AUBURN, Ala — Coming into No. 18 LSU’s matchup against unranked Auburn, crowd noise inside Jordan-Hare wasn’t supposed to be an issue, yet, it normally causes issues.
“Obviously [Jordan-Hare’s] going to be a tough place to play,” said junior quarterback Danny Etling on Monday. “It’s something that we can handle. It shouldn’t be the deciding factor in whether we win or lose.”
Senior wide receiver Travin Dural, who played in LSU’s 41-7 loss in 2014, remembered the Auburn fanbase that never wanted to be quiet.
“They don’t sit down. They don’t ever shut up,” Dural said.
Well, for LSU (2-2, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) the noise inside Jordan-Hare Stadium was deafening.
Sweltering hot Saturdays in Auburn, Alabama, is match made in heaven to Auburn fans, who stayed on their feet all 60 minutes of Auburn’s 18-13 win against LSU.
Jordan-Hare Stadium hasn’t been a comfortable trip for LSU coach Les Miles.
In fact, LSU hasn’t won at Auburn since 2012.
“I don’t know,” Miles said about struggles in Jordan-Hare Stadium. “I have to be real honest with you. Certainly the players. Auburn has a good quality football team. I don’t think loud mad a difference.”
In the last three visits to Auburn, LSU has scored a total of three touchdowns in its last three games at Jordan-Hare Stadium (one each in 2012, 2014, 2016).
And in the last trips to Jordan-Hare, Auburn has held LSU to 4-of-26 on third down (4-of-13 Saturday; 0-of-13 in 2014).
LSU couldn’t get on track or find a rhythm on offense, citing a “miscommunication” between each other.
“Obviously, they have a good fan base,” Etling said, who was 15 of 27 for 118 yards. “They were loud especially when it mattered for them. We had some miscommunication things.”
The “things” Etling could be referring to is the timeout LSU burned because senior tight end Colin Jeter and sophomore tight end Foster Moreau couldn’t figure out where to line up, moments after sophomore defensive end Arden Key’s strip sack fumble placed LSU in the Auburn red zone.
When LSU did gather some type of momentum or life on offense, it shot itself in the foot.
On the Auburn 28-yard line, with the football in his right hand, Etling stretched his arm out to hand the ball off to junior running back Leonard Fournette, but dropped the football before the exchange even happened.
Penalties stalled multiple LSU drives in the second half, especially a crucial third down play that had a factor in deciding the game.
The ineffectiveness of the offense resulted in the LSU defense being on the field for longer play, 75 plays, to be exact.
“We had some early drives, but couldn’t score many points on offense,” Miles said. “If we could do that, then our defense would be fine.”
