Move over LSU — Louisiana has a new national champion.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs completed a perfect 2008 season with a thrilling 24-17 victory in the Orange Bowl against No. 2 Miami.
You may be wondering what world I am living in. It is none other than the world of NCAA Football 2004.
My triumph as the coach of the Bulldogs did not come without its share of misery and heartbreak. Before I began the franchise in the good old days with Luke McCown at the helm, I decided the only way to be the best was to beat the best — I was going to play on Heisman with one of the worst teams in the nation.
Oh and it hurt. Only a single grey Playstation controller and my roommate Daniel know the tears I shed and the heartbreak I endured early in my head coaching career. I struggled through three losing seasons; made even tougher because I was losing to teams in the Wacky WAC such as UTEP, Hawaii and Nevada, not to mention my six-year losing streak to WAC powerhouse Fresno State.
But struggling through those seasons made my run to the national championship that much more fulfilling. After putting together back-to-back winning seasons, I tapped into the motherload of talent that is Louisiana recruiting.
The Bulldogs silenced the critics in 2008 by ending the six-year losing streak to Fresno State behind the fearless leadership of under-the-radar quarterback Jamar Pritchett.
The biggest test of the season came in week 10 when the Bulldogs travelled to Knoxville to battle No. 1 Tennessee.
The Volunteers had Louisiana Tech’s number early. Tennessee knocked Pritchett out of the game and scored three defensive touchdowns in the first half. The Vols had the game all but won at halftime, leading 28-7.
But my no-quit attitude and the emergence of freshman quarterback Dominque Murphy spurred a furious second half comeback in which the Bulldogs tied the game.
Tech had all the momentum and it carried over into free football. The Bulldogs scored first, then intercepted Tennessee’s first pass to seal the deal.
I still get chills thinking about it.
Then in the very last game of the regular season, Rice pretended they knew what football was for the first time in school history. The Owls held a slight 21-20 advantage with 1:30 to play. But after an emotional speech on the sideline by Pritchett, Tech drove the length of the field to ensure the team of a national championship berth.
Miami scored first in the title game and led 10-7 at halftime. But two second-half touchdown passes by Pritchett set off a 17-7 run in the second half to give Louisiana Tech its first national championship in school history.
It may not be real to you, but to Ruston, La., it is a dream come true.
I was not named AP Coach of the Year for nothing. In fact, I am willing to put that title on the line against anyone on this campus. You want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Bring it on, LSU.
As for the Tigers in 2008? Well, they did not play in a bowl game.
But USC did lose to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, if it is any consolation.