Nick Saban has been telling his players since the Auburn game that they need to play every week like a one-game season. Hmmm, now that only one game is left, I wonder what the message will be this week.
With Saturday’s 14-13 win over Ole Miss in the books, LSU now plays Arkansas Friday afternoon in Little Rock, Ark., for the Southeastern Conference Western Division crown. If the Tigers beat the Razorbacks, they will earn the trip to Atlanta to face Eastern Conference winner Georgia and defend their SEC Championship.
The Tigers are very fortunate to be in this position. Saturday night could have been an “L” just as easily as a “W.”
While the offensive line corrected its miscues of penalties from the week before, the Tigers fumbled the ball five times Saturday night against the Rebels and lost three of them. But thanks to a gutsy defensive performance, LSU slipped by with those mistakes, but they might not be so lucky against Arkansas.
The bottom line is the Tigers got the win, and because Auburn upset Alabama and Arkansas slipped by Mississippi State, it was a much needed victory. Oh and by the way, Auburn is now eliminated from the SEC West race. Sorry, Tuberville.
For all the bad breaks and distractions dealt to LSU, it’s a testament to Saban, the coaching staff and the players that they are in the position they are in.
The Tigers lost tailback LaBrandon Toefield for six weeks with a broken arm, starting quarterback Matt Mauck for the season with a foot injury, and now add second-leading receiver Devery Henderson to the list.
Henderson broke his left arm Saturday night after catching a 19-yard touchdown with two seconds before halftime. He is out for the remainder of the season.
And then there are the distractions. From talks of national championships and Bowl Championship Series rankings to the bizarre situation involving former starting free safety Damien James, who went AWOL before the Auburn game, LSU has had its fill of distractions as well.
Somehow, someway, the Tigers survived to this point and now they have a chance to do exactly what they did last season — win the West, win the SEC, and go to the Sugar Bowl.
For all that LSU has gone through, the word destiny has been whispered about the Tigers, especially after the “Bluegrass Miracle.” Is this a team of destiny? We’ll find out soon enough.