Danny Etling was never really into the Tiger Walk. Whenever he would step off the bus, it was game time. He was simply focused on the task ahead.
But Saturday night, he took it all in. He walked slowly down the Tiger Walk — the last player down the hill kind of slow.
“When I stepped out there I realized this was the last time I’ll be walking down this hill as an LSU Tiger,” the fifth-year senior said.
Etling gracefully led his team to a 45-21 win against Texas A&M for the sixth consecutive year. Also for the second consecutive game against the Aggies, the Tigers eclipsed 600 total yards on offense to cap off the regular season.
In his final game under the lights in Tiger Stadium, Etling threw 19-of-30 with a career high 347 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdown passes were to fellow seniors Russell Gage, J.D. Moore and DJ Chark — a fitting theme for senior night.
“We felt like if we could protect Danny, we could throw,” LSU coach Ed Orgeron said. “When you look at the improvement in our passing game over the season and the improvement of our receivers, it’s a big difference.”
The game plan against the Aggies was to open up the flats and take advantage of an intermediate passing game which the Tigers executed nicely.
Etling became the 5th quarterback in LSU history to have multiple 2,000-yard passing season joining Jeff Wickersham, Zach Mettenberger, Tommy Hodson and JaMarcus Russell.
Etling’s time at LSU hasn’t always been as easy as it was against the Aggies.
“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs,” Etling said. “That’s the thing. That’s how college football works out. I transferred from a place where I was really down and came here and it kind of gave me some new life. I got an opportunity to play and I’ve run with it. I made the most of it and I enjoyed every second. It’s crazy to think how far I’ve come in the three years I’ve been here.”
Once just a Purdue transfer, Etling has faced his share of criticism. Etling says that LSU is where he has learned the most about football and being a player.
“[This offense is] something that I love to be a part of,” Etling said. “[Offensive coordinator Matt Canada] has done a great job of coaching me and getting my footwork right. I’ve become more efficient under him and that’s something I really struggled to do before the season. He was harping on that.”
Through the entire regular season, Etling was picked off just twice on his 242 attempts and threw at 60.3 percent completion rate.
“He went through some bumps and bruises like we all do in life,” Orgeron said, “but fought through it. For him to stay with this team and win nine games is a remarkable feat as a quarterback.”
One of those bumps in the road was the Troy game. That devastating loss that the team says they don’t even talk about anymore.
Junior tight end, and roommate of Etling, Foster Moreau, said the loss to Troy was something the team needed.
“Losing by 30 points on the road [to Mississippi State] wasn’t enough to light a fire underneath the team,” Moreau said. “We had to lose to a team that we didn’t think we’d ever lose to — in our stadium. They came out fought and we came out flat. We needed that swift kick in the butt. If we win that game, we’re still that complacent team.”
The fire that lit underneath LSU led it to win six of its final seven games of the season.
“This team,” Moreau said, “since that day, has been a different team.”
To top off a season finale that Etling had, his final pass in Tiger Stadium was intended for Moreau.
“It’s kind of poetic,” Moreau said. “The last pass in Tiger Stadium [Danny] ever threw was a drop by his trusty ole roommate tight end, Foster Moreau.”
Moreau and Etling had an exchange after the dropped pass, where Etling told Moreau that they’re ‘even’ now, referring to a what would have been a touchdown pass that Etling overthrew to Moreau against Arkansas.
Being close friends and roommates, Moreau has seen the criticism that Etling has faced in his two seasons as LSU’s starting quarterback.
“There’s the whole, ‘Danny Etling is a good quarterback’ sign,” Moreau said. “It’s a real sign, but it aggravates me a little bit. You shouldn’t have to argue for the guy. He’s put everything on the line for this team for two straight years. He’s done everything he’s ever been asked and all you do is point out his failures and his shortcomings, but I choose to celebrate.”
So, as Etling made his way down the Tiger Walk for one last time, he noticed something he never has before: all the people.
“When you’re walking down the Tiger Walk, you don’t notice how many people are there,” Etling said. “There’s just droves of people. The support they have and the love they have for this team and this community and all of us players is pretty awesome. I thank everyone that they let me be apart of it. I’ve loved my time here at LSU. I loved my last Tiger Walk.”
 

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Dilyn Stewart

LSU senior quarterback Danny Etling (16) prepares to pass the ball during the Tigers' 45-21 win against Texas A & M in Tiger Stadium on Nov. 25, 2017.