Not sure why you think we should have rolled LSU 35-7?
Because:
a) I watched the game the night it was played on November 8, 1986
b) my memory was featured on "60 Minutes" as being rather incredibly accurate long-term
c) even if it wasn't, I have the original broadcast on DVD that I can check at any time
d) Van Tiffin missed only his second FG of the year in the first qtr (distance, wide right) from 41 yards (3 pts)
e) Shula had a perfect game going and threw an interception in the end zone...on first down (3-7 pts lost) when he suddenly overthrew Stafford (it's not like LSU made a great play)
f) third and goal on the five in the third qtr, begs for a run........toss into triple coverage that nobody got, settle for three
g) after getting a first down to start the fourth qtr, Bobby Humphrey fumbled that LSU recovered at their own 17 (given Tiffin's range, this was at least a loss of three points as well most likely)
h) Humphrey got hit at the one and fumbled into the end zone and LSU recovered - that one indisputably cost us 7 points
So we lost between 7 (for absolute certain a Humphrey was falling into the end zone) and as many as 24 (everything goes well) points. We score ten, putting us between a final total of 17-34 points. I was, however, incorrect about one thing since I thought one of LSU's TD's was an interception on a deflection, so they'd still have 14.
We knocked out their starting QB (the backup go their first TD drive, Guidry). They had 14 points at halftime and never came close to scoring in the second half - no field goal attempt, nothing. We ran up and down the field on them all night long and all we got after an early TD was one field goal.
We should have beaten them pretty good. 35-7 may be a slight exaggeration, but we should have beaten them AT LEAST 20-14 or better. We got flagged for 88 yards in penalties and turned the ball over THREE TIMES in the fourth quarter, only one of which was really anything they did (the pick).
Btw - this is NOT uncommon in the LSU-Alabama game. They should have beaten us in 1998 by a final of about 30-7, too, but we held on and came back and won. We should have won in both 2007 and 2011 regular season, too, while they probably should have won 1999. It's a strange rivalry to say the least.
The Tigers won The SEC outright, and finished #10 in The AP. Also, in 1985 Bama was VERY lucky to coax a tie outta Baton Rouge. We should have beaten LSU, but it was a strange night, and they were a good team.
Oh they were a good team no doubt but we gave them that one - gave it to them on a silver platter with a sugar bowl on top. Made me sick. In 1985, yeah we got lucky since their kicker missed a chip shot at the end. They owned us that second half I remember except for the drive we scored on.
I also think Alabama tends to get everybody's best shot, every year - but we might have had a bigger target in 1980.
Up to a point. In the SEC, almost certainly. Depends on some of the other teams. But yeah 1980 more so than in 1986 when we'd been down for a bit (for us anyway).