From the LSU football team’s 9-6 victory against Alabama in 2011 to three straight losses in the series, LSU’s players have fond — and some not so fond — memories of their matchups against the Crimson Tide.
The Tigers will have a chance to make more memories when they battle No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night.
Though he sat out the 2011 season due to his transfer from Kentucky, senior center Elliott Porter has seen four games against Alabama, but one stands out the most.
The 2011 Tigers came into the game with a perfect record, but it took overtime and a kick from senior kicker Drew Alleman for LSU to pull off a 9-6 win in Tuscaloosa.
“The 9-6 game was my favorite, especially to win,” Porter said. “That national championship year, it was just a great win for me. It helped us win that [Southeastern Conference] Championship. It was my favorite win over Alabama.”
Just like Porter, senior safety Ronald Martin wasn’t able to see the field during the 2011 matchup, but he also said the game had a special significance to him.
“My freshman year, when we beat them up in Tuscaloosa, when Drew kicked that field goal, and landed it and we won the game, that was a great memory,” Martin said. “It was the cap to a phenomenal year.”
Later that season, LSU and Alabama met in the BCS National Championship game as the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams, respectively. The game was the first ever matchup of two teams from both the same conference and same division in the BCS Championship.
The Tide shut out LSU 21-0, starting a streak of three straight losses for the Tigers against Alabama. Senior tight end Travis Dickson said although the game didn’t end in the Tigers’ favor, it added fuel to both the rivalry and the Tigers’ drive to win a national championship.
“That kind of left a bitter taste in our mouth at the end of the season,” Dickson said. “For a lot of us seniors, we tell the younger guys, ‘You think you’re having fun, you think you’re having a great season, but you haven’t been a part of a national championship team yet.’ And that’s kind of always been the motivation and the standard for this program.”
LSU nearly won the 2012 contest, but the Tigers let the game slip away in the final minute.
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back T.J. Yeldon to take the lead with 51 seconds left. LSU got the ball back but failed to move down the field as the Tigers’ lost 21-17.
“I remember it being one of the craziest games since I’ve been around, very crazy, very tough ending that I really didn’t enjoy and I didn’t like at all,” said junior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander. “I really don’t want to feel that again, and I’m going to do everything in my power to not have that happen again. I play that back in my head, and if we get the chance again this year, I will not let that happen.”
Although he has played in the last two games against Alabama, junior linebacker Kwon Alexander said there isn’t a certain moment that makes him excited about playing the Crimson Tide. Rather, it’s just the feeling of stepping on the field against a big rival.
“My favorite memories of playing Alabama are just playing in the game,” Kwon said. “All you need is just playing the game, and that’s motivation enough.”