I have never been a big saver of ticket stubs from sporting events — maybe I should be as the stubs from 13 out of 14 games last season would have made a great keepsake. However, I will save my ticket stub from Saturday’s game against LSU.
That game, more than any other I have ever attended, had everything that makes SEC football the best conference in college football and everything that makes college football the best sport in the land. Even in defeat, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the game and that it will be a game I’ll remember as long as I follow sports.
If you were there — if you saw the sights, heard the sounds, and felt the energy in the stadium — you know what I mean and I hope you agree. This was a match up between two highly regarded and respected opponents who are fortunate to play every year – our only “rivalry” match with the SEC West. The game had national title and SEC implications.
It was played under the lights on a beautiful campus with perfect weather in front of a record crowd with a national television audience. Attendance was 92,910 inside the stadium. Baton Rouge police estimated the crowd on campus for the pregame tailgating festivities was between 160,000 and 170,000, based on the number of cars and the distance they were parked away from the stadium. Tickets were being scalped for $2,000, and the folks who paid it got their money’s worth.
We jumped to a quick lead, driving 47 yards on our first possession and kicking a 32-yard field goal. We threatened to get a big lead early when Joe Haden intercepted a Matt Flynn pass on the ensuing possession and returned it to the LSU 45. The LSU defense rose to the occasion though, and we fell into a bit of a defensive struggle over field position for the rest of the first quarter. We opened the second quarter driving, and scored a touchdown to take a 10-0 lead. LSU needed a touchdown and got one after going for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line capping a 16-play, 80-yard drive that chewed up 7:37 of the game clock. We answered with a drive of our own to take a 10-point lead into the locker room at half time.
We were feeling pretty good in the Gator Nation, but knew we’d be in for a fight in the second half, we just didn’t know it would be likely the greatest half of football ever coached or played by the Tigers of LSU. Four times in the second half, the Tigers went for it on fourth down to mount their ferocious comeback. Each time, there was more and more on the line, and each time the Gators came closer to stopping them, but were never quite able to keep them down. It started in the third quarter when LSU pulled off a magnificently executed fake field goal and gained 8 when they needed 5. They kept the drive alive to score a touchdown and cut our lead to 3. We answered and took back our 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, LSU converted another fourth down on fourth-and-three from the 4 with a touchdown pass to cut our lead to 3 once again. After a devastating three-and-out, our weary defense took the field again with 60 yards to defend between LSU and their potential winning touchdown. I thought we had them at fourth-and-one at midfield, but LSU gambled again and their running back Hester picked up a yard to keep their drive alive. Later we stopped them again on third-and-two for no gain at the 7.
Down 3 points with less than four minutes to play and facing a fourth-and-two at the 7-yard line, they went for it yet again. Conventional wisdom says kick the chip-shot field goal, play defense, and win it in overtime, but this was not a conventional game. Once again, Hester delivered for LSU and two plays later plunged in on third-and-goal from the 2 to complete the comeback. The Gators were not able to produce any points in the 1:09 remaining.
The Gators played great in defeat and I look forward to the rest of the season. If we play this way the rest of the way — I’ll call my shot here — we’ll get to see these Tigers again in Atlanta. Like most sequels, it’ll likely not stand up to the original, but I still can’t wait.