The stadium appeared half empty. The weather was terribly rainy and cold. The opponent was unattractive and it was the weekend before Thanksgiving, with many students already off campus for the week. Furthermore, it was a late start at 8pm
There was always the concern of a letdown, of not being motivated against an inferior non-conference opponent, with an interim coach, caught between SEC games.
The game notes reminded us that UAB beat LSU, 13-10, on September 23, 2000 at Tiger Stadium in Nick Saban’s first year on the job in Baton Rouge.
There was bad history. It was a night where LSU needed to overcome distractions, focus and take care of business.
Instead of focusing on bad history, Tigers are focused on making history.
LSU was up to the challenge Saturday night to secure a 41-10 victory.
The negatives in the race were clear. LSU’s special teams game continues to be a disaster.
The Tigers gave up a huge kickoff return to set up a UAB fumble, committed a personal foul on a punt return that cost LSU great field position and missed an extra point.
John Emery continues his troubling trend of not having the ball secure, flippantly fending off a pair of promising drives in UAB territory.
At this point, Brian Kelly just can’t trust him. Emery had to make more moves in this game with Josh Williams sitting out and Armoni Goodwin also injured. The older person who has relapsed may have lost faith in the process.
Of course, the positives were also clear and far outweighed the negatives.
LSU had scored touchdowns on its first two possessions and the Tigers were on their way to a third score in as many possessions when Emery sacked him.
The Tigers came right back and drove 79 yards in 12 plays with Noah Cain scoring to make it 21-10 with 5:20 to play in the half.
They then drove 56 yards in four plays and Cain scored his third touchdown and LSU was up 28-10 at halftime.
Jayden Daniels accounted for 307 yards passing and rushing in the half as LSU racked up 355 yards.
LSU was a perfect 6 of 6 on third down conversions at the half.
LSU’s defense got off to a shaky start, but Matt House made adjustments as he always does, and the unit’s play picked up dramatically.
The Tigers drove 57 yards in six plays with Daniels scoring with 6:50 to play in the third quarter to give LSU a 34-10 lead.
Daniels capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas to cap a nine-play, 86-yard drive to make it 41-10 with 9:46 to play in the game.
LSU never trailed. The result was never in doubt.
There was no disappointment on senior night.
It was Cain’s night, with three strikes.
It was a very good night for Malik Nabers with seven catches for 129 yards.
Kayshon Boutte didn’t play and LSU didn’t miss him.
It was a big night for Daniels, who completed 22 of 29 for 297 yards and a touchdown and rushed 12 times for 111 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 408 yards.
Garrett Nussmeier entered the game with just over 8:30 to play in the game.
LSU finished with 565 yards of offense and just 48 yards rushing against the Blazers.
So now it’s in College Station.
Texas A&M snapped a losing streak with an unimpressive win over UMass.
It’s been an extremely disappointing season for the Aggies, but you know they’ll show up loaded for the Tigers next Saturday.
LSU will have to bring it.
I picked LSU to win eight games before the season started, expressing confidence in Kelly and his staff, a few returning standouts and solid additions through the transfer window and recruiting.
Many people told me in e-mails and on my radio shows that I was too ambitious. Some even claimed that I was crazy, that I was wrong.
Turns out I was wrong.
I underestimated these Tigers.
It’s now nine wins and counting as LSU mounts a challenge to actually make the College Football Playoff, an amazing and surprising feat for a program that had 39 scholarship players when Kelly arrived.
Kelly arrived. LSU has arrived, earlier, perhaps much earlier than anyone anticipated.
LSU defeated UAB 13-10 on September 23, 2000 at Tiger Stadium.
