Ask any LSU football player what needs to be done to get overlast week’s 10-9 loss at Auburn and most will spit out the usualcliche: forget about the last game and focus on the next.
While it probably does not matter who the opponent is, the factMississippi State is the next team on the schedule has to be awelcome sight.
The Tigers (2-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) have not lost to aMississippi State team since 1999 (17-16 on the road) and lastdropped a game to MSU in Tiger Stadium in 1991. Despite the team’ssuccess, LSU coach Nick Saban insists this game is equally asimportant as the one versus Auburn.
“I always say if we never would have won the NationalChampionship, won the Sugar Bowl, won the SEC championship or theSEC West if we hadn’t beat Mississippi State last year,” Sabansaid.
Mississippi State (1-2, 0-1 SEC) has struggled thus far in 2004,losing its SEC opener 43-14 in Auburn and 9-7 to Maine. After going6-for-6 in the red zone, MSU went 1-for-5 inside the 20 against theBlack Bears.
First-year coach Sylvester Croom expressed his concernsfollowing the Auburn loss in which the defense allowed a combined269 rushing yards to Auburn running backs Carnell Williams andRonnie Brown.
“We have a long way to go,” Croom said. “I’ve been saying that along time. I do not think that we gave our best out there today. Ido not even know that if we had given our best that we would havewon. But I know that is not as good as we can play. I told ourplayers in the locker room that if they think that is as good asthey can play, then they are in the wrong place.”
LSU handily beat the Bulldogs 41-6 last year in a game Sabansaid was the best performance they had put forth all season.
“I think they played their best football game of the yearlast
year,” Saban said. “They turned the ball over three times frominside the 20 and missed a field goal from around the 20. Theyplayed with consistency on both sides of the ball, played the bestdefense of the year and they moved the ball the most effectively[in that game].”
Defensive tackle Kyle Williams, who has 15 tackles and a sack onthe year, said he expects to get a similar effort from the Bulldogson Saturday.
“They’re going to come after us,” Williams said. “It doesn’tmatter who we play this year, we’re going to get their best shot.They’ll come in and try to be physical, establish the line ofscrimmage and run the ball on us so we have to be prepared forthat.”
The Bulldogs have struggled to replace former quarterback KevinFant, with Kyle York and sophomore Omar Conner sharing duties.Conner completed 16-of-26 passes for 113 yards after convertingfrom wide receiver.
“I thought his rhythm was better early on,” Croom said of Connerearlier this year. “His accuracy was better, particularly in thethree and five-step drop game. A couple of the last few passes thathe threw could have been a lot better. Our entire football team isstill a work in progress. The guys have got to keep working andkeep fighting.”
Williams said getting pressure on Conner will be key, as it waslast year when the Tigers sacked Fant five times. He said Conner’srushing ability gives the offense an added dimension.
“Their one main difference is with the quarterback,” Williamssaid. “He’s a lot more athletic and they give him the option todrop back and pass, and if he doesn’t see anything back there,he’ll take off and run.”
LSU left tackle Andrew Whitworth said the Bulldogs have thepotential to pull the upset if LSU is not mentally focused, butsaid he does not expect LSU to have a letdown coming off aloss.
“I think State has a lot of prove this year with a new coach andeverything,” Whitworth said. “They’ve been down a bit and that losswill fire them up and get them ready to play in Death Valley. We’llget their best game and hopefully we’ll be ready to give themours.”