LSU coach Ed Orgeron doesn’t need a reminder about the importance of breaking the Tigers’ five-game losing streak to Alabama.
Even during his past stops at Miami, Syracuse and USC, the 55-year-old coach still paid attention when the two teams played, and he also understands the gripes the Tiger faithful have about the streak.
“I get the passion. That’s the way it should be,” Orgeron said. “I know the people are not satisfied with the way it’s gone. I get that.”
LSU hasn’t beat the Crimson Tide since 2011, which was dubbed the “The Game of The Century” after the Tigers won 9-6 in overtime. Since then, LSU has come close to defeating Alabama in 2012 and 2014, but suffered double digit losses in 2013 and 2015.
Alabama has won three out of the last five matchups against LSU in Tiger Stadium with the combined score being 103-103 and two of those games going into overtime. Additionally, for the 16th straight time, both teams are ranked entering Saturday’s contest.
It’s one of the biggest rivalry games in college football, according to junior quarterback Danny Etling.
When the Tigers last defeated the Tide in 2011, Etling was on an unofficial visit to the University of Wisconsin. He pulled over at a restaurant to watch the final moments of the game.
Etling said he understands the rivalry and history of the two teams, but two years ago he didn’t expect to be preparing to duel with the Tide.
“It’s something that brings an extra degree of intensity [that] I think we’ll have to prepare for,” Etling said. “It’s just kind of what you expect when these two teams play.”
For some players, this game has been circled on their calendar weeks before the season started — and normally, the ramifications are huge.
This season, the Tigers just want to continue the momentum that Orgeron has brought.
“For this team, this program, community — I mean, everybody, their year — almost hinges upon Alabama, win or lose,” junior fullback J.D. Moore said. “Personally, it would just be a great win for this team. It would mean a lot just continuing what we started under Coach O and for all the Tiger fans out there.”
Breaking the losing streak to the Tide isn’t only important for the LSU fanbase, it’s vital to the Tigers’ juniors and seniors to win.
“We keep that in the back of our minds,” junior offensive lineman K.J. Malone said. “We can be the first team in five years to beat Alabama, especially for all these seniors and all of us coming in together, that’s one goal on our mind.”