Following LSU’s 19-7 loss to Florida, Tigers coach Nick Saban said the team’s lack of intensity snowballed from the media and the press.
“It was everyone’s feeling about this game,” Saban said. “It was the [media’s] feeling at our press conference on Monday, it was our fans’ feeling, it was the feeling on my radio show Wednesday night. [People thought] we were just going to show up and win the game.
“I was the only one that didn’t feel that way. I kept preaching like some carnival preacher, trying to go around get people strummed up everyday, including the players.”
Mauck Amuck
LSU quarterback Matt Mauck completed 19-of-33 passes for 231 yards but threw two interceptions and was sacked twice. Saban said the performance is not typical for Mauck who threw just three interceptions in the first five games.
“Matt’s been doing pretty well,” Saban said. “Today it looked like he missed a couple that maybe he should have had. He’s not always going to be perfect.”
The loss was Mauck’s second as a starter at LSU and his first loss at Tiger Stadium with his other loss coming against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The Tigers are now 10-2 with Mauck as the starting quarterback.
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
Saban said he felt the game might have had a different outcome with a few plays here and there.
“We looked ready to play in the game early,” Saban said. “Maybe if we intercept the ball that [Travis Daniels] dropped and run it back, maybe it’s a different game. Their confidence was a little shaky at that time, but we didn’t make the plays and they went down and scored.”
Sack it up
The Tigers defense sacked UF quarterback Chris Leak six times for a loss of 56 yards. LSU linebacker Lionel Turner said the defense executed its game plan just as designed against the Gators.
“We try to do that every week, try to affect the quarterback as much as possible,” Turner said.
Turner said the offense may not have executed well with 287 total yards, but both the defensive and offensive teams make up one unit.
“It’s tough, but that happens throughout the year,” Turner said. “We’re all one team and sometimes it may not good on our side and sometimes it doesn’t go good on their side.”
Forget about it
Saban’s 24-hour rule took effect almost immediately after Saturday’s game. The unwritten rule says the Tigers should only celebrate a win or sulk in a loss for 24 hours after the game.
“We’re going to come out and play a good South Carolina team and try to still dominate on the road,” said Tigers cornerback Corey Webster.
Added Mauck: “You don’t want a loss to motivate you, but unfortunately in this situation it’s what we’re going to have to refocus and concentrate.
Injury Report
LSU running back Joseph Addai suffered a grade two medial collateral ligament injury Saturday.