Sliding Truths

The truth can be elusive sometimes. It’s rarely as evident or simple as people want it to be. It’ll bend itself, reposition itself, and sometimes even hide. Throughout this season, there have been several “truths” widely accepted regarding the LSU Football team. They have no offensive identity. Their coach is a lucky buffoon. They lack the ability to win a signature game against a top flight opponent. They have a duo of inept quarterbacks who can’t make the plays necessary to win a big game. You get the picture.

The fact is, at different points throughout this up and down season, all of those things have seemed accurate. But after a season defining win over the hated Alabama Crimson Tide the question has to be answered-

What’s true now?

In Tiger Stadium yesterday LSU answered the bell in a way that we haven’t seen from this team before. Most in the media, including this blogger, expected the Tigers to be bystanders to a Crimson storm in their home stadium. Alabama was thought to be too well coached, too talent rich and too experienced to be defeated by a group that seemed to still be searching for its voice. Everyone was wrong. The Tigers found their voice and they roared. Starting with Jordan Jefferson, LSU played with a confidence and moxie that almost had the resemblance of championship swagger. They hit harder than Bama. They ran faster than Bama. Essentially, they set an intensity bar and dared Saban’s boys to jump over it and on this day they Tide tripped.

The performance of Jefferson himself simply can’t be understated. He showed in one game what he’s truly made off. He stepped up and made confident throws starting with the 75 yard frozen-rope scoring strike to Reuben Randle, and ending with another laser to that same receiver for a huge 2 point conversion. Jefferson also accounted for the signature play of the contest when he sacrificed his body for a Block on All-American Safety Mark Barron to spring the gamebreaking play. The block was perfectly executed and showed that he simply wanted it more. Over the course of this season a lot of people stopped believing in Jordan, I actually think that at some point he probably stopped believing in himself a little as well. But he never stopped believing in LSU, or his teammates, or his coach. His play on Saturday confirmed that for me. While I’m still not sure if this is a harbinger of things to come from him, or his one shining moment, what I am sure about is that this is HIS moment. Relish it Jordan, you played great.

There’s something else though. Something else that can’t be ignored as I wax poetic about the victory. Reuben Randle dropped a big pass in the first quarter, then came back and made three huge plays. Josh Jasper missed a field goal then came back and nailed one that essentially put the game out of reach. Jarrett Lee was ineffective the entire day, and then drilled what might have been the prettiest pass I’ve ever seen in no doubt the biggest moment of his career, on National TV and in front of a small town sized live audience. They all failed, none of them quit. None of them ate themselves alive like us fans try to sometimes. Why is that? What does that speak to?

Unfortunately for all of us who’ve been putting up notices in the College Football want ads, it’s coaching. They play hard and they play with short memories because they play for Miles. He’s not a great strategist no matter what Chavis says. He’s not a great time manager. But he’s a phenomenal leader. He believes in them and they believe in him. Does he always put them in the best position to succeed? Not in my opinion. Do they break there asses trying to succeed wherever he puts them? Unquestionably. This team is a not even a team. It’s a family led by the kooky uncle. The same uncle that they all know would sell his antique South American coin collection to send them to college. The uncle that from the outside looks like he has no handle on anything, but from the inside may have a handle on just one thing; how to inspire those that care about them. Coach Miles has earned a little break from the Jackals, and I’ll be the first Jackal to eat my crow and get off them man’s back.

Great game from all you guys. I couldn’t be more proud.

Geaux Tigers.