FEINSWOG: Understanding A Painful Path

Oh, Bama… LSU nearly got you Saturday night.

by Lee Feinswog
Tiger Rag Featured Columnist

Oh, so close.

But when it was all said and done, despite all LSU had to show for it, Alabama had done what it needed to stay No. 1 in the land.

LSU played its best game of the season, especially on defense. You give up two touchdowns on offense, you should win instead of losing 27-21 in overtime.

“This one here is painful, there isn’t any question,” LSU coach Les Miles said.

What made it tougher was despite all that went wrong – Jarrett Lee’s four interceptions, including one that was run back for a touchdown late in the second quarter and then one in the first overtime that opened the door for Bama – LSU was right there.

But overtime hasn’t been kind to Miles second season, not even last year when the Tigers won the national championship. In Miles’ first year at LSU, 2005, in a season convoluted by Hurricane Katrina, his first home game ended in an overtime defeat to Tennessee. Later that season LSU beat both Auburn and Alabama in OT. In 2006, LSU beat Ole Miss in OT.

Last season, the Tigers’ only defeats were in triple overtime, first to Kentucky and then to Arkansas, sparking Miles’ line about never losing a game in regulation.

But that seems like such a long time ago, when LSU had experienced quarterbacks and a swagger befitting a champion.

Now LSU is 6-3 this year, giving Miles his most defeats in one season after campaigns of 11-2, 11-2 and 12-2.

While Alabama is 10-0 and hoping to hoist the BCS glass football, LSU is fighting for its big-bowl life.

Ahead are Troy, filling next Saturday’s open date because of the mess caused by Hurricane Gustav the first week of September, then Ole Miss and Arkansas.

LSU should win all three and if it does, it might look back on a tremendous effort against Alabama as a turning point on a night when its defense put together its best effort and a young quarterback took another – albeit painful step – toward maturity.

Lee threw an interception into the end zone on LSU’s first possession in OT, which turned out to be its last.

(At left) Nick Saban won in his first visit back to Tiger Stadium. (Photo by J. Sam Frake)

“It was just an adrenaline rush, trying to make a play in overtime,” he admitted.
“Just trying to make a play when it wasn’t there.”

Off the field, there is no more mature player than the 19-year-old Lee, a redshirt freshman who handles himself like a veteran pro.

He’s thrown 14 interceptions this season and a remarkable six have been returned for touchdowns.

While Lee is own worst enemy, he’s also unlucky, because he’s been plagued by drops, weird tips and simply bad QB karma.

But until he learns when to take a sack, throw the ball away at the right time and not try to win the game all by himself, well, LSU will struggle.

Miles loves his spirit. We love his patience in post-game interview sessions, never ducking the media and always taking the high road as he answers every question and never assigns blame to anyone else.

Miles sees that down the line Lee will be a really good one. What he does well he does really well and that will only get better.

“We’re gonna work hard and have a great week of practice and bounce back,” said the indomitable Lee.

And, when asked if the game was fun because of the atmosphere – a record-breaking crowd of 93,039 in Tiger Stadium – and the fierce competition, Lee realized it was.

“But I think one of my problems was I didn’t make it fun and I should have made it more fun than it was,” Lee said. “Sometimes I got down on myself and sometimes the adrenaline rush got to me. That’s one thing I need to do is calm myself down and make it more fun.”

On the other side, LSU’s defense, which was torched by Florida and Georgia, allowed just two touchdowns and should have been able to claim a victory because it.

“Yeah, but we lost,” senior linebacker Darry Beckwith said.
“It was a great defensive game, but not enough,” LSU senior defensive end Kirston Pittman said. “We fought hard but we didn’t put enough on the line tonight.”

In the meantime, Alabama and coach Nick Saban march on to the Southeastern Conference Western Division title LSU won last year, while LSU soothes its wounds as it prepares for the last fourth of the regular season.

This is new territory for Miles as coach at LSU.

“I certainly don’t enjoy it, but I understand it,” Miles said quietly. “I understand the path.”

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Longtime Baton Rouge sportswriter Lee Feinswog is the host of the weekly live television show Sports Monday and the author of two books. Call him at (225) 926-3256 or email sportsmonday@aol.com and he’ll gladly sell you a signed copy of “Tales From the LSU Sidelines” or “HoopDaddy,” about fathers, sons and basketball.