Just play the game, LSU

Published 8:07 am Friday, November 4, 2016

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The general consensus, you may have heard, is that Ed Orgeron can probably end the LSU search for a permanent coach in 60 football minutes Saturday night against Alabama.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Not sure that’s true.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But everyone seems to be pulling for him.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">And by everyone, I don’t mean just the Cajuns down on the bayou who’d like to see a kin-cousin take over LSU football. It’s not even limited to only LSU fans.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The whole world not tinged in Bama crimson, even those from the country precincts who could care less who LSU’s next coach is, will be in his corner.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">That’s the way it is when you’re the week’s designated hope to knock off the Evil Empire.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Well …</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">He doesn’t need it, certainly didn’t solicit it, but I would have one bit of advice for Orgeron’s potential life-changing moment come Saturday night.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Just play the game.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Play football.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Just play it and see what happens.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Let defensive coordinator Dave Aranda do his mad-scientist number in the lab and cook up a plan to contain the Bama beast. He’s good at it. And then trust his plan.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Let reinvigorated offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger come up with some ball plays, preferably some that keep getting LSU playmakers in space, and accept the fact that not all of them are going to work.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But there’s no need to try to re-invent football for one night.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Mainly, dismiss any notion that there’s a perfect, mistake-free game lurking in there somewhere that might be the answer. It just ain’t happening.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Never has, never will.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But there’s such a thing as giving a team like Alabama too much respect.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Dwayne Thomas, the chatty LSU defensive back, was maybe pushing the envelope a tad when he guaranteed last week that the Tigers will “dominate” the Tide this week.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">It sent shock waves through LSU fans afraid that it might awaken a sleeping giant and — horror of horrors — end up prominently on the Crimson Tide bulletin board (assuming such a shrine actually exists).</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">News flash: Alabama already knew who LSU was. It’s why the Tide takes its open date the week before.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Subhead to the news: The Tide’s likely reaction was, “Who’s Dwayne Thomas?”</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Bottom line: The coin flip will have more effect on the game.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Orgeron didn’t seem thrilled by Thomas’ foray into free speech either, promising to have a heart-to-heart with the wayward lad (who has been silent this week).</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But, in a looney, foolhardy sort of way, maybe he had the right idea.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Maybe it’s better to not feel like you have to tiptoe around the nation’s No. 1 team.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">And pay no heed to the learned minds who are speculating that it might Nick Saban’s best team.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Just go out and play. You never know what might happen.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The game is in Tiger Stadium. That really is a plus.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">There was a time, of course, when Bama used to treat the joint like it was on spring break at the Flora-Bama.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">No more.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Bama’s last two trips to Baton Rouge were with Tide teams probably equal to this one and, on the other side, there was little from LSU at the time to suggest more than a speed bump in the way.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">If nothing else, this LSU team has people curious to see what the re-energized Coach B?B? influence will have in a truly big game.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Saban swore off luck after the Bluegrass Miracle while at LSU, but let’s just say that he and Bama were fortunate to get out with late victories both times.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LSU led both in the final minute.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">In fact, in both instances — though I don’t know what Thomas’ exact definition of “dominate” is — the Tiger bordered on it for most of the second halves.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Trouble was, by the time the Tigers realized it, it was too late.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">They never seemed to get comfortable with the notion.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Bama had no reason to apologize in either instance.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But in 2012, it was Zach Mettenberger’s breakthrough game at quarterback.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LSU had 435 yards of offense against the Tide that night, which was more than the Tigers managed earlier that year against something called Towson.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">LSU was doing fine just slugging it out and letting Mettenberger wing it around.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">But Les Miles likely got too cute. The game plan probably called for joy buzzers and whoopee cushions, and they were going to use them whether they needed them or not.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The Tigers’ usual plays were really annoying the Tide, but the Mad Hatter stuff went awry.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">A fake field goal (on fourth-and-12) blew up in their face, as did an unforced onside kick and other ill-advised tomfoolery.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Bama got a winning drive and scored its national championship-saving touchdown with 43 seconds remaining.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">Two years later, the Tigers had forgotten how to throw the ball, but managed 100 yards more offense than the Tide, who had one first down in the second half before a late field goal drive forced the overtime that sealed LSU’s fate, 20-13.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">I’m sure, right now, up front, LSU would take a lead in the final minute this week, no questions asked.</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyBody">The key is to be comfortable with it.</span>

<span class="R~sep~AZaphdingbatdot7pt">l</span>

<span style="font-weight: bold;" class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">Scooter Hobbs</span> <span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">covers LSU</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">athletics. Email him at</span>

<span class="R~sep~ACopyEditors~sep~endnote">shobbs@americanpress.com</span>