In general it is very common for people to witness the same event at the same time and walk away with totally opposite views and opinions. Such is the case for the Alabama/LSU game November 4th.
It seems if you talk to LSU fans after Saturday's game the opinion of many of their fans is "We're overrated", "Not the best team in the country" and "We got lucky".
But for me, I saw an LSU team who had two weeks to gameplan, two weeks to rest up and ten months to fester on the most embarrassing loss in school's history. LSU had the advantage of arguably the toughest place to play for a visiting team in college football in a night game at Tiger Stadium. They had a Tide team coming off playing two out of their last three games on the road. No two weeks to rest, gameplan, and heal any nagging injuries to key players.
I saw LSU put together their most complete and balanced offensive game of the entire season, had their quarterback play a game that more than likely he won't replicate again this season (possibly his career). Their coaching staff having their players mentally, emotionally and physically ready for this game. The crowd creating an extremely hostile environment.
Taking all of the above into consideration here's what I saw. I saw Bama come into their house, take LSU's best punches and get up and still have enough in them to deliver the deadliest right hand of the night. They (LSU fans) can cry "luck" all they want but this game didn't end on a freak bounce of the ball. This game wasn't decided on some bad call. This game was decided by LSU throwing everything they had at Bama and it still not being enough. I call that a true champion. The LSU fans can rub the "lucky" salve on their fight wounds all they want in order to make them feel better for their second consecutive loss to Bama in 2012. But in the end Bama proved to be championship caliber and more than worthy of their #1 ranking. For Bama to have what happened to them Saturday night in that venue and win in the manner they did is far from "lucky". Ultimately, we might not win the BCS National Title. It's tough to repeat. We've got some injuries mounting up with four consecutive games left to play with no bye week to rest or heal. But one things for sure. What I saw Saturday night at the vaunted Death Valley, where in the words of Les Miles "...is truly a place where opponents' dreams go to die." I witnessed a Bama team go in there and not succumb to an avalanche of obstacles and adversities. But find the focus, heart and drive to overcome and knock out a worthy opponent.
It seems if you talk to LSU fans after Saturday's game the opinion of many of their fans is "We're overrated", "Not the best team in the country" and "We got lucky".
But for me, I saw an LSU team who had two weeks to gameplan, two weeks to rest up and ten months to fester on the most embarrassing loss in school's history. LSU had the advantage of arguably the toughest place to play for a visiting team in college football in a night game at Tiger Stadium. They had a Tide team coming off playing two out of their last three games on the road. No two weeks to rest, gameplan, and heal any nagging injuries to key players.
I saw LSU put together their most complete and balanced offensive game of the entire season, had their quarterback play a game that more than likely he won't replicate again this season (possibly his career). Their coaching staff having their players mentally, emotionally and physically ready for this game. The crowd creating an extremely hostile environment.
Taking all of the above into consideration here's what I saw. I saw Bama come into their house, take LSU's best punches and get up and still have enough in them to deliver the deadliest right hand of the night. They (LSU fans) can cry "luck" all they want but this game didn't end on a freak bounce of the ball. This game wasn't decided on some bad call. This game was decided by LSU throwing everything they had at Bama and it still not being enough. I call that a true champion. The LSU fans can rub the "lucky" salve on their fight wounds all they want in order to make them feel better for their second consecutive loss to Bama in 2012. But in the end Bama proved to be championship caliber and more than worthy of their #1 ranking. For Bama to have what happened to them Saturday night in that venue and win in the manner they did is far from "lucky". Ultimately, we might not win the BCS National Title. It's tough to repeat. We've got some injuries mounting up with four consecutive games left to play with no bye week to rest or heal. But one things for sure. What I saw Saturday night at the vaunted Death Valley, where in the words of Les Miles "...is truly a place where opponents' dreams go to die." I witnessed a Bama team go in there and not succumb to an avalanche of obstacles and adversities. But find the focus, heart and drive to overcome and knock out a worthy opponent.