The teams rocked Baton Rouge in 1988. In 1998, a building burned to the ground behind Jordan-Hare Stadium. When LSU and Auburn renew acquaintances Saturday in Death Valley, the next chapter in the storied history between these two schools will be written.
No. 9 LSU (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) hosts No. 17 Auburn (5-2, 4-0 SEC) this Saturday for the 17th time in history. The Tigers are 10-5-1 at home against Auburn.
Overall, LSU holds a slim lead in the series record, 19-17-1.
But records come second to most of the stories this series has told over the years.
Former LSU quarterback Tommy Hodson led the Tigers to a 7-6 victory against Auburn on Oct. 8, 1988. Hodson hit tailback Eddie Fuller with a late, fourth quarter touchdown pass to give LSU the lead. Death Valley rocked Baton Rouge – literally. The crowd shook the earth enough to register on the Richter scale in the geography department on LSU’s campus.
In 1998, the Tigers travelled to Auburn on Sept. 19 and walked away with a 31-19 victory. During the game, the old Auburn gymnasium burned to the ground behind Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn fans coincidentally blamed LSU patrons for starting the fire.
Blood boiled over again in 1999 when Auburn paid another visit to Baton Rouge. Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville led the Tigers to a 41-7 win over the Tigers. Tuberville then proceeded to lead the team onto the eye at midfield to participate in a cigar smoking post-game celebration.
LSU took it personally in 2001. Auburn players left Baton Rouge with a bad taste in their mouths and it was not from any cigars they were smoking. Auburn placekicker Damon Duval hurt Auburn’s cause during halftime. Duval proceeded to strut his stuff through the LSU Tiger Band, drawing boos and chants from the LSU faithful. With a crowd more alive than ever, LSU controlled the second half for a 27-14 victory. The win vaulted LSU into the SEC Championship game against Tennessee.
The roller coaster ride continued in 2002, when Auburn defeated LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium, 31-7. Marcus Randall, coming off his first career start against South Carolina, threw four interceptions and the Tigers never recovered.
After Auburn’s first interception by Travaris Robinson and subsequent 64-yard return, the Tigers punched the ball into the endzone via a 5-yard touchdown run by Reggie Brown. Auburn kicker Philip Yost nailed his first field goal of the season to extend the lead to 10-0. Yost’s field goal was followed by a 13-yard Tre Smith touchdown run. Auburn went into halftime with a 17-0 lead.
Auburn continued to take advantage of LSU’s mistakes in the second half. After Jason Campbell hit Robert Johnson for a 3-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 24-0, linebacker Karlos Dansby intercepted Randall for the second time and returned the ball 60 yards. Six plays later, Brown scampered 20 yards for his second touchdown of the day.
LSU, trailing 31-0, finally scored on a eight-yard touchdown run by Joseph Addai with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter.
In Monday’s press conference, Saban said the Tigers hope to put the ghosts of yesteryear behind them this weekend.
“Last year is last year,” Saban said. “If the Cubs and Red Sox quit worrying about what happened in the past … and just talked about what was happening now, they might have a chance to get to the World Series someday.
“We talked about what they did in last year’s game, and how it will help us play better in this year’s game.”
Matt Mauck makes his first career start against Auburn this weekend. This will also mark the first meeting between Auburn star tailback Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and the LSU defense.