Date: September 20, 2008. Location: Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.Like many LSU Tigers, senior offensive lineman Herman Johnson circled this event on his calendar a long time ago.”I want to beat them,” Johnson said. “This is a big game. It’s like the Super Bowl for me.”The rivalry between No. 6 LSU (2-0, 0-0) and No. 10 Auburn (3-0, 1-0) has blossomed into a 21st century slugfest. No current LSU football player has won a game in Jordan-Hare Stadium. No current Auburn player has won a game in Tiger Stadium. Between the two programs, the home team has won the last eight meetings.Since 2004, a series of bizarre happenings have led fans to expect the unexpected. A mere 14 points is the combined scoring difference for the past four games.Daniel Hardt, a nationally-renowned numerologist based in Indiana, analyzed the rivalry using a complex formula of numerical calculations. The universities’ founding dates, full names and dates of the games were broken down to “personal numbers,” the foundation for numerology.”Both schools have a lot of upsetting energy,” he said. “With Louisiana State [University], the whole school is looking to be on top, no matter what happens. With Auburn, they tend to be more unpredictable and a little deceptive at times.”He added: “Louisiana State tends to play by the rules. Auburn’s attitude from the numbers, is that rules are made to be broken.”This game will break a “very interesting” nine and six numerical pattern repeated from 2004 to 2007, according to Hardt. The personal number six has favored LSU in the past four years, and the six will reoccur this year, Hardt said.Hardt analyzed the key games in the recent rivalry between LSU and Auburn.1. Date: September 18, 2004; Location: Auburn; “Personal number”: 9Auburn missed an extra point attempt to keep the game knotted at 9, but a penalty resulted in an extra try. The second attempt was good, and Auburn took the win in a heartbreaking loss for LSU.2. Date: October 22, 2005; Location: Baton Rouge; “Personal number”: 6Known as the “Field Goal Game,” Auburn missed five field goals, which helped propel LSU to a 20-17 win in overtime. LSU senior kicker Colt David said he isn’t concerned about potential nerves or missed kicks at Auburn.”We are going into their territory, but when it comes down to it, a kick is a kick,” he said.3. Date: September 16, 2006; Location: Auburn; “Personal number”: 9 Coach Les Miles filed an officiating complaint after several controversial calls in Auburn’s 7-3 win. Many fans thought receivers Early Doucet and Brandon LaFell were the victims of blatant pass interference.”I was really upset about it, because I probably would have scored a touchdown,” LaFell said. “It was a big no-call.”4. Date:    October 20, 2007; Location: Baton Rouge; “Personal number”: 6A 22-yard touchdown reception by Demetrius Byrd gave LSU the 30-24 win with just :01 remaining. Coach Tommy Tuberville recently recalled the tough loss.
“Those are hard to get out of your mind for how it happened and for what reasons it happened,” Tuberville said in a weekly press conference. “But in 2004, their team couldn’t believe that they lost the game that year, so it was like reverse roles. It is a great football game every year between two teams with a lot of respect.”5. This season:Hardt said this season’s September 20 game holds a personal number of 6, disrupting the previous 9-6-9-6 pattern. “You’re breaking the pattern, so it’s hard to know what to expect,” Hardt said.  “Anything could happen in this game.”Hardt predicts the game “should go LSU’s way,” although the home advantage could disrupt the numbers.”A 6 is a more steady, responsible number, while 9 is more emotional,” he said. “LSU works better on steady, responsible energy than the emotional energy. Auburn can go way out of the limits and try to get by with anything.”Byrd knows the odds are stacked against LSU, but he’s ready to hear a “couple of boos” and shake off the negative energy.”In the locker room we just talk about going over there and how we don’t want to lose,” he said. “We want to break that streak … go over there and come out with a ‘W’ and do what we have to do to win.”Miles isn’t one to buy into superstition, unfair advantages or a Jordan-Hare curse.”Generally speaking, the team that wins is the best team, and I believe that,” he said. “I want to go try to be the best team if we can Saturday.”
 
—-
Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]