A Star is Born

Wow! Of all the comebacks we’ve seen from the Tigers over the years, this one seemed the most unlikely.

At the end of the first half I had uncharacteristically given up hope. LSU had a grand total of 16 yards passing and Lee looked completely overwhelmed. The pick six he threw had me jumping out of my chair despite my limited mobility. The offensive play calling had me baffled. LSU had 13 first down plays in the half and ran 13 times. Trindon Holliday fumbled two punts and ended up getting pulled. On the positive side, the defense looked great and the punting game was solid.

Ah…but what a second half. Hatch gets knocked out and all the sudden A STAR IS BORN. Lee was brilliant in the second half. He was 11 for 17, 183 yards and 2 TD’s in the final 23 minutes of the game. Amazing. I’ll admit, at half time I was saying all sorts of nasty things about Lee and was convinced he shouldn’t see the field again. But Lee showed real maturity and grit. He should start next week. He has shown he can play in one of the toughest environments in the country and thrive. He has earned his right to start.

As sketchy as the play calling was in the first half, the second half was fantastic. The onside kick, the half back pass and the clincher, the short pass to LaFell for the go ahead touchdown were brilliant. As always, Miles is playing to win, and fans cannot ask for any more.

I think LSU has also found an identity on offense. The Tigers are a power running team that can pass the ball effectively enough to avoid being one dimensional. LSU’s defense is as strong as anyone in the country and special teams are really rounding into form. The defensive line is extremely deep and that freshness shows in the fourth quarter. The overall speed in the defense is amazing as well. After Saturday’s performance, LSU must be considered a legitimate National Title contender.