It was close but LSU’s loss to Bama wasn’t the worst

Published 8:20 am Monday, November 9, 2015

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ˜ If it‚s any consolation, LSU‚s worst loss to Alabama in the last 90 years wasn‚t the 30-16 mashing Saturday night.

Convincing, yes. Dominating, no question. Also, pretty thorough.

But according to the scoreboards it wasn‚t even close the worst.

Back in 2002, Alabama whipped the Tigers 31-0. In Baton Rouge.

Nick Saban was the coach then ˜ the coach at LSU.

Saban got that humble pie from Alabama coach Dennis Franchione ˜ it was, in fact, the week after the famed Bluegrass Miracle ˜ and Bryant-Denny Stadium doesn‚t even a statute outside its gates to honor Franchione.

So, perhaps it‚s comforting to know that solving the Tide sometimes eluded even St. Nick.

Beyond that, I can‚t help much.

Miles lost to Bama and Saban for the fifth straight time Saturday, and if this wasn‚t the ugliest, it was surely the most convincing.

Two of the last three, the Tide needed near-miracle last-minute drives to avoid the LSU upset bids that Tigers, frankly, should have won.

The one in between, in Tuscaloosa circa 2013, ended up 38-17, but it was far more competitive, a back and forth game with legitimate counterpunches until the Tide pulled away in the fourth quarter.

LSU‚s last victory, the 9-6 slugfest in the 2011 Game of the Century, was followed by Miles‚ bold pronouncement that he‚d be „honored to have a rematch with this fine Alabama team.‰

It turned out to be a foolish wish, although in the end he wasn‚t really consulted when the Tide did get that do-ever in the BCS championship game.

You could make the argument that LSU hasn‚t really been the same since that 21-0 Alabama beatdown in the Superdome.

But that‚s an argument for another day.

For now, let‚s just say LSU doesn‚t want a rematch with this particular Alabama team. Not this year.

Saturday, the way LSU was getting manhandled it looked like the Tigers were quite fortunate to stay within two touchdowns.

It could have been really embarrassing.

A rematch might just see the scoreboard play out to reflect the carnage on the field.

This year supposedly had a chance to be different.

LSU‚s recent near-misses with the Tide would have true shockers.

This time it was a different pregame tune.

There was a boycott on using the term „Game of the Century,‰ but only because Alabama had a loss.

LSU was an underdog, of course ˜a full touchdown ˜ but was actually ranked higher, for whatever that‚s worth.

The unbeaten Tigers became a popular upset choice, a physical team not afraid of having sand kicked in its face.

And this year LSU had learned to throw (and catch) a forward pass.

Three of the four pickers on ESPN‚s Game Day picked LSU to win, and it‚s not all show business there.

And then …

From the minute the game kicked off, you know all of that was wishful thinking at best.

Not to bore you with stats, but this doesn‚t add up to a mere 14-point game:

l Bama outgained LSU by more than double, 434-182.

l Time of possession was within a few seconds of doubling the Tide‚s way, 39:27-20:33.

l LSU‚s offense never stayed on the field for more than six plays; Alabama ran off the final 9:18 of the clock with a 13-play drive, and it wasn‚t even its longest of the game. That was 15 plays that, to LSU‚s credit, ended with only a field goal in damage.

l LSU‚s Heisman frontrunner, Leonard Fournette, was held to 31 yards; Bama‚s Heisman hopeful, Derrick Henry, rolled up 210.

That‚s pretty tough to beat.

Miles blamed himself, told the Tigers afterwards that „This one is on me.‰

„I didn‚t prepare them as well as I could of,‰ he later explained. „This football team is much better than they showed tonight.‰

But I‚m not sure what else Miles could have done.

When you‚re getting whipped up front, it kind of limits you.

And, if not LSU, then who? The Tigers are supposedly the one team physical enough to line up man to man with the Tide.

It works for LSU pretty well, especially the hint of a passing game to go with it.

But there‚s physical. And then there‚s Alabama physical.

If anything, Saturday suggested that the gap is widening between the two physically.

But maybe there is a way.

Maybe LSU needs a new tactic.

Alabama actually lost to Ole Miss at home this year. The Tide was quite fortunate to beat Tennessee, also at home.

Those evidently weren‚t the same Alabama teams that LSU saw Saturday night.

Nobody was beating the Alabama team the Tigers got. And maybe that‚s the key.

Maybe LSU needs to lay low instead of jumping in with both feet and embracing the notion of this annual Game of the Year and being the SEC‚s Great Hope to Derail the Tide.

Apparently it  only gets Bama‚s attention. And that seems to really annoy the Tide.