LSU trailed six opponents this season and managed to win five come-from-behind victories.
Out of 10 regular season wins, the Tigers squeezed past six opponents – five Southeastern Conference teams – by four points or less.
“I think a lot of seasons that you’ve been around come to those games and it’s those teams who find a way to win and those teams that are willing to play their best in tight ball games,” said coach Les Miles. “Those are the teams who will win tight ball games.”
Trailing five of six opponents is the most this class has had to overcome after trailing earlier in the game. While Hurricane Katrina altered the beginning of the season, players said it helped the team become closer, which gave them an edge in close games.
“I think our team has a commitment to each other after the way the season started,” Miles said. “[You can see that] watching them on the field – watching the offense support the defense, watching the defense support the offense. I don’t think it’s chance so much as it is a team comfortable in heat and understanding – now is the time to win.”
LSU started the SEC season with an overtime loss to Tennessee but recovered with nine straight wins including two more in overtime against Auburn and Alabama.
“You can tell our heart was there,” said sophomore fullback Jacob Hester. “It really matters, like in the Alabama game when we were down 10-0. I think heart is one of the reasons we came back. This team has so much heart – just wanting to get a win for the state, especially for New Orleans with everything that’s happened. We really want to do good things for that.”
LSU players agree the heart and camaraderie of the team has boosted them over not only Alabama but all opponents in close games.
“If something gets us down we get ourselves right back up,” said junior receiver Dwayne Bowe. “We don’t let anything keep us down. I don’t think we’re lacking any heart. You saw that in Alabama and against Auburn and Florida.”
Senior offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said before the hurricanes, altered schedules and close games he knew his teammates were special and helped him make one of the biggest decisions of his college career.
“Back in January I said the reason I was coming back was because of the guys on this team and it still was the reason,” Whitworth said. “I think with the hurricanes and all the things this team has experienced, I think it proved to be true and got to show one of the reasons that I was coming back.”