Good...Bad

Good…The Mighty Spartans. If you are undefeated late in the season and in the hunt to play for a National Title, you better strap it on when playing the Spartans. Ohio State in ’98 and now Wisconsin in ’04 have fallen victim to MSU in late season upsets. My vote for Big Eleven coach of the year is John L. Smith. No one has done more with less this season. With a win over pathetic PSU, the Spartans will go bowling again.

Bad…Wisconsin. You are playing for the Rose Bowl. You are playing for a possible National Championship. You fall flat on your face. Giving up 49 points to the Spartans!! Are you kidding me. This ladies and gents, was a total meltdown.

Good…Auburn has the look of a Champion.

Bad…Georgia looks a little toothless this season. Sure, they punked LSU and Florida. But against UT and AU, the Dawgs pooped on the carpet and got spanked for it.

Good…Miami. NEVER, EVER, EVER count out the Canes. Sure, they feel asleep the last two weeks, but in the big money game they were superb.

Bad…Virginia. Can we finally agree that this team is a good second tier squad in the ACC? They have not beaten a team with a winning record and have been beaten by a combined total of 44 points by FSU and Miami. Stay on the porch ‘cause the big dogs are running all over your ass.

Good…Florida avoided a losing season with a serious beat down of South Carolina.

Good or Bad?…Spurrier to the Gamecocks? Although only a rumor, there are juicy possibilities. You think he would just love to stick it to the Gators?

Good…Scott Peterson. GUILTY.

Bad…Up next…the needle?

Good…The Contenders. USC, Auburn, Oklahoma, Utah.

Bad…Poser Material. Wisconsin.

The Big Story

The biggest story of the past week is George Bush’s triumphant reelection as President. While I could easily talk about the importance of his reelection, that’s not why we’re here is it?

The big story in college football, in my mind, is the four undefeated teams remaining with a shot at the Orange Bowl. USC, Oklahoma, Auburn and Wisconsin are all in the race for the National Title. I am amazed not at the fact that they are in the mix, but how they have gotten there.

USC has a few blowouts on the resume, but they have deftly avoided the upset bug in a few nail biters. The Men of Troy have won 4 of their games by 11 points or less, with the Stanford and Cal meetings going down to the wire.

Oklahoma has survived spirited challenges the last few weeks on the road from Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. 3 of their last 4 games have been decided by 10 points or less.

Auburn has done a better of job avoiding close games. Actually, with the exception of the one point win over LSU, The Tigers have blow everyone out with their closest margin of victory 18 points.

The Badgers lived dangerously to start the season. With a 2 point win over Arizona and a 3 point win over Purdue after a last second missed field goal, Wisconsin dodged heartbreaking losses.

All of these teams have senior leadership and a little luck added in. But this trend goes beyond these four. Texas was down by 28 against OSU this weekend then roared back to win. Oregon dropped an easy 4th down pass late in the game Saturday letting California off the hook. Louisville could not get a stop against Miami a few weeks ago to preserve a huge upset. Michigan has won three games by 3 points or less. LSU beat Oregon State and Troy by a combined 5 points. With four weeks left in the season, there are 13 teams with zero or one loss. Last season ended with no undefeated teams and only two teams with one loss (LSU and USC). What gives?

I think it is a combination of mental toughness by the winners and an inability to seal the deal by the losers. I have watched over 100 games this season (sick, ain’t it?), every single one of the games I have mentioned earlier. The favorites have consistently made plays late in games while the underdogs have been oh-so-close yet unable to make that ONE critical play, fumble recovery, an interception, a big sack, or a deep pass setting up a field goal late to seal a huge upset. It can be frustrating seeing some heavyweights slip by overmatched opponents, but it is also a pleasure to watch good teams execute in clutch situations.

Speaking of execution, I think LSU fans are going to be on the warpath after the game against Alabama. Although the streak was broken back in 2000, LSU has only beaten Alabama once in Tiger Stadium since 1969. This is a solid Alabama team with one of the nation’s best defenses. The Tide is ranked #1 in the country in total defense and pass defense, giving up only 224 yards and 107 yards per game respectively. Alabama is 6th in scoring defense giving up only 13.5 points a contest. The Tigers are no slouches though. LSU ranks #4 nationally in total defense and pass defense. Both teams will rely on the running game while on offense. But LSU has turned the ball over a ridiculous number of times this season (88th nationally in TO margin) and I look for that to continue this week. Alabama also has a big edge in special teams. The Tide is ranked #1 in KO returns and Brian Bostick is 13 for 16 in the field goal department. This game has been described as the beginning of a “3 game season.” Too bad the Tigers will get off to a rocky start.

LSU 10 – Alabama 13.

Top 5 QB's of the Past 25 Years

Rather than tell everyone what they already know, i.e., the Tigers don’t have a reliable QB, I thought I’d reflect back on the best LSU signal callers from the last 25 years. I have personally seen all these guys play, and they have very different styles. But what they held in common was the ability to make plays at critical junctures. Each has a signature victory, which LSU fans, young and old, will reminisce about for years to come.

1. Tommy Hodson - #1 in career passing yards, attempts, completions and TD passes in LSU history. This was really a no brainer. As cool as they come, Hodson orchestrated the game winning drive in 1988 in the legendary Earth Quake game against Auburn. He won 2 SEC Championships and played in three bowl games. He was All-SEC four times (86-89). Along with Y. A. Tittle and Bert Jones, Hodson is one of the best EVER to don the purple and gold.

2. Matt Mauck – I know, how can you rank the guy second when he won a National Championship? Mauck was the beneficiary of a tremendous defense and surrounded by a bevy of talent. Mauck knew how to make plays and was definitely a big game type of guy. He played masterfully in 2 SEC Championship games and who can forget the TD throw in the 2004 Georgia game. Ranking him 2^nd is not a knock on Mauck, only a tribute to Hodson.

3. Herb Tyler – In looking at the last 25 years, I cannot think another player who squeezed as much production out of his ability as Herb. He ranks in the top four in LSU history in every important career passing statistic. In addition to his passing, Tyler racked up 23 rushing TD’s. The 1997 victory over #1 Florida ranks with one of the greatest wins in LSU history. He was never appreciated fully until he was gone.

4. Rohan Davey – Injuries and that nightmare it sickens me to mention (the sorry good for nothing Josh Booty) are the ONLY reason Davey is not ranked higher. He led LSU to the 2001 SEC Championship and a Sugar Bowl victory over Illinois. He holds the single season record for yards, attempts and completions. Davey holds the SEC record for total yards in a single game for his 540 yards against the Crimson Tide in 2001. Don’t forget, LSU’s only Biletnikoff winner, Josh Reed, owes a great deal to Davey’s right arm.

5. Allen Risher – My dad calls him the smartest QB he’s seen play at LSU. The “Slidell Slinger” played from 1980 to 1982. The ’82 team, which finished 8-3-1, was a grand total of 7 points away from an undefeated season. He led LSU to a huge victory over the Criminoles as Oranges rained down on Tiger Stadium on a very special Saturday night. While he was probably less athletic than the QB’s ahead of him, he was a leader and his senior season was my first as an LSU fan. So yeah, I like the guy.