Villains

An interesting article on ESPN.com got me thinking, “who are the great villains in LSU football?” With all humbleness I present my top 5:

Nick Saban, Head Coach of Alabama. While well on his way to the Mount Rushmore of LSU football, Saban changed directions and broke fan’s hearts by heading to the NFL. While his departure created a bit of a rift, as with all break-ups, time would heal the wounds. Or so it appeared. But after two lackluster seasons in the NFL, Saban came back to college football. Not to just any teams though. Saban became head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Just imagine if Robert E. Lee had switched sides in the middle of the civil war; or the outcry if George Washington changed sides and had led the British in the War of 1812? (Washington was well dead by then but you get the point.) He is the ultimate villain because he was one of us only to commit the ultimate college football treason.

John Bond, QB Mississippi State. Bond ran the wishbone for the Bulldogs from 1980 to 1983. This series was not always as one sided as it is now. From 1978 to 1984, LSU was 1-6 versus state. Bond played a huge part in those years going 4-0 against the Tigers. MSU averaged 36 points a game against LSU with Bond under center.

Nebraska. From 1971 to 1987, the Tigers played the Cornhuskers six times and are an ugly 0-5-1 in the series.

1971 Orange Bowl – LSU 12 – NU 17

1975 in Lincoln – LSU 7 – NU 10

1976 in BR – LSU 6 – NU 6 (Cornhuskers were ranked #1)

1983 Orange Bowl – LSU 20 – NU 21

1985 Sugar Bowl – LSU 10 – NU 28

1987 Sugar Bowl – LSU 15 – NU 30

Steve Spurrier, Head Coach Florida Gators. In 12 years coaching Florida, Spurrier was a sterling 11-1 versus LSU. What puts him in on this list though is the way those 11 wins came about. We are talking about some SERIOUS beat downs of the Tigers. Who can forget the 58-3 total destruction in Tiger Stadium in 1993? Saban wasn’t immune; in 2001 Florida came into Tiger Stadium and flogged the Tigers 44-15. In those 11 wins, the average score was LSU 10 – Florida 36.

The refs of the 2004 LSU – Auburn game. This one will be in the memory bank until doomsday. A late game no call on an obvious pass interference by Auburn was bad. But calling a flag on LSU after an Auburn missed an extra point was inexcusable. The official called a foul on an LSU player because he jumped over the pile and landed on another player. This will be my 28^th season of LSU football. I have NEVER, EVER seen that called.

Send me your thoughts on any other villains I missed.