
But that’s a long way away. LSU was left for dead two years ago after they lost the rivalry game to Arkansas and still got themselves back into the National Championship. So why don’t I start the process.
Vanderbilt: It’s over! Next year will be better because it can’t get any worse in terms of injury and luck.
Mississippi State: Don’t sleep on a fifth win for Dan Mullen. I’m not saying it will happen. They may be out of gas. But Ole Miss has done stupid things in spades this season.
Kentucky: That was a crazy win. beating Georgia between the hedges is always a good thing. They’ve had Arrested Development versus the Vols for the better part of my nigh 30 years. But if this team somehow gets 8 before the bowl? The Hard-boiled Rich Brooks deserves Coach of the Year.
Auburn: It’s here. Iron Bowl. The chance for Malzahn-mania to have its finest hour. Win? And Alabama likely loses out on all national title privleges. Not to mention a strong candidacy for the Delicious Steak-Based Chain Food Bowl. Lose? And you’re just another 7 win team in this iteration of the SEC.
Arkansas: Recent seasons ownership of LSU bodes well. Les Miles nascent idiocy bodes well. So yeah.
South Carolina: Clemson is actually as hot as they come right now. C.J. Spiller is a man-beast and a half. South Carolina is iceberg lettuce. But yeah, they are bowl eligible.
Tennessee: From Friends of the Program…
HUTTAH!
Georgia: You can’t say it’s been close to a good year. But that’s the beauty of rivalry. Upset the BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES and you have a fine season. If not? You still get to go to a bowl. Whoo! Pizza Bowl!
LSU: Considering all the tomfoolery Les Miles has got away with? This sort of Epic Fail seems like it should have happened sooner, right? Right.
Ole Miss: A good win for Houston Nutt. LSU was all up in the bellweather team. Also a good win for Mississippi in general. 12 Ku Klux Klan members showed up. 250 people counterprotested that. For a moment, my faith in humanity has been restored. And my faith in traditional media has been darkened.
Alabama: Classy. They only played Ingram for 20 minutes. So maybe Nick Saban isn’t completely the devil. Naaaaaah…
Florida: WHOO! YOU SURE GAVE THE INTERNATIONAL FLORIDIANS THE WHOLE WHAT FOR! 62 POINTS ON A SUN BELT TEAM! CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER!
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
Les Miles cannot be blamed for the time management factor. Here’s why:
2 Ole Miss touchdowns were questionably reversed that would have put LSU on the ropes in the 1st quarter. Marshay Green’s pick-6 was called back on two flags (1st, a block in the back by a still-unanounced player; 2nd, an unsportsmanlike call for diving in the endzone with an LSU player clinging to Green’s back).
Then, in LSU’s final possession, the officials stopped the clock for 11 seconds without any reason at all to do so after a 3rd down TFL on a bad screen-pass. This was BEFORE the 17 seconds began to tick off on 4th down.
So, Les had every reason to suspect that the officials would come to his rescue again.
Pretty good win for Ole Miss, though, beating both LSU and the SEC home office all during the same game.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Plus, I forgot this one!
Another TD catch by Shay Hodge (Ole Miss) was called back by the replay booth on an unreviewable call.
The call on the field was a TD. Replay overruled on the basis that Hodge stepped out of bounds.
If a WR steps out of bounds, it is an on-the-field discretionary call unreviewable by the booth (like a holding call). The official on the field has full authority to decide whether the player stepped out on his own or was forced. The field ref saw it all, and called a TD. Replay confirmed, showing Hodge being pushed out. But in perfect Doyle Jackson style, replay stepped in and overturned an unreviewable call.
Again, with all this history going his way during the game, why should Miles have been concerned about anything so insignificant as mere “clock management”?
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:10 pm
All I’m saying is that Les Miles has developed a certain reputation based on making off-book calls and getting success off of them.
I am shocked. SHOCKED! That the officiating of a major SEC game was shaky. But a win is a win if you aren’t busy keeping down a non-BCS conference team. Ole Miss may be going to Orlando. They could crush Penn State.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:36 am
True
November 25th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Above all, I’m sick of LSU fans badgering Miles’ coaching.
After all, absent the now-universally-recognized BAD-SEC-officiating, LSU would not be in that game in the 4th quarter, much less the last 24 seconds.
Two Ole Miss touchdowns called back early in the game by suspect officiating; and the clock stopping for no reason on 3RD DOWN during LSU’s last drive (nobody seems to remember THAT unearned timeout given to LSU), and LSU isn’t even in that game.
It’s time to give Les a break, LSU fans! For heaven’s sake, your team has certainly been given a few!!!