After LSU’s overtime loss to Alabama on Saturday night, Tigers coach Les Miles addressed the media to reflect on the game and look forward to Arkansas at his weekly news conference Monday afternoon.
“We ache today because we realize that there were ways we could have finished first in that game,” Miles said. “When a quality team comes in second, it hurts.”
The Tigers came up short in overtime to the Crimson Tide by a score of 20-13. On LSU’s final possession of the fourth quarter, it failed to score a touchdown and had to settle for a field goal instead.
The failure to score was due in part to a controversial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against junior offensive tackle Vadal Alexander when the Tigers were close to the goal line. The penalty pushed LSU back 15 yards and the failure to score a touchdown allowed Alabama to drive down the field with 50 seconds left to tie the game.
“I think that call certainly upon review of the conference could have been made in a different way,” Miles said. “I can tell you that there were some personal fouls that happened to happen there and not necessarily in that play, but we talked at length about what the responsibility is in safety.”
Miles said the team will have to move on from the loss to focus on Arkansas. The Razorbacks have yet to win a conference game but were within a touchdown of tying Texas A&M and Mississippi State and a field goal away from beating Alabama.
The early weather report calls for a chance of snow and cold weather, which Miles said the team would welcome with open arms.
“I think our guys would look forward to playing in a cold weather game and certainly need to,” Miles said. “If they are not looking forward to it, they need to get that in their mind because there is a great chance that will happen.”
The loss to Alabama knocked LSU out of the race for the Southeastern Conference title, dropping LSU to a 3-3 record in the conference and a tie with Texas A&M for fourth in the SEC West. Miles said although the team is out of the running, they still have goals they will work toward.
“Our goal is to improve as a team and play ourselves into a game of significance,” Miles said. “That very next game of significance will be Arkansas in their stadium.”
LSU sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings completed only eight of his 26 passes for 76 yards. His quarterback rating was 12.7, his second lowest of the season.
However, Miles said he still believes in and will continue to support Jennings as the passing game becomes a more prominent aspect of LSU’s gameplan.
“His capacity as he starts to put his hands around this offense continues to advance and advance, so we want to give him those opportunities,” Miles said. “We are approaching much more equity in the throwing game, and we really think we will get more out of it.”
Miles acknowledged the low spirits of the team after the Alabama loss but said the mood will turn around as soon as practice begins again.
“They’ll do the things they’re supposed to do and get to the back end of the practice and feel a little bit better about it,” Miles said. “And Tuesday, they will be all focused on Arkansas and a great game plan, and as we go forward for the week. We’re going to get this behind us as soon as we can.”
You can reach Michael Haarala on Twitter @haarala_TDR.