A mark of LSU greatness: Stink for a half, win by 32 points
Ladies and gents, that's a darn strong football team. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
After the Arkansas game, Lenn Robbins of the New York Post asked LSU coach Les Miles if he believed his team might be the greatest in collegiate football history. Eight days later, the Tigers laid sole claim to another superlative:
Worst first half ever authored by the offense of a team this great.
How bad was it? Well, LSU tied a record that can never be broken — fewest first downs in the first two quarters. And this goose egg wasn’t laid by Podunk State against Almighty A&M. This was the championship game of the nation’s best conference, and this monstrosity had been concocted by a team considered the nation’s finest by such a distance it was believed LSU could lose to Georgia and still play for the BCS title. But would an aggregation that couldn’t manage one crummy first down on such a stage deserve a mulligan?
First-half numbers: LSU had 12 total yards, 123 fewer than Georgia, and had completed two passes, one of them underhanded. It trailed 10-0 after one quarter and was still 10 points down six minutes before half. And was the man beneath the white hat concerned?
“That defense,” said Miles, speaking of his own,” and the way it was defending — when they got 10, I thought that would be it [for Georgia]. Quite frankly, we just needed to get it started offensively.”
To Miles’ other attributes — darn good coach, intriguing wordsmith, eater of grass — we can now add “ace prognosticator.” Georgia didn’t score again. LSU started scoring on Tyrann Mathieu’s punt return and never stopped. And we on the periphery can only stand back and wonder: If the Tigers can go an entire first half without benefit of an offense against a opponent of quality, might this be one of the finest teams ever assembled?
What transpired Saturday night beneath the Georgia Dome was truly breathtaking, and I mean that literally: You could see the air — and the life — sucked from the buoyant Bulldogs. Georgia started bold and fast and smart and, if not for two dropped touchdown passes and a missed field goal, would have had a lead so big even Miles would have blanched. But then the Honey Badger started running back kicks and John Chavis’ defense threw a hammerlock on the Bulldog offense, and midway through the third quarter a game that was nearly a runaway one way had gone the other.
Of Mathieu, the eloquent Miles said: “He really is the ‘Honey Badger.’ He takes what he wants. He takes what he gets his hands on.”
Which pretty much describes the Tigers in toto. Down 14-0 against Arkansas, they won 41-17. Down 10-0 against Georgia, they won 42-10. Nobody doubted that this was the nation’s best team before the past two weekends, but now there’s no doubt.
Miles: “Never are they out of it. Never was there any question that they would get their feet, get their bearings and compete.”
This doesn’t mean that this demonstrably superb team will win the national championship. The Tigers will almost surely have to play Alabama again, and how would you like to have your road to the BCS title blocked by a bunch coached by Nick Saban that you had to move heaven and Earth to beat the first time? We can argue forever the fairness of that, but Les Miles wasn’t really in the mood Saturday.
“It’s a tremendous conference top to bottom,” he said. “[Alabama has] a great team. We’ll look forward to competing against them. But I’m going to enjoy this night first.”
And why not? After a unbeaten regular season that closed with come-from-behind comprehensive routs against Top 15 opposition, why should Miles or the Honey Badger or any Tiger fear man or Saban? Tell the truth: When last did you see a team this powerful, this fast, this unyielding?
“That second half, we basically got it going,” Mile said. Then this: “This is a quality group. It’s a great team.”
By Mark Bradley
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506 comments Add your comment
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
12:41 am
Gundy on ESPN pleading his case for Okie State,but it is a done deal . At least Dr. Lou is on their side. But the fix is in Alabama vs. LSU is it because ESPN says so.
OkieDawg
December 4th, 2011
12:47 am
ESPN rules college football and they are behind Saban, all 5′8″ of the little tyrant. He sure did wear out the airwaves with his politicking.
cochise
December 4th, 2011
12:47 am
At least LSU managed to win without playmakers from Ga and Fl imagine if AL SC TN AUB and so on played with there 2 and 3 recruits enough said.
what's the play
December 4th, 2011
12:47 am
1) Get a special teams coach and scheme
2) Get a quarterback that can win a big game – Murray is good against teams that are good, average, and bad, but out of his class when it comes to playing the best
3) Get a new OC or a new QB – if the plays and scheme we were running was Bobo’s it was downright pathetic
4) Get a running game – what a mess for the last two years, hopefully it doesn’t continue down this road in 2012
5) Win the big games early in the year – watching the Dawgs is like watching Tom Glavine pitch the first two to three innings of a game, it’s a crapshoot, after the third he controlled the game, but prior to you never knew what you would get.
6) Resign CTG before he bolts or start lining up candidates now
7) Instill a never quit attitude – sadly missing tonight in the second half
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
12:53 am
The Black Keys rocked out tonight on Saturday Night Live.
Erk Russell's Dog
December 4th, 2011
12:56 am
ESPN is giving Andrew Luck the Peyton Manning treatment on the Heisman Trophy.
NCDawg
December 4th, 2011
1:04 am
Football is a game of emotion and momentum. The Dawgs played great in the first half. LSU did not suck…they were out played. LSU is great because they took our best shots and when they shook it off they came out swinging in the 2nd half. The Dawgs will be back next year. We will be better too. Mark it down.
bamacurt
December 4th, 2011
1:04 am
Georgia fans should be happy. If they had played LSU, Bama and Arkansas during the regular season, they wouldn’t have been in the championship game anyway.
- Greater Baton Rouge News
December 4th, 2011
1:11 am
[...] Read this article: A mark of LSU greatness: Stink for a half, win by 32 points | Mark … [...]
Pulpwod Smith
December 4th, 2011
1:23 am
I can’t believe I lowered myself and read 5 pages of this drivel. Let me start with this: I was in the Dome tonight and 99% of you losers weren’t. That means you aren’t true Georgia supporters or you are trolls from other programs that just want to snipe at a school that out-performed yours this year. First, for the Florida and Tech fans there is really nothing to say. You’ve had your glory days in the past and this wasn’t yours. Please go crawl back under the rock from which you emerged this morning (for you Techies, your Mothers basement). The fact that you rain on someone else’s success only makes you look like a bigger loser than you actually are. Second, for the LSU fans gloating on this website: congratulations, you have a tremendous team. Please kick Alabama’s or Oklahoma State’s ass in the National Championship game. I had a great time in the Dome conversing with your fans and you deserve all that comes to you. Finally, for the UGA fans that are bitching: get a life. Last year we were 6-7. This year we are 10-3 going into the bowl game. Get a life. We played everyone on our schedule. Who knew that Florida, Tennessee and Tech would have programs that we would be embarrassed to watch this year? Ignore the fans of these programs who are trying to overcome their own insecurities by degrading UGA (seriously, look forward five years and where do you see Florida and Tech? I agree, it doesn’t look good). Anyway, Georgia stunk it up in the second half tonight. The receivers sucked. Murray never seems to play well against a good opponent and Georgia seemingly always needs better offensive linemen. Bottom line is that is sure is better than a year ago. And for you delusional Georgia fans, it’s been 31 years since UGA won a national championship. Be happy with what you’ve got. Strive for better in the future but you are a moron if you think that a national championship is your birthright like so many of you insinuate. Get real.
Ed
December 4th, 2011
1:31 am
a weak schedule usually makes for a good season, probably good enough for a contract extension for Richt. but UGA still can’t beat the big boys…. and nothings changed…… you can”t beat a top ten team no matter how good you think you are.
7576DAWG
December 4th, 2011
1:43 am
Look’s like we will be playing Nebraska in the Outback Bowl in Tampa.
I predict that we will have one coaching change and I hope one coordinator, retained but demoted. It will be very interesting to see if McGarity forces Richt to tweak his coaching staff in order to make it better.I think Richt and Grantham both get extension’s with pay increases.
Our defense was great tonight , when you hold the best team in the nation to 12 yards in the first half and no first down’s. Three turnover’s by Murray killed us and even though Murray show’s moments of a great Quarterback has proven that when he is pressured that eventually he will get impatient and make game changing mistakes. I’m not saying that he won’t be our best Quarterback next year but if he show’s that he hasn’t learned anything next year I hope that CMR will give another Quarterback at least a chance. Murray has got to prove he can play under pressure.
dbc
December 4th, 2011
1:59 am
When you physically dominate a team like LSU for half a game, and then come out totally different in the second half — that’s on the coaches. CMR and Bobo have continually un-tracked this team over the last 3 years. Things were working, and Bobo changes. Honey Badger is a known entity, and yet you keep feeding him the ball. Really? Twice? The D was spectacular in the first half, but they were on the field way toooo long in the second half. Runs by Thomas up the gut? Again? Against LSU? Are you just stupid Bobo? Does third and long mean anything to you? Do you want to get your QB killed? You let IC sidestep blocks and run his mouth, then we see road grader Malcome run like a beast AT THE END OF THE GAME. These coaches are just too stubborn, stupid or both. Murray is a gamer, but will never take this team further. He’s get’s too geeked up for big games and is too streaky a player. We’ve seen the best of CMR and Bobo — that’s it, there is no more. Grantham might actually be a decent head coach — just give him a valium for Tuesday pressers, and keep him away from anyone who might be offended by spit and the stink-eye. Now we can show up lackadaisical for whatever bowl game we land in — can froth at the mouth over the next recruiting class — and be prepared for another season where we can only beat teams who stink. Richt is a nice guy, but this season — and specifically this game — showed just how far UGA football is from being anywhere near an elite team. Saban, Miles, etc. will just roll on — and it will be more of the same in Athens. And don’t think for a minute that Florida and SC will just sit still and relinquish control to UGA. Spurrier has always had CMR’s number, and Florida won’t stay down for long. And you want to know why? Because their fans and AD won’t stand for it!!!!
Reminder
December 4th, 2011
2:09 am
0-3 vs top 30
10-0 vs 31-117.
Last 6 years 0-13 vs. top 30.
Mark Bradley and AJC keep tell’n the base that its all ok
Reminder
December 4th, 2011
2:13 am
0-3 vs top 30
10-0 vs 31-117
o for 17 vs top 30 the last 6 years.
Nationally relevent? Only in your minds
Reminder
December 4th, 2011
2:13 am
Nationally relevent?
Impartial Observer
December 4th, 2011
2:15 am
These delusional fools need to stop obscessing over a ten game win streak against nobodies. LSU and Miles proved that to be a joke. There is only one way to solve UGA’s problem, and I doubt that the athletic board/Adams/McGarity have the necessary anatomical parts to do it. So for all you UGA fans who think Richt has turned things around, just wait til next year, and the year after that, and the year after that ad nauseum. Nothing will change.
Reminder
December 4th, 2011
2:25 am
Gosh ! great season … right Mark?
Ga > Fla
December 4th, 2011
2:28 am
Georgia–the new big horse in the SEC east. Fla will be down for years with muschamp. Ga will win the SEC in 2012—mark it down—-they will be loaded next year!
buzzsting
December 4th, 2011
2:31 am
Ga got embarrassed by the only real team they played all year—that win over tech? no big deal–tech wasn’t any good this year. Tech will be back big in 2012—bank on it. Ga—will win 8 games next year. Florida will start dominating again. Give richt a long term extension!!
Impartial Observer
December 4th, 2011
2:39 am
The longer the extension Richt is given, the longer UGA will be flushing $3 million a year down the drain and the longer things will remain the same. There is only one way to solve UGA’s football woes and every realistic fan kniows what that is. Just putting it off won’t solve the problem.
I'm Just Saying
December 4th, 2011
2:43 am
Ga>Fla…how so? Your I line has 3 seniors…and behind them you are anorexic…You had by far the easiest schedule in some time and you still had to back in to the Least Title…USC and the evil genius will own you yet again next year…The Championship will still be decided between Alabama and LSU.
indigo
December 4th, 2011
4:15 am
If wishes were fast trains to Texas, we would ride and ride. Still, I wish that Oklahoma State & Alabama could play first to determine who plays LSU for the National Championship. It would make so much sense this year to do it that way.
swimdawg68
December 4th, 2011
4:43 am
Bobo coaches not to lose instead of coacring to win. Why go away from the spread (that was working) in the first half to having Murray under center with a gimppy back in the first 3 offensive posessions. Murray seems to choke in big games, not sure he really is our guy at QB. Mark if you want to take us to the next level, go find us a Gratham to be our OC the Bobo experiement should be over.
georgiabound
December 4th, 2011
5:11 am
No sugar from the sky.
Just a hobnailed boot in the face.
We are always on the outside looking in.
Hello Shreveport.
Now we’re stuck with CMR for another 5 years.
marko
December 4th, 2011
5:33 am
After watching Oklahoma State trash the Sooners I can’t argue that they have a strong claim on the BCS championship game. But then so does Alabama. If their kicker hadn’t had such a bad game they would’ve beaten LSU. Somebody’s going to get screwed here any way you pick it. College football needs a real playoff system. The BCS is a joke.
Ga8tr
December 4th, 2011
5:35 am
UF loses the battle but wins the 2012 war in the SEC East. Richt’s contract gets renewed and the Dawgs are destined for more also-ran status while the Gators re-load.
GTT
December 4th, 2011
5:49 am
Well at least we got to go 10 weeks without the fire Richt idiots. Let’s win the bowl guys.
Oh yeah, Fire the fire-Richt-idiots! Buncha dolts.
LSU LOL @ UGA
December 4th, 2011
5:49 am
We heard all your bragging, we heard all your over exaggeration of your abilities. We’ll give back the touch down and spot you the two drop passes. That still leaves us 35-24. The SEC East is a joke and the teams belong in the Big East. Just remember two points of fact: 1) No Greene, No Confettie; 2) No Herschel = No Title. Come see us again when you are ready to run with the big boys.
bubba4dawgs
December 4th, 2011
5:58 am
An amazing game for sure! I’ve never seen such a meltdown! It just goes to show you that Murphy’s law was ever more present with the DAWGS! There is too much blame to go around and I know the DAWGS feel bad enough without piling on more!
What a hard-fought year!! So much credit goes to the coaches and the players!! They stayed dedicated all year long to get to this game! Remember, it’s better to have played the game and lost than to have NOT played the game at all! Remember that Naysayers as you all crawl back into your holes. The DAWGS are still building and is loaded with young players who are growing up with every game! In many ways, it was lack of experience that lost the game but BOY, what a first half!!! How many times in the whole history of LSU football have they failed to even get a first down in the first half of a ballgame??? I mean, they were soundly WHOOPED!! I think, unfortunately, they whooping they got also whooped the whooper who didn’t have enough fuel in the tank for the second half as LSU’s offensive line began to dominate! Clearly, the superior team did win and we should congratulate them! I do believe, however, the Alabama will get’em in the championship game!
As for the DAWGS, keep building and work hard during the off-season! You’re definitely not far away and will do things next time in a better way, all four quarters. You had plenty of beef up front but as we all know, not enough in the backfield. Save for a few misreads in catching and passing routes, the game could have been a lot closer. The DAWGS also lost the turnover margin which was huge!
It may be hard to see but a lot of positives came out of this game and can be of much guidance for the future!! A good season, DAWGS, and I’m proud of you and can’t wait for the bowl game to give you a final cap on your accomplishments!! It will be a good way to feel great right on thru Spring practice which, by the way, isn’t that far away either! Hold your heads up HIGH and GO DAWGS!!!!
@Bubba4dawgs
December 4th, 2011
6:05 am
“The Dawgs are still building…” That seems to be amoung the favorite phrases of all UGA fans. Along with, “We’re one or two years away,” “Wait until next year,” “At least we beat North Ave Trade School.”
As long as UGA has a coach whose goal each and every season is, “We just want to win the SEC East.” That is all you are going to do. You are never going to see a National Title. The Team gets great recruits, but they lack the coaching that will bring them together as a TEAM. That’s how Boise States 1 and 2 star recruits beat this so called “Dream Team.” They were playing as a TEAM, while UGA’s players were too worried about making the high lite real and scoring little white bones for their helmets. In fact, UGA is one of the few teams that still marks the helmets with individual accomplishment.
Time for the Annual UGA Quotes:
December 4th, 2011
6:11 am
To help you all out, just copy and paste
1) At least we beat the North Ave Trade School
2) We are one or two years away
3) We’ll have it next season
4) FIRE BOBO!!!
5) They had inelligible players playing
6) At least we won the SEC East
I couldn’t think of any of the others, but I’ll keep my eyes open and post them to help the rest of you all out.
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:14 am
Vocabulary for dogs:
Unanswered
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:14 am
Vocabulary for dogs:
Drop
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:15 am
Vocabulary for dogs:
Least
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:17 am
Vocabulary for dogs:
Delusional
We should be back next season
December 4th, 2011
6:17 am
Looking at the proposed 2012 Schedule, UGA should have another easy year.
9-1: Buffallo
9-8: South Carolina
9-15: Florida Atlantic
9-22: Vanderbilt
9-29: Tennessee
10-6: Alabama (Possibly replaced by Missouri)
10-13: Kentucky
10-27: Florida
11-3: Ole Miss
11-10: Auburn
11-17: Georgia Southern
11-24: GA Tech
Looks like a Big East Schedule again.
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:17 am
Vocabulary for dogs:
Gymnastics
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:18 am
Vocabulary for dogs:
Commodore
Mabye the UGA Alum should put money somewhere else
December 4th, 2011
6:24 am
To all you UGA Alum out there. Your money is clearly being wasted on the football program. It seems the only athletic program you have that can win Titles (Let alone a NATIONAL Title) is the Gymnastics Program.
Football Guy
December 4th, 2011
6:24 am
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahaha………..
loki
December 4th, 2011
6:27 am
LOL……… told you so……………….
legionaire
December 4th, 2011
6:28 am
Dropped passes killed UGA chances. The O line play in the 1st half was superb. The D played lights out. Special teams blunders again bit UGA in the ass. Do not understand trying to run up the middle with the rb’s we have. Why waste a down. Great season anyway.
Mike G
December 4th, 2011
6:34 am
I suspect that LSU will beat Alabama going away in a rematch. For the life of me, i cannot understand why Oklahoma State would even want to play LSU. LSU would do to them what LSU did to Arkansas, but worse.
Buckeye
December 4th, 2011
6:35 am
Isaiah, The No Longer Annointed One II, has no clothes.
PurpleNGold
December 4th, 2011
6:39 am
To all you trash talking Georgie fans, you boys were right. Your team is good enough to play in the national championship this year. Aaron Murray is the X factor. Your receivers are play makers. Your D line is impenetrable. Your secondary forces turnovers. Your special teams is the real deal. And no one can stop your running game. The Dawgs have the most underrated team in the nation, and they can play with anyone on any field any time.
And then… you were taught a lesson in football. Our D line, which averages 6′3″ 260 rocked your touted 6′ 7″ 280lb (avg) wall. Our LBs and our secondary forced turnovers and properly and regularly introduced Murray to the turf. I think Mason completed more passes in that last drive than the little wus boy Murray did all game. Make up all the excuses that you want to about butter fingers and woulda shoulda coulda caught passes, but I refuse to believe that all Georgie receivers were suffering from the same ailment. Receivers drop passes for a variety of reasons, but when it is endemic, you have to credit the coverage and what is happening down field on every pass play or you have to blame the QB. Since I know you boys are absolutely awestruck by Murray let’s just credit LSU. LSU covers who they need to cover when they need to cover them, and they make receivers pay on every snap. If your eyes are not on the ball because they are on a defender, you’re not going to catch anything.
Your running game is almost as much of a joke as your passing game is. Crowell needs to switch to amphetamines to get that run started. A little tape shows all anyone with a decent line needs to know. And we have an exceptional line. So just a word of advice, next time you want to brag about a defense or compare stats, make sure it is as good as the one who shut you down last night and made you look like a high school team.
Speaking of high school, if you want to test your abilities adequately on the field, don’t schedule high school teams all year and then expect to play with the big boys. Your team sucks, it always did, and everyone else in the nation knew it. Now you do too. The only team in Georgie that can say they haven’t had their asses handed to them every time they were in the Dome this year will be the Falcons, and that is sad.
So now that you boys know what real football is all about, look at it this way. Today is your first day of enlightenment. A new pathway has been set before you that offers freedom and awareness despite the pain, hardship, and realization that is still before you. This morning is analogous to that morning after your visit to Jo Bob’s Watering Hole when you had a little too much JB, took that little hottie home, but woke up next to yer first cousin. Here’s the complete unabridged no BS reality… you made a mistake, all the other Georgie boys made the same one you did, you were told it was going to happen but thought you knew better, and there’s nothing, absolutely nothing you can do to take it back or make it go away. So embrace it, accept it, and just marry that bitch!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SICK EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWOOF AWOOF AWOOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, that’s the only thing you taught the nation last night… how stupid that sounds.
For the very very few decent Georgia fans out there, I hate that it ended for you that badly. Good luck with your bowl game. I’m sure you’ll do fine.
Now bring on the crystal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PurpleNGold
December 4th, 2011
6:42 am
Now that you boys know what real football is all about, look at it this way. Today is your first day of enlightenment. A new pathway has been set before you that offers freedom and awareness despite the pain, hardship, and realization that is still before you. This morning is analogous to that morning after your visit to Jo Bob’s Watering Hole when you had a little too much JB, took that little hottie home, but woke up next to yer first cousin. Here’s the complete unabridged no BS reality… you made a mistake, all the other Georgie boys made the same one you did, you were told it was going to happen but thought you knew better, and there’s nothing, absolutely nothing you can do to take it back or make it go away. So embrace it, accept it, and just marry that bitch!
We are unstoppable and Georgie was simply a little speed bump that no one really felt!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SICK EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AWOOF AWOOF AWOOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Herman "suspend my campaign" Cain.
December 4th, 2011
6:46 am
To help you all out, just copy and paste
1) At least we beat the North Ave Trade School
2) We are one or two years away
3) We’ll have it next season
4) FIRE BOBO!!!
5) They had inelligible players playing
6) At least we won the SEC East
————-
7) We have Aaron Murray coming back. You know, the “best” QB in the SEC. LOL.
LakeDawg
December 4th, 2011
6:52 am
I was very impressed with the Dawgs in the first half.It showed that UGA has talent everywhere with the exception of RB. I knew the dropped passes were going to haunt us. The second half concerned me. Obviously we got mauled, but its how it happened that concerns me. Once UGA got behind 14-10, they lost all intensity. All of a sudden, a team who couldn’t get a 1st down was running it down the Dawg’s throat. Not enough time had passed to blame it on fatigue. It was mental. Then on the last LSU drive, UGA just quit, plain and simple.
I’m encouraged by UGA’s turnaround, but I have an uneasy feeling. The second half could be the result of an inexperienced team that was facing elite competition for the first time and will grow from it, but I’m wondering if this is as good as it gets under CMR.
Take two pills and call me
December 4th, 2011
6:55 am
Yes Mark Bradley we lost cause of drop pass’s cromwell on strike the Quarterback pooted and now we have Two new teams comin in SEC Missouri tigers and Texas A&M and change in teams move auburn n alabama will Move to East cause the new teams be in west with LSU now so means Mark Richt will no longer have a Panties Hole East now with alabama n auburn in East now….So be correct now in 2012 when LSU wins West n alabama wins East divison they face off at Georgia dome in 2012 for SEC championship….And u can put that on the Board Yessssssssssss!