LSU Tigers Football: Of Quarterbacks, Peaks, & Valleys

The 2014 season for LSU Tigers football has been one where discussion of the quarterback situation has dominated, and where the team and its fans have experienced the types of peaks and valleys one may encounter on a roller coaster, if not life itself. My intent here is not to wax poetic, or to suggest that football games are more important than one may experience in their everyday life. It merely seems like a good time to let off some steam, and perhaps I speak on behalf of other Tiger fans who feel the same way.

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It is a fairly quiet Monday, as LSU enters an open week, and as such, there is no “Lunch with Les” scheduled today. That may actually be a good thing, given what has occurred the past two games; two LSU losses, and a re-emergence of a valley, arguably one even lower than experienced just a little over a month ago. This after a peak, one that provided a spark of hope for perhaps a special season, notwithstanding the mostly inadequate quarterback play.

The season is not over yet, and maybe it’s too early to lament about what could have been. The roller coaster of emotions prompts me to do so now. Hopefully I’ll be writing a follow-up piece to this one celebrating a nice peak to end the season.

It is hard to believe that on October 4th, after the 41-7 thrashing at Auburn, coming on the heels of the 34-29 loss to Mississippi State two weeks prior, many who follow LSU were predicting a winless season in SEC play. Starting out 0-2 was unfamiliar territory for many of us, and the Auburn loss left quite a bad taste in the collective mouths of the LSU faithful. The loss to Mississippi State hurt; however, the sting would diminish in subsequent weeks as the Bulldogs powered their way to a 9-0 record heading into this past weekend.

The Auburn and Mississippi State losses represented the first valley of the season, and begged the question – how would the Tigers react to an 0-2 start, especially when staring at a visit to The Swamp and Florida? After all, the usually strong LSU defense had been stomped on, and the quarterback position left much to be desired.

As things would play out, our heroes from Baton Rouge rose to the occasion, and not only emerged from The Swamp with a win on a last second field goal, 30-27, but would reel off a total of three consecutive wins. Back in the friendly confines of Death Valley, the Tigers completely dominated an out-manned Kentucky squad 41-3, evening the SEC record at 2-2, and setting up a showdown with then-undefeated Ole Miss.

In throwback fashion to the days of football yore, a la “three yards and a cloud of dust,” and dominating defenses, LSU edged Ole Miss 10-7. The win represents the season’s peak, and prompted fans and media types alike to talk about SEC West chaos and possible five-way ties that included the LSU Tigers. Excitement and anticipation were at a fever pitch with the Alabama game looming on the horizon. The once-maligned LSU defense restored order and returned to what is expected of an LSU defense. The quarterback position was still flawed, but managing and not hurting the team. The Tigers established themselves on offense as a run-first team, and doing so successfully.

On November 5th, LSU played Alabama to a 10-all stalemate with 1:13 to play in regulation. That’s when the highest of highs would lead to the lowest of lows. An Alabama fumble was recovered by LSU on the Alabama 6-yard line. The Tigers were in business and were going to punch in a touchdown. Even Dan Borne, the Tiger Stadium PA announcer, implored Tiger fans not to rush the field, as had been done two weeks earlier after defeating Ole Miss. Right after the Tigers first play that netted no gain, the usual pushing and shoving ensued, leading unbelievably to a personal foul call against LSU. This backed the Tigers up to the Alabama 21, and forced a field goal that gave LSU a 13-10 lead.

I won’t rehash in detail what happened after, only to say that a poor kickoff gave Alabama the ball on its 35, and the Alabama quarterback led a game-tying drive in the final :50 seconds of regulation, and then to the game-winning score in overtime. LSU dominated the game by controlling the clock, and successfully running the football. A number of dropped passes and an interception kept the game close. A heartbreaking and gut-wrenching loss all in one, bringing to four the current losing streak to our rivals from Tuscaloosa.

Then there’s Arkansas, and a shutout loss to a team that had lost 17 straight SEC games. The streak broken against our Tigers. A woefully bad offensive showing handcuffed LSU, even though the LSU defense played well enough to win. A precipitous fall in a only a week’s time.

So we now find ourselves at another low point. A record of 7-4, 3-4. Two consecutive losses for only the second time during Les Miles’ ten years at LSU. A chance still to win nine games, but also a chance to remain stuck at seven.

And what of the quarterbacks? Anthony Jennings is not the long term answer. If that’s the case, why have we seen so little of Brandon Harris? Is it a case of he’s just not ready, or is there something more to it? Why didn’t Harris play against Arkansas, when just maybe he could have provided a spark? Who will get the start against Texas A&M on November 27th, and then in whichever bowl game LSU finds itself in? What about next year? Many questions, and few answers. Miles keeps things close to the vest, so we’ll likely never know until it happens, with many unanswered questions to remain.

It’s easy to get down on the team. We’ve all done it at one time or another. Right now, though, we need to keep the faith that the Tigers will rebound from this adversity, and that ultimately, the coaching staff will make the correct personnel decisions.

Geaux Tigers!

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