2008: LSU Road to the Championship

THE LSU TIGERS TIGERS’ SEASON

of D E S T I N Y

S U P P L E M E N T TO T H E G R E AT E R B ATO N R O U G E B U S I N E S S R E P O RT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the editor................................ 6

More for Les.............................................48

Crazy gods, crazy games, crazy season ................................................8

Too much for Tech ................................54

LSU fell behind early and had Ohio State right where they wanted the Buckeyes. From there, the Tigers impressively fulfilled their destiny.

Maybe it was the emotion of the pregame buildup, but No. 3 LSU struggled through one of its sloppiest games of the year before rallying late at No. 24 Alabama.

Only the football gods, those sports deities with senses of humor, could have imagined a season where winning was merely a prelude to losing until the Tigers found themselves crowned as the game’s first two-loss champion.

A worn down Tiger team needed a break and that’s what they got in a lopsided homecoming victory over Louisiana Tech. The win, coupled with Illinois’ upset of Ohio State, would lift LSU to No. 1 in the BCS poll the next morning.

Catch me if you can .............................56

THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

It wasn’t the prettiest defensive effort of the year, but No. 1 LSU, aided by Trindon Holliday’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, eased past Ole Miss, recording the team’s third consecutive 10win season.

National champions again! .............10 With a crushing 38-24 win over Ohio State in the Bowl Championship Series Championship Game, LSU left little doubt in the minds of those in the college football universe who the best team was during the 2007 season.

Hog-tied ......................................................61 LSU was still going to the SEC Championship game but its national title hopes appeared lost when Darren McFadden and Arkansas ran past a shocked Tiger team in triple overtime.

In other words ........................................18 What the national media had to say about LSU’s championship victory over Ohio State.

Not so fast my friend … ......................65

THE SEASON

Prelude to a championship.............20

LSU’s season of destiny began early last year when former coach Nick Saban announced he would take the Alabama job. Anticipation for the ‘Bama game and championship expectations grew from there.

Pick 6 ............................................................22

Craig Steltz and a swarming defense open the season on national television with a mauling of the Bulldogs.

Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Low.................25 In of the most dominating performances of alltime, No. 2 LSU dismantles ninth-ranked Virginia Tech.

Stepping up ..............................................28

Matt Flynn and Early Doucet were out with injuries, but that hardly slowed LSU’s assault on Middle Tennessee.

Tricky when wet .....................................31 South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier found a chink in LSU’s defense, but a trick play and the Tigers’ relentless rushing attack paved the way on a wet track.

Slow start...................................................34 Was it the special uniforms or the late morning kickoff? Either way, LSU struggled early against Tulane before pulling away in the second half.

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One for the ages ....................................37 Trailing for much of this brutally physical contest, the Tigers used five fourth-down conversions and a Jacob Hester touchdown dive to rally past No. 9 Florida. The win, coupled with Southern Cal’s loss to Stanford, lifted LSU to undisputed No. 1 in the polls.

Blue day in Kentucky ..........................40 Fitting for this wacky college football season, LSU’s reign atop the polls didn’t last long as the Tigers squandered a late 13-point lead and lost in triple overtime to André Woodson and No. 17 Kentucky.

No time to lose .......................................42 Trailing by 10 at the half and with defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey sidelined by an illegal block, No. 4 LSU managed to overcome its own mistakes and No. 17 Auburn when Matt Flynn and Demetrius Byrd hooked up for the game-winner in the final seconds.

The showdown .......................................46 An open date allowed the intensity to build for the game every Tiger fan had been salivating over since Nick Saban announced he was leaving the NFL to become the coach at Alabama.

Not only did LSU’s national title hopes appear lost heading into the SEC Championship game but it seemed certain Les Miles was gone too, off to his alma mater Michigan. ESPN reported it was a done deal the morning of the game, but then Miles announced he wasn’t going anywhere.

SEC champs! ...........................................66

Ryan Perrilloux and a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions lifted the seventh-ranked Tigers over No. 14 Tennessee at the SEC Championship game.

Just as big, on the ride home LSU learned that No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia had lost, opening the national championship door.

Taking home the hardware.............70 Glenn Dorsey became one of the most decorated players in LSU history.

2007 final team statistics .................72 LSU’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION

1958: The undefeated champs ......75 2003: A super finish.............................76 Gameday in Death Valley .................78

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5

FROM THE EDITOR

A celebration of

LSU football

A PUBLICATION OF

Game was barely five

T

Division title, but two days

minutes old and LSU was

before facing Tennessee for the

trailing by 10 points and Craig

conference crown it appeared

Steltz, the Tigers’ All-American

LSU, after a triple-overtime loss

CEO/Publisher: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr.

safety, was out for the game

to Arkansas, had lost both its

President/Associate Publisher: Julio A. Melara

with a shoulder injury. In other

national title hopes and its coach.

Vice President-Editorial: JR Ball

he BCS Championship

They won the SEC Western

words, the Tigers had Ohio

Yet fate wasn’t through with

State right where they wanted

this team. So wounded was the

them.

defensive front that Ricky Jean-

So it only makes perfect

Francois, suspended for off-field

sense that the most topsy-

issues the entire season, was

Vice President-Corporate & Consumer Division: Kelly Hurtado

EDITORIAL Special projects editor: Jerry Martin

turvey college football season in memory ended

thrust into the starting lineup. Miles did not go to

Contributing photographers:

with LSU using a blocked field goal, a big-time

Michigan, telling the world so in a hastily called

Steve Franz, LSU Sports Information

interception, a lack of poise by the opposition

press conference that will be replayed in years to

Jason Feirman, LSU Sports Information

and superior speed and brawn to rip off 31

come as often as Billy Cannon’s 1959 punt return

Jim Zietz, LSU Public Affairs

unanswered points and claim the program’s

against Ole Miss. And the Tigers did just enough

Rachel Saltzberg

third national championship and second in five

to tame Tennessee, 21-14.

Brad Messina

years.

LSU, with its convincing 38-24 victory, now

But the real miracles came later that December night when 1) top-ranked Missouri

owns the distinction of being both the first

lost to Oklahoma, 2) No. 2 West Virginia was

two-loss national champion as well as the first

shocked by hapless rival Pittsburgh, and 3) the

program to own two BCS Championships.

polls jumped LSU five spots to a place in the BCS

It was a year where destiny smiled on Les Miles and the Tigers.

The sight of Matt Flynn hoisting the

title game.

So considering what LSU went through to reach New Orleans, it makes perfect sense

champion’s crystal football was considered a

the football gods would require the Tigers to

very real possibility when the Tigers reported to

overcome a deficit and adversity before fulfilling

camp in August as the nation’s No. 2 team. Why

its destiny with a rout of the Buckeyes.

not? LSU was loaded with talent and the title

This special issue is a photographic journey

game was being played in its own backyard, just

reliving one of the most memorable years in the

down the road in the Louisiana Superdome. And

glorious history of LSU football. Publications

after demolishing Virginia Tech in week two, a

like this require a lot of long hours by our staff

purple-and-gold confetti shower seemed a lock.

and special thanks need to go to project editor

But that was before we knew this was to be a

Jerry Martin, designers Melanie Samaha, Hoa Vu

season like no other, where Appalachian State

and Carolyn Valentine Blakley and a sales team

can knock off top-five Michigan and being ranked

led by Kelly Hurtado. Also, this book would not

first or second in the polls proved to be a loser’s

be possible without the wonderful photographs

curse.

from Steve Franz, Tim Mueller, Brad Messina,

LSU found itself facing 10-point deficits against Florida, Auburn and Alabama yet had

Jim Zietz and Rachel Saltzberg.

So sit back and enjoy this wonderful

the guts, resolve and playmakers to find a way

celebration of LSU football and its season of

to win them all. Twice this team clawed its way

destiny.

Tim Mueller

Note: See the credit line included on each photo page for individual photo credits.

ADVERTISING Senior account executives: Judith LaDousa, Kelly Gable Account executives: Stacy Kaklis, Renee Shortess, Ann Major Advertising operations supervisor: Valerie Huntley Advertising coordinator: Brittany Nieto Marketing coordinator: Meghan Ortte

PRODUCTION Production manager: Melanie Samaha Art director: Hoa Van Vu Graphic designers: Carolyn Valentine Blakley, Jeff Hay, Nathan Calhoun Circulation manager: Melissa Arthur Circulation assistant: Debbie Mullins Business manager: Karl Banquer Special thanks to LSU Sports Information for generous cooperation with this project.

Statistics, game accounts and other information was provided by or adapted from LSU Sports Information and LSUsports.net.

to No. 1 in the rankings only to lose in triple overtime shortly thereafter. No question LSU was dominant, but a crippled defense and selfinflicted wounds were conspiring to seemingly keep this team from its destiny.

6

©Copyright 2008 by Louisiana Business Incorporated.

All rights reserved by LBI. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Business address: 445 North Blvd., Suite 210, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Telephone (225) 928-1700. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. No information expressed here constitutes a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities.

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WE SALUTE THE LSU WINNING TRADITION!

We join the fans in extending a special congratulations to the LSU Tigers on their singular distinction this year, a milestone by every measure.

Here at Carriages, we’re celebrating our own tradition, as we mark our 25th Anniversary in business in Baton Rouge, as one of America’s few remaining premier independent specialty stores, where we’ve been providing only the finest and best for our customers; thank you for making that possible!

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overview

O

By Lee Feinswog

nly the football gods, those sports deities with senses of humor, could have imagined such things.

Appalachian State knocking off Michigan on Sept.

1, not only recording what some said was the biggest upset in the history of college football, but also beginning a three-and-a-half-month, never-go-away news story that had Les Miles as the next Michigan coach.

Stanford, a five-touchdown underdog, winning at USC in midseason and opening the door for all sorts of possibilities.

A team that leads its league in penalties also leads the nation in big-play gambles.

Pitt upsetting West Virginia at the penultimate moment of a college football season gone nuts.

Earlier that day: “I’m busy! Thanks. Have a great day.”

And so we did.

So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that LSU made it to the Bowl Championship Series title game, beating the odds all season long as things continually fell into place for a team that lost its No. 1 ranking not once, but twice.

That team that led its league in penalties: LSU, of course, with 113, an average of almost 12 per game.

But this is the same team that 16 times this season went for it on fourth down and came up big 13 times, none more big than going 5-for-5 against Florida.

Yup, the football gods decided this would be the most fun season ever and that anything that could happen would, even LSU becoming the first two-defeat team to play for the BCS title.

Of course, way back when, it looked like LSU would never lose.

The Tigers opened their season August 30 at Mis-

sissippi State, the first game of the year, a nationally televised affair that saw LSU roll to a 45-0 victory.

On Sept. 8, Virginia Tech visited Tiger Stadium.

Many observers think it was LSU’s best all-around game in recent memory. Virginia Tech, which got stomped 48-7, wouldn’t argue. LSU outgained the visitors 598-149 in total yardage. Yikes.

Middle Tennessee was next, one of those games that the big guys have to have to fill the schedule and the little guys need for the payday. LSU 44-0.

Enter South Carolina and coach Steve Spurrier. LSU fans were nervous about this one, and the outcome, a 28-16 LSU win, justified their feelings. But this game also had the fun play of the year, a fake field goal in which holder Matt Flynn flipped a no-look, over-thehead pass to place-kicker Colt David, who scampered untouched 15 yards for a score. Spurrier was outSpurrier-ed.

Suddenly, though, there were chinks in the armor.

LSU went to New Orleans to play lowly Tulane in the Superdome. The 11 a.m. kickoff didn’t help and the game had all the excitement of watching someone pump gas. But while the Green Wave felt great, LSU took only a 10-9 lead to halftime and at one point in the third quarter had more penalties than points. But the Tigers prevailed 34-9, which brought on …

The first biggest game of the year.

Florida.

Last year’s BCS champion.

The hated Gators.

The team LSU had to beat.

And not only did 92,910 cram into Tiger Stadium, at least half that many more tailgated on the most crowded day in LSU

campus history. Some of the luster was lost, because Florida was beaten the week before by Auburn. But this was a big game and both teams delivered.

LSU trailed 24-14 going into the fourth quarter. But the Tigers held the ball for 12 of the 15 minutes in the final period, taking its only lead of the game on Jacob Hester’s 2-yard run with 1:09 remaining. Hester, a senior running back, carried 23 times for 106 yards that day and left little doubt about who was LSU’s goto guy.

It also marked the first of many LSU finishes that threatened to keep cardiologists in the Baton Rouge area busy the rest of the season.

The bubble burst the next week at Kentucky, as LSU lost in three overtimes. There were more ups and downs that day—did we mention the cardiologists?— but LSU had some shining moments. For starters, in the season that was, everyone was losing at one time or another, so one defeat wasn’t the end of the world.

And at the end of regulation, Miles had David try a 57yard field goal that would have won the game. It was long enough, but barely wide. As David came off the field, Miles greeted him as if the kick were good. David, it should be noted, has hit 15 of 17 since, including one in the second overtime that day.

The next week, the Tigers were at it again. Did we mention cardiologists? LSU scored on its last play, a 22-yard pass from Flynn to Demetrius Byrd to beat Auburn 28-24 in Tiger Stadium when conventional logic called for a timeout and a field goal to tie. But

Crazy gods,

crazy games, crazy season not Miles, who kept those football gods amused once again.

By then, LSU was 7-1 and finally got a weekend off in anticipation of the most-anticipated game, well, perhaps ever in a regular season.

Saban Bowl I. At Alabama.

Against the old LSU coach, Nick Saban, with the SEC Western Division title on the line.

Did we mention cardiologists?

LSU took a 17-3 lead. But that was short-lived. LSU then trailed 34-27. But the Tigers tied it on Flynn’s TD pass to Early Doucet and finally took the lead back with 1:26 left on a 1-yard run by Hester. This was the biggest scare of all, because if there was one game all season LSU fans wanted, it was Alabama. LSU not only escaped, but No. 2 Boston College lost and when the polls came out the Tigers were back in the No. 2 spot. And the football gods were loving it.

Louisiana Tech was up next: 58-7, thank you and drive home carefully.

A trip to Ole Miss saw LSU rout the Rebels 41-24 and maybe, just maybe, the Tigers were back in early season form. LSU fans started making plans for the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and, most assuredly, the BCS title game in New Orleans.

Until Arkansas came to town the day after Thanksgiving.

There are quite a few teams in college football that have yet to play in a three-overtime game. LSU lost its second of the season, 50-48 to the Hogs, and for the second time got knocked out of the top spot in the polls.

All the way to No. 7!

It would take a miracle.

The Miles-to-Michigan story was picking up steam.

The Tigers were dealing with an inordinate number of injuries. Ohio State would play either West Virginia or Missouri in the national championship game and LSU would end up, well, who knew where.

So they trudged to Atlanta to play Tennessee and barely two hours before kickoff, Miles called a news conference. This never happens. But Miles, a Michigan man, was angry that ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit declared that morning that Miles was signed, sealed and delivered to Ann Arbor the next week.

Miles angrily told the media, in a 45-second statement, that he was staying at LSU and that he had a game to coach, hence his epic close: “I’m busy!

Thanks. Have a great day.”

And LSU went out and beat Tennessee 21-14 but not until the Tigers trailed 14-13 and went ahead on an interception returned for a TD by Jonathan Zenon.

The football gods were just getting warmed up.

Three more things needed to happen for LSU to get into the mix against Ohio State, which was a sure bet

in the BCS title game.

First, Oklahoma had to beat top-ranked Missouri in the Big 12 championship game.

Check.

Second, lowly Pitt had to upset No. 2 West Virginia.

Check.

Third, a nation of voters had to see that LSU, with two losses, was better suited to be No. 2 than other teams with two defeats, such as Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, Georgia, Missouri and USC. Check.

Six minutes into the BCS title game against Ohio State on Jan. 7, LSU was down 10-0 and had already suffered a wild snap and a key injury. Did we mention cardiologists? But by now, we knew enough about this team not to panic—and so did they. They calmly regrouped, ran over, around and through the Buckeyes for most of the next 54 minutes, and were kissing the crystal ball before midnight.

When a reporter asked Miles after the game what he had learned about his team tonight, his answer made sense to every LSU fan: “Nothing.” Same thing we’d been watching them do all year.

The football gods then high-fived each other, cashed in on their bets, and laughed the night away.

One can only imagine what they have in store next year for a sequel to the craziest college football season there ever was.

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME vs. OHIO STATE January 7, 2008 THE SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS

National Champions again!

SU fans across the world had to wait 45 years

coach that’s won 34 games against six losses since

and leading the Tigers to three-consecutive 11-plus

between the Tigers’ first and second national

arriving in Baton Rouge in 2005.

win seasons. “This is a great place to get an education

championships. They only had to wait four

Flynn was nearly

between the second and third, but the victory tasted

flawless, save for a third-quarter interception in LSU

just as sweet.

territory that gave a brief hint of hope to the Ohio

With a crushing 38-24 win over Ohio State in the

Outstanding Player Award. Aside from the errant

left little doubt in the minds of those in the college

toss, Flynn jabbed and upper-cutted the Buckeyes on

football universe who the best team was during the

his way to completing 19-of-27 for 174 yards and a

2007 season. Forget USC. Forget Georgia. Forget Ohio

career-high four touchdown passes in his final game

State. Remember LSU.

as a Tiger. team with such great guys,” Flynn said. “We came out

LSU.

here with the right frame of mind and just executed.”

Tiger defensive tackle Ricky

Jean-Francois

BCS Championship by dominating most of the game

garnered defensive M.O.P. honors chiefly for blocking

and outscoring the Buckeyes 31-0 over a 24-minute

a second-quarter, 38-yard field goal attempt that kept

stretch. LSU also improved to 4-0 in BCS games since

the game tied at 10-10 and swung the momentum

the series began in 1998, the best record of any team.

completely in LSU’s favor. The Tigers scored 31

Ohio State fell to 4-2, both losses in the past two

unanswered points after taking control near midfield

championship games.

following the blocked kick. Jean-Francois also

Head Coach Les Miles, in his third season at LSU, lifted the $30,000 Waterford Crystal football-

—Story by Chris Macaluso, courtesy of LSUsports.net

“It’s very special to me to be part of such a great

National Champions again!

The Tigers became the first two-time winner of the

and a great place to win championships.”

State fans, on his way to winning the offensive Most

Bowl Championship Series Championship Game, LSU

National Champions.

10

Tiger quarterback Matt

recorded six tackles and combined on a sack.

“I knew this team was competitive and I knew they

shaped trophy amid a cloud of purple and gold ticker

would fight like heck,” LSU coach Les Miles said after

tape—a cloud that lifted moments later for the

winning his first national championship as a coach

BOTTOM RIGHT: RACHEL SALTZBERG; OTHER PHOTOS: TIM MUELLER

L

The Tigers were brimming with confidence when they took the field (above), but took an early punch on a 65-yard touchdown run by Chris Wells (below).

The Buckeyes found out why it hurts so much to tackle Jacob Hester.

Charles Scott showed the Buckeye defense the SEC is about a lot more than speed.

Colt David made his 26th field goal of the season on a 32-yard attempt in the first quarter.

LSU tied the game at 10-10 when Ohio State let tight end Richard Dickson ďŹ&#x201A;oat to the goal line wide open.

Jean-Francois knifed through the line to reject a 38-yard field goal attempt by Buckeye kicker Ryan Pretorious.

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IN ORDER FROM TOP: BRAD MESSINA, RACHEL SALTZBERG, TIM MUELLER, TIM MUELLER, TIM MUELLER, TIM MUELLER

Following the blocked field goal, LSU took its first lead when the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Offensive MOP Matt Flynn capped a run-dominated drive with perfect touch on a 10-yard pass to Brandon LaFell in the back of the end zone.

12

Tiger cornerback Chevis Jackson intercepted a pass in one-on-one coverage at the LSU 42 and returned it to the Ohio State 24. Five plays later, Hester plowed into the end zone from the 1-yard line to stake LSU to a 24-10 lead.

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13

FROM TOP: TIM MUELLER, TIM MUELLER, RACHEL SALTZBERG, RACHEL SALTZBERG

LSU made it 31 unanswered points when Early Doucet plowed through two Buckeye tacklers and into the endzone after taking in a Flynn pass at the 4-yard line with 9:04 to play in the third quarter.

BOX SCORE SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

BCS #2 LSU BCS #1 Ohio State

3 10

21 0

7 7

7 7

38 24

326 353

QTR

TIME

SCORING PLAY, DRIVE

1st

13:34

OSU – Chris Wells, 65 yd run (Pretorius kick), 4-77 1:26 .............................................. 0-7

09:12

OSU – Ryan Pretorius, 25 yd field goal, 5-51 2:51.......................................................... 0-10

02:21

.................................................................. 3-10 LSU - Colt David 32 yd field goal, 14-65 6:51..................................................................

13:00

................. 10-10 LSU - Richard Dickson 13 yd pass from Matt Flynn (David kick), 7-84 2:07.................

07:25

LSU - Brandon LaFell, 10 yd pass from Matt Flynn (David kick), 10-66 3:28 ................ 17-10

04:16

LSU - Jacob Hester, 1 yd run (David kick), 5-24 2:02 ..................................................... 24-10

09:04

LSU - Early Doucet, 4 yd pass from Matt Flynn (David kick), 14-80 5:56 ...................... 31-10

01:38

OSU – Brian Robiskie, 5 yd pass from Todd Boeckman (Pretorius kick), 4-11 2:06..... 31-17

01:50

.................. 38-17 LSU - Richard Dickson, 5 yd pass from Matt Flynn (David kick), 9-53 3:53..................

01:13

OSU – Brian Hartline, 15 yd pass from Todd Boeckman (Pretorius kick), 4-54 0:37 .... 38-24

2nd

3rd 4th

Sophomore Harry Coleman (24) recovered two fumbles, using one to save a possession for LSU and returning the other 14 yards after an Ali Highsmith sack.

14

SCORE

LSU got relentless pressure on Buckeye quarterback Todd Boeckman, with Tyson Jackson (above), Glenn Dorsey (below) and Ali Highsmith all getting sacks that jarred the ball loose.

PHOTOS BY TIM MUELLER AND BRAD MESSINA (TOP RIGHT AND MIDDLE RIGHT)

In the end, Coach Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes had no answer for LSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stout defense and balanced offense, and the celebration began.

15

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IN OTHER WORDS

“If you’ve ever seen lions maul

“

a water buffalo, you’ve seen the

Let’s say the crystal football torch has been passed from Nick Saban to Les Miles.

”

Peter Finney, The Times-Picayune “Feeding on a diet of feeble Big Ten squads, Ohio State had allowed 11 touchdowns all season. LSU put up five in the last three quarters.”

last two title games.” —Pat Fo rde, ESPN.com

“

OSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead, then collapsed in a flurry of personal fouls, special-teams miscues and even internal dissension.

Left tackle Alex Boone said offensive players were hollering at one another in the second half as the Tigers began to pull away ...

It was uncharacteristic for a normally tight-knit Buckeyes unit, and combined with an athletic and talented LSU squad, it was fatal.

”

Ken Gordon, Columbus Dispatch

Andrew Bagnato, AP College Football Writer

“There were situations where we had chances to get off the field and we didn’t do that, not because their scheme was great or they were faster, it was just simply execution.”

Vernon Gholston, OSU defensive end

18

19

Prelude to a championship n a way, LSU’s season of destiny began on Jan. 7,

end Glenn Dorsey announced he would forgo the NFL

2007, when former coach Nick Saban announced

Draft to remain at LSU for his senior season, and

his move to rival Alabama just hours before the

in February head coach Les Miles landed a stellar

by the way we finished the season. We won seven

Tigers topped off their 2006 campaign with a 41-14

recruiting class that observers ranked as high as No.

straight games, finished with a Sugar Bowl victory

thumping of Notre Dame in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

2 in the country.

over Notre Dame,” said Miles at the SEC’s Media

The convincing victory pushed the 2006 Tigers’

“I really enjoy the momentum that was created

Days in August. “The spring went well. We introduced

final record to 11-2 and elevated them to No. 3 in the

April’s NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick

three new coaches; Gary Crowton, our offensive

nation in both the USA Today Coaches poll and the

in quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the Tigers were

coordinator, in my opinion, has done a great job

Associated Press poll, setting the stage for the high

clearly tagged as one of the nation’s top college

getting to know the players and really adjusting his

expectations that would follow them all the way to the

football teams as spring practices gave way to

offensive philosophy to fit the talent, the guys that we

beginning of the 2007 season. Coupled with 2005’s

summer’s preseason magazines. A No. 4 ranking by

have.”

No. 5 final ranking, it marked the first time since the

Street & Smith’s was followed by No. 2 rankings from

1958 and 1959 seasons the Tigers had been ranked in

The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated. When the

coach at a place where we understand expectations,

the top five in the final polls in back-to-back years.

Associated Press writers’ poll followed suit by ranking

enjoy ‘em, and look forward to a great season.”

“Expectations are high,” he added. “I’m fortunate to

With the media and the talk shows already seething

the Tigers No. 2, LSU had its highest AP preseason

with expectations about seeing Saban on an opposing

ranking since being tapped as the No. 1 team in the

climb even higher, then plummet beyond belief, then

sideline, it took only weeks for excitement about 2007

land in 1959. The Tigers received two of 65 first place

somehow roar back to life. It wasn’t always easy to

to boil even higher. In mid-January, talented defensive

votes in the AP preseason forecast, while old nemesis

enjoy, but it definitely turned out to be great.

Expectations for the 2007 season were sky high by the time LSU’s annual Fan Day arrived in the middle of August.

20

Despite losing four players in the first round of

USC was ranked No. 1 with 62 first-place votes.

Mike VI arrived in Baton Rouge on Aug. 25, just in time for fans to get to know him before the season opener.

It wouldn’t take long for those expectations to

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: AP PHOTO/ALEX BRANDON, FEIRMAN, FRANZ

I

The Tigers and Les Miles began 2007 by celebrating a Sugar Bowl victory that completed the 2006 campaign at 11-2.

Congratulations to the 2007 National Champions!

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GAME 1

AT MISSISSIPPI STATE August 30, 2007

1-0

Early Doucet had a career-best nine catches for 78 yards.

Craig Steltz tied a team record with three interceptions.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #2 LSU Mississippi State

3 0

14 0

14 0

14 0

45 0

347 146

Pick 6

I

n a game that served as the nation’s major college football opener for the 2007 season—played on a Thursday night and televised to a national audience on ESPN—the second-ranked Tigers needed a quarter to find the rhythm they had last

displayed in New Orleans in January. After that, they marched all over Mississippi State to the tune of 45-0.

The vaunted Tiger defense reeled in six interceptions, including three by safety Craig Steltz while the offense under fifth-year senior Matt Flynn turned seven MSU turnovers Steltz, into 38 points. LSU opened a 17-0 halftime lead and never looked back in front of 50,112 fans at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville. It was only the fourth time in school history that LSU opened the season with a league game on the road, and the first such game to result in a Tiger victory (1-2-1).

22

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AP PHOTOS/ROGELIO V. SOLIS, STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ

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24

GAME 2

VIRGINIA TECH September 8, 2007

LSU defenders put the crunch on the Hokie running game.

2-0

Ali Highsmith and Charles Alexander got used to seeing each other in the Virginia Tech backfield.

Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, Low

L

SU’s offense dismantled a much-touted Virginia Tech defense, amassing 598 total yards. LSU’s defense smothered the Virginia Tech offense, limiting the Hokies

to a measly 149 total yards.

Added together, the result was a 48-7 thrashing of the

FROM TOP: BRAD MESSINA, STEVE FRANZ, JASON FEIRMAN

ninth-ranked Hokies by the second-ranked Tigers before

Lee Corso (middle) gave away his pick for the game during ESPN College Game Day’s broadcast from the parade grounds, the first of two visits the show made to LSU in 2007.

the largest crowd in Tiger Stadium history (92,739). The Tigers dominated in every category of the stat sheet and from the opening kick, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions to open the floodgates.

The LSU rushing attack set the pace, with Keiland

Williams averaging an eye-popping 18 yards per carry on his way to 127 yards on just seven attempts, two of which were touchdowns. Jacob

Hester contributed another 81

yards and a touchdown as the Tigers rolled up a whopping 297 yards on the ground.

GAME 2 CONTINUED >>

25

26

FROM TOP: STEVE FRANZ, RACHEL SALTZBERG, STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ

Quarterback Matt Flynn used his arm for a career-high 217 yards and his feet for a touchdown.

Ryan Perrilloux got into the act with two touchdown passes.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #2 LSU AP #9 Virginia Tech

14 0

10 0

10 7

14 0

48 7

598 149

The Hokies couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cover the Tiger receiving corps, including Early Doucet.

27

GAME 3

MIDDLE TENNESSEE September 15, 2007

FROM TOP: STEVE FRANZ, RACHEL SALTZBERG, STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ

Clockwise, from right: Terrance Toliver found the end zone in the third quarter. • Danny McCray (44) and Tyson Jackson (93) helped the defense post its second shutout of the season. • Jared Mitchell led all receivers with six catches for 82 yards. • LSU’s offense didn’t miss a step with Ryan Perrilloux replacing an injured Matt Flynn.

3-0

Stepping up

I

n a testimony to its depth, second-ranked LSU played without starting quarterback Matt Flynn

and top wide receiver Early Doucet and didn’t miss a step in a 44-0 victory over Middle Tennessee.

Instead, LSU’s underclassmen stepped in and stepped up. The Tigers amassed 505 yards

of offense behind quarterback Ryan

Perrilloux, who spread the ball to 10 receivers on his

way to completing 20-of-25 for 298 yards and three touchdowns. Perrilloux hooked up with fellow sophomore Jared

Mitchell six times, while freshmen Demetrius Byrd and Richard Murphy both scored the first touchdowns of their LSU careers, and freshmen Terrance Toliver his second.

Meanwhile, the Tiger defense limited Middle Tennessee to just 90 yards of total offense, with almost half of those coming in the fourth

quarter

28

quarter against second and third string players.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #2 LSU Middle Tennessee

14 0

10 0

10 7

14 0

48 7

505 90

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30

GAME 4

SOUTH CAROLINA September 22, 2007

Tricky when wet

D

espite public address announcer Dan Bornè’s spirited announcement during pregame

activities (“Chance of rain: Never!”), tropical depression rain switched between heavy and light all afternoon in Tiger Stadium and soaked all 92,530 in the stands. But the third-largest crowd in Tiger Stadium history was anything but depressed by the weather or the result as No. 2 LSU’s rushing attack overwhelmed the Gamecocks in a 28-16 win.

The Tigers piled up 290 yards on the ground while holding South Carolina to just 17 yards rushing. As if the one-two

punch of Jacob Hester (88 yards) and Trindon Holliday (73 yards) weren’t enough, placekicker Colt David added insult to the Gamecocks’ injury with a 15-yard touchdown run of his own.

Stopped at the South Carolina 15 late in the first half, LSU lined up for the expected field goal attempt. Holder

The Tigers harried South Carolina starting quarterback Blake Mitchell into 7-of-16 passing, two sacks, one interception and an early exit.

Matt Flynn knelt and received the snap at the 22, but then flipped the ball over his head toward David as he streaked toward the right side. David grabbed

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #2 LSU AP #12 South Carolina

7 7

14 0

7 0

0 9

28 16

360 261

the ball in stride and raced to the end zone for the touchdown, then stayed on the field to kick the point after that gave LSU a 21-7 halftime lead.

STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ, RACHEL SALTZBERG (BOTTOM RIGHT)

Ryan Perrilloux added 63 yards to the Tigers’ relentless ground game.

Jacob Hester’s 88 yards on the ground were a career high.

GAME 4 CONTINUED >>

31

Clockwise from top: After a blind, over-the-shoulder flip from kneeling holder Matt Flynn, kicker-turned-rusher Colt David had a wide open path to the end zone. • The sloppy weather made it tough enough to catch the ball; Chevis Jackson made it even tougher.

• Safety Danny McCray led the Tiger defense with 11 solo tackles.

32

TOP: STEVE FRANZ; BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: RACHEL SALTZBERG

4-0

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GAME 5

AT TULANE September 29, 2007

“I think any time Trindon Holliday touches the ball there is some electricity that can be generated.

The kickoff return was a big play. Starting the second half, it just felt like big plays were about to come.”

—Coach Miles

A pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns by running back Charles Scott iced the victory for LSU.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #2 LSU Tulane

7 0

3 9

10 0

14 0

34 9

391 227

5-0 PHOTOS: STEVE FRANZ

Craig Steltz and the rest of the LSU defense flattened the Wave after halftime.

Both teams wore special uniforms bearing a pelican design meant to symbolize New Orleans rising from the ashes and rebuilding itself. LSU wore white helmets for the first time since the 1997 Independence Bowl against Notre Dame. It was also the first time LSU wore white helmets with purple jerseys. (The Tigers wore gold jerseys against the Irish.)

Slow start

M

aybe those white helmets weren’t such a good idea. A firsthalf offensive malaise limited the heavily favored No. 2 Tigers to a tenuous 10-9 halftime lead before they revived

in time to run to a 34-9 victory in an in-state rivalry game played in the Louisiana Superdome.

After an early touchdown, LSU’s offense limped and tripped for most of the first half, failing to move the ball past their 30-yard line on five consecutive possessions. That lack of proficiency cost them two points when a holding penalty in the end zone gave the Greenies a safety, which they followed with a 58-yard drive and an Andre Anderson touchdown run to take a shocking 9-7 lead.

To the relief of the confounded partial-to-LSU crowd, speedster

Trindon Holliday followed with a crucial 38-yard kickoff return that set up LSU at its 44-yardline. The result was a 37-yard drive and a Colt

David field goal to end the half that allowed the Tigers

to regain momentum. A second-half shutout by the defense and two fourth-quarter Charles

Scott touchdown runs sealed the

victory and solidified LSU’s position as the No. 2 team in the country going into the season’s most anticipated game.

34

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GAME 6

FLORIDA October 6, 2007

Mike VI was inaugurated with his first trip down The Hill and into Tiger Stadium.

One for the ages

L

ong before the 2007 season began, SI.com tapped Florida’s visit to Tiger Stadium on Oct. 6 as the No. 1 “Game

to Watch” of the 2007 college football season. By the time kickoff arrived, LSU had ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was halfway through what would turn out to be a Heisman Trophy-winning season, and the largest crowd in Tiger Stadium history (92,910) was raising the decibels.

The Tigers and Gators did not disappoint, recording one of the most memorable games in Death Valley history.

Playing as the top-ranked team in the

Kirston Pittman (49) and Glenn Dorsey (72) helped put the clamps on Heismanwinner Tim Tebow in a game that featured ferocious hitting on both sides.

AP poll for the first time since 1959, LSU was in serious trouble much of the game.

As the defense struggled to contain Tebow’s running and passing, the Tigers found themselves trailing by 10 on three different occasions.

But ferocious rallies and a series of nerve-racking fourth-down conversions (5-for-5 in the game) saved the night. Trailing 24-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, LSU got a 4-yard touchdown pass from Matt Flynn to Demetrius Byrd with 10:15 left on a

FROM TOP: JASON FEIRMAN, STEVE FRANZ, RACHEL SALTZBERG

gutsy fourth-down play that made it 24-21.

Then, during a stomach-churning drive that consumed more than eight minutes

Death Valley was already thundering before public address announcer Dan Borne reported No. 2 USC’s stunning loss to Stanford midway through the third quarter. The news set off one of the most raucous celebrations since the Earthquake Game.

6-0

on the clock, running back Jacob Hester delivered hit after hit to the Florida defense and twice gouged out first downs on fourth-and-one—the second of those giving the Tigers new life at the Florida 7-yard-line. Three plays later, Hester dove into the south end zone to give LSU its first lead of the game—and one of its sweetest victories ever.

GAME 6 CONTINUED >>

37

Demetrius Byrd’s fourth-quarter, fourth-down touchdown catch ignited the final Tiger rally.

Ryan Miller and Herman Johnson helped clear the way as Jacob Hester plunged through the “A” gap in the line for the winning touchdown.

38

Jacob Hester secured his status as an LSU legend with a series of smash-mouth runs during the final drive that kept Florida players reeling and the chains moving.

was a game “That for the ages. Those are the types of games that you come to LSU to play. At one point, it wasn’t even about football anymore.

The game was about if we could prove that we had a heart the size of our bodies.

”

Tebow’s final desperate heave to the end zone was knocked away by a trio of Tigers.

DE Tyson Jackson

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AP PHOTO/ALEX BRANDON, STEVE FRANZ, RACHEL SALTZBERG, AP PHOTO/ALEX BRANDON, BRAD MESSINA

The thrilling victory on Oct. 6 made LSU the nation’s consensus No. 1 and kept Florida winless all-time against the No. 1 team in the country during the regular season (0-6).

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #1 LSU AP #9 Florida

0 3

7 14

7 7

14 0

28 24

391 314

39

GAME 7

AT KENTUCKY October 13, 2007

All-American Glenn Dorsey got his share of tackles despite double teams from the Wildcat defense.

Charles Scott’s two first-half rushing touchdowns helped LSU build an early lead.

Blue day in Kentucky

T

he Tigers’ stay atop both of the nation’s major college football polls, secured by their thrilling win and USC’s shocking loss

on Oct. 6, was not to last for long. Traveling to Kentucky for a critical SEC road game, LSU let a late 13-point lead slip away and battled through three tantalizing overtime periods before falling to the Wildcats 43-37 at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington.

After two overtimes that saw both teams squander opportunities, LSU’s bid to stay unbeaten came down to a third overtime with

Heisman candidate André Woodson led the Wildcats by throwing for three touchdowns and running for another.

both teams feeling the bite of fatigue and injury. With the first possession in the third overtime, Kentucky got new life from a pass interference call on an incomplete pass on third-and-goal. Kentucky wide receiver Steve Johnson then caught a wide-open pass from André Woodson in the right corner of the end zone for what proved to be the game-winner. In LSU’s chance to answer, the Tigers ran the ball on four consecutive plays. But when Charles

Scott crashed to the ground a yard short of a first down on the Tigers’ fourth down attempt, Kentucky fans stormed the field in celebration and LSU’s dream of a national championship crashed to the ground with him.

40

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AP PHOTO/ED REINKE, STEVE FRANZ, AP PHOTO/ED REINKE, STEVE FRANZ, AP PHOTO/JAMES CRISP, STEVE FRANZ

6-1 SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

OT1

OT2

OT3

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

AP #1 LSU AP #17 Kentucky

0 7

17 7

10 7

0 6

7 7

3 3

0 6

37 43

403 375

From top: Even the best efforts of linemen Ryan Miller (63) and Brett Helms (74) weren’t enough to keep quarterback Matt Flynn from suffering through an uneven passing day. • Tight end Richard Dickson’s touchdown catch from Matt Flynn in the third quarter built the LSU lead to 24-14, but the Tigers couldn’t hold on. • LSU’s championship hopes were grounded along with Charles Scott in the third overtime.

41

GAME 8

AUBURN October 20, 2007

No time to lose

F

or the third consecutive game in this increasingly frantic football season, the outcome was not determined until LSU’s final possession. For the second consecutive game, nothing was certain until the final second.

In surviving SEC West rival Auburn 30-24, the home-standing Tigers needed all but

one second to overcome a 17-7 halftime deficit, all but one second to overcome the loss of defensive tackle Glenn

Dorsey in the third quarter, and all but one second

to overcome dropped passes, two turnovers and five penalties.

But with 92,630 fans holding their collective breath, LSU’s Demetrius

Byrd

fought through the arms of Auburn cornerback Jerraud Powers to get his hands on a 22-yard lob from Matt

7-1

Flynn in the corner of the north end zone (above). By the time

Byrd rolled to the ground cradling the winning touchdown catch in his arms, the clock showed 00:01 and LSU had escaped with victory.

It was LSU’s 18th straight home win—breaking the school record of 17 consecutive victories set between 1935 and 1937—and the 25th straight Saturday night win in Tiger Stadium.

PHOTOS: STEVE FRANZ

42

GAME 8 CONTINUED >>

43

Clockwise from top: Defensive end Kirston Pittman (49) helped put the pressure on Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox. • Linebacker Ali Highsmith (7) led LSU’s swarming defense with 11 tackles and a sack.

• Keiland Williams caught a screen pass from Matt Flynn at the Auburn 46 and darted through the Auburn defense all the way to the end zone to tie the game 7-7. • Flynn played one of his sharpest games of the season, completing 22-of-34 for 319 yards and three touchdowns—including the game-winner with a second to play.

1

2

3

4

BCS #4 LSU BCS #17 Auburn

7 7

0 10

6 0

17 7

Score Total Yards 30 24

488 296

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: RACHEL SALTZBERG, BRAD MESSINA, STEVE FRANZ, BRAD MESSINA

Score by Quarters

44

LSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entire season teetered on the brink when All-American Glenn Dorsey slumped to the ground after an Auburn chop block.

The centerpiece of the LSU defense suffered a knee injury that would slow him down for much of the next five games.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JIM ZIETZ, STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ, JIM ZIETZ, STEVE FRANZ

With Tigers tangling with Tigers, intensity was the name of the game.

45

GAME 9

AT ALABAMA November 3, 2007

The Showdown

A

fter guiding LSU to the BCS championship in the 2003 season, Nick Saban left for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins in 2005. Though disappointed at losing the man who had returned the program to

national prominence and who was widely acclaimed as one of the best college coaches in the land, most LSU fans recognized the lure of the NFL and respected Saban’s choice to pursue the challenge of a lifetime.

All that changed in January 2007, when Saban announced—just hours before LSU was to take the field in the Sugar Bowl no less—that he would return to the Southeastern Conference to coach at archrival Alabama.

Understanding quickly turned to pure venom at what many in Louisiana considered to be a crass and classless act of betrayal and opportunism.

The venom was not limited to the oddball sports talk show caller.

Diehard Tiger fans vented their disgust with Web sites, T-shirts, bumper stickers, signs at games and more. From GeauxtoHellSaban.com to SabanforSale.com to blog and chat posts that could never be reprinted

anywhere, LSU fans unleashed a tirade of new names for the man who was once synonymous with LSU football: traitor, sell-out, liar, Satan. And those are the nice ones.

Above all, fans circled one date on the 2007 LSU football schedule: November 3, at Alabama. The showdown. The payback. The chance to prove LSU really had the best coach now, anyway.

Through it all, there was Les Miles, the extremely successful successor to Saban who still had to go about relentlessly preparing his football team for the upcoming season and, finally, for the showdown in Tuscaloosa itself.

FROM TOP: STEVE FRANZ, COURTESY UNIV. OF ALABAMA MEDIA RELATIONS

And while Miles made no secret of the fact he was aware of the attention his predecessor was getting—he made a special callout to Alabama at LSU’s signing day event in February and he slyly referred to Saban as “that coach” at SEC Media Days in July—by the time the game approached he was all business, refusing to talk about anything but the players on the field and the importance of the game to reaching their goals.

Still, the week of the Alabama game was a special one on the LSU campus. Students took turns throwing darts at an image of Saban posted in Free Speech Alley. A photo of this activity ran on page 1 of The

Birmingham News sports section. There was no doubt about what this game meant—or who it was about.

46

GAME 9 CONTINUED >>

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47

GAME 9 More for Les

A

game billed as a showdown between the coaches took an ugly turn for LSU when the Tigers showed up with some of their poorest execution of the season. In the end they defeated Nick Saban’s 17th-ranked Alabama squad despite themselves,

coming from behind in the final minutes for a dramatic 41-34 victory.

For a while, it looked like the only thing the Tigers had to offer coach Les Miles was more mistakes. Fourteen penalties for 130 yards, coupled with three interceptions and a blocked field goal were enough to have any fan in purple and gold pulling at their white cap. But, trailing 34-27 with less than three minutes to play after a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown by Alabama, LSU responded with a little something more for Miles.

Matt Flynn to Early Doucet, who left defenders grasping at air as he sprinted for a 32-yard touchdown. Then, with the defense just looking to stop Alabama from getting in range to win the game, a blitzing Chad

Jones blasted Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson into a fumble that Curtis Taylor recovered at the Tide 3-yard line.

Jacob Hester dove into the end zone from a yard out 13 seconds later, giving the Tigers two touchdowns in 93 seconds and

Miles had to do more “coaching” than he would have preferred.

their fifth win of the season over a team ranked in the top 18 in the AP poll.

Early Doucet’s touchdown helped the Tigers get rolling early, but a wave of mistakes kept Alabama in the game.

Chevis Jackson’s interception set up LSU’s first touchdown.

48

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: AP PHOTO/ROB CARR, STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ

The Tigers knotted the game at 34-34 on a thrilling fourth-down completion from

49

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Demetrius Byrd’s 144 yards receiving were the most by an LSU receiver since 2002.

Tight end Richard Dickson was one of seven different LSU receivers who roughed up the Tide.

Chad Jones knocked the ball away from Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson to set up LSU’s winning score late in the fourth.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

BCS #3 LSU BCS #24 Alabama

10 3

7 17

7 7

17 7

41 34

475 254

8-1 PHOTOS: STEVE FRANZ

Linebacker Darry Beckwith ran down Alabama ball carriers for a team-leading seven tackles.

51

Coach Miles had some postgame thoughts for Kirston Pittman.

Coach Saban had a word with Glenn Dorsey.

The team had a gift for Miles after the game: the game ball. But he had a gift for them too:

“

I’ve got to give them the enlightenment that you don’t have to play this poorly.

We don’t have to do this to ourselves.

”

52

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: STEVE FRANZ, AP PHOTO/BUTCH DILL, AP PHOTO/ROB CARR, STEVE FRANZ

All eyes were still on Saban and Miles after the game.

The Campaign for Louisiana State University

Honoring the Past

Embracing the Present

Securing Forever

World-class institutions like LSU need world-class endowments. Our goal is to raise $750 million by 2010.

Please visit www.foreverlsu.org today. Because, now more than ever, forever depends on you.

53

GAME 10

LOUISIANA TECH November 10, 2007

Too much for Tech

L

SU took a break from its rigorous series of games in the Southeastern Conference to celebrate homecoming

and wallop in-state foe Louisiana Tech, 5810, in Tiger Stadium.

Led by a 321-yard rushing attack that featured a career-long 87-yard scamper

by Jacob

Hester, the LSU offense

piled up 595 total yards while holding the overmatched Bulldogs to 256. Matt

Flynn also had his third consecutive game with three touchdown passes, including a 71-yard hookup down the west sideline to freshman Terrance

Toliver. It was

the longest LSU pass play since Devery Henderson’s Bluegrass Miracle catch on Nov. 9, 2002.

The win improved LSU’s overall record to 9-1, but more surprising was what happened to LSU’s season in other stadiums on this night. The Tigers clinched the SEC West Division championship with losses by Alabama and Auburn. Best of all, title hopes when No. 1 Ohio State was stunned by Illinois.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

BCS #2 LSU Louisiana Tech

10 0

17 7

17 0

14 3

58 10

595 256

9-1 From top: After hurdling Louisiana Tech, the Tigers were ready to hurdle Ohio State for No. 1. • Jonathan Zenon (19) had a fumble recovery and an interception in the end zone to smother Tech scoring chances.

• After pulling within 10-7, the Bulldogs spent more time on their backs than looking for the end zone.

• Terrance Toliver flew down the west sideline and into the end zone for the longest LSU pass play since the Bluegrass Miracle.

54

FROM TOP: STEVE FRANZ, RACHEL SALTZBERG, RACHEL SALTZBERG, JIM ZIETZ

they suddenly regained their fallen national

“History is a Pattern of Timeless Moments” That quote from T. S. Elliot was never more accurate than it was for these LSU Tigers of 2007. Timeless, spectacular moments — from the opening-season 45 - 0 shutdown of Mississippi State and the “Red Alert Roxie” against South Carolina to the 48 -7, late-season defeat of fellow conference title winner, Virginia Tech. These “moments” and many others are what brought LSU to the BCS Championship Game, January 7, 2008.

Now, this team enters the history books, along with other famous LSU football squads, like the National Championship winners of the 2003 - 2004 Season, the 1958 Champions and countless SEC Title winners.

TROPHY PHOTO COURTESY STEVE FRANZ, LSU SPORTS INFORMATION

Over the years, it would be hard to find any more hardcore Tiger Fans than those at Baton Rouge’s oldest continually owned family business. That’s because our love of football goes back almost to the beginning of the game.

On Thanksgiving Day of 1919, Harry Rabenhorst became a legend in his own right by kicking the longest recorded punt in college football history. His 110 - yard kick in the early days of football helped Wake Forest defeat North Carolina State for the first time in their soon-to-be, long-standing rivalry.

As a young man, Harry came back to Baton Rouge to become known as LSU’s “Coach Raby,” serving for over 43 years — as Assistant Football Coach, Head Basketball Coach, Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director and Athletic Director.

But, to us, Harry Rabenhorst was a former company president, who instilled his love and support of LSU Athletics to our family and staff alike.

Today, you can visit our newest location, www.rabenhorst.com, to learn more about Harry and another championship season at LSU. At other times, our web site can provide instant information, which may be important to your family. Rabenhorst responds again, with the same caring staff and the highest quality of service, since 1866.

Today, the famous pigskin rests as Harry’s tribute at the National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana.

“Coach Raby”

11000 Florida Boulevard • 825 Government Street • P.O. Box 2666 • Baton Rouge, LA 70821

55

GAME 11

AT OLE MISS November 17, 2007

Catch me if you can

I

t wasn’t the prettiest defensive effort of the season as the Ole Miss Rebels rolled up 466 yards in total offense. But LSU answered with four rushing touchdowns and a 98-yard kickoff

return for a score by Trindon

Holliday in a 41-24 victory at Vaught-

Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.

Charles Scott led a platoon of LSU running backs with 66 yards on only three carries, including a 29-yard touchdown that capped the scoring late in the contest. Jacob

Hester added 65 yards on 13 carries with a 2-yard score, while Keiland Williams carried five times for 41 yards with a 10-yard TD. LSU quarterback Matt Flynn completed 17-of-25 passes for 168 yards without being intercepted. He scored LSU’s first touchdown of the game with a 5-yard run on the Tigers first drive of the game. Early

yards, while Tiger safety Craig

Doucet caught eight passes for 58

Steltz added to his All-American credentials with

two interceptions.

LSU recorded its 10th win of the season for the third consecutive time—a first in school history.

56

In an explosive first quarter, Ole Miss tied the game at 7-7 when Marshay Green beat the LSU coverage for a 44-yard punt return (top), only to have Trindon Holliday take the ensuing kickoff at the 2yard line and sprint 98 yards for a touchdown that gave the lead back to LSU (right).

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

BCS #1 LSU Ole Miss

14 7

0 0

10 3

17 14

41 24

396 90

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: AP PHOTO/BRUCE NEWMAN, AP PHOTO/ROGELIO V. SOLIS, STEVE FRANZ, AP PHOTO/ROGELIO V. SOLIS, STEVE FRANZ

Left guard Herman Johnson started his 21st consecutive game on his way to becoming the only LSU offensive player to start every game of the season.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Running back Charles Scott looked down field for blockers before exploding for a 29-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

GAME 11 CONTINUED >>

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57

58

Rebel receivers gave safeties Craig Steltz (16) and Danny McCray (44) one of their busiest games of the season.

LSU finally took control of the game with a 54-yard drive on the first possession of the second half, capped

by Keiland Williams’ 10-yard dash for a touchdown.

“Special teams can always change the outcome of a game.

When (Marshay Green) made that return for a touchdown, it startled us a little bit. We knew that we had a guy that was capable of the same thing. Taking that one to the house was a big momentum booster for us.

”

Wide receiver Early Doucet

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AP PHOTO/ROGELIO V. SOLIS, STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ

10-1 Linebacker Ali Highsmith recorded his 37th consecutive game with a tackle.

59

60

GAME 12

ARKANSAS November 23, 2007

Hog-tied

I

n October, LSU ascended to the nation’s top ranking and owned the inside track to the national championship game— only to lose in three agonizing overtimes to the Kentucky

Wildcats. In November, the Tigers again ascended to the No. 1 BCS spot and again controlled their own destiny for the national title game—only to lose in three agonizing overtimes to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Razorbacks running game, ranked first in the SEC and fourth nationally, had its way on the Tiger Stadium turf on this Friday after Thanksgiving, rolling up 385 yards behind a 206-yard, three-touchdown performance by All-American tailback and Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden (left). Arkansas’ passing offense also picked up key first downs, the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter (thrown by McFadden) and one of the Razorbacks’ three touchdowns in overtime.

The Tigers still managed to fill the game with thrills for the home crowd, including a dramatic 79-yard touchdown drive to tie the game in the final five minutes. The drive included yet another Tiger fourth-down conversion, a 35-yard hookup between Matt

Flynn and Richard Dickson to the Arkansas 8, an apparent touchdown by Flynn that was wiped out by a late timeout, and, finally, a fourth-down catch in the end zone by Demetrius

Byrd.

LSU was a play away from victory in the first overtime, when the defense held the Hogs to a fourth-and-10 at the 25 with LSU leading 35-28, but Arkansas fullback Peyton Hillis slipped free for a 13-yard catch to keep the Hogs alive. When Hillis caught a short touchdown pass on the ensuing series, the Tigers were Hog-tied again. LSU scored a touchdown on each of its overtime possessions, but couldn’t match Arkansas’ two-point conversion in the third.

10-2

FROM TOP: BRAD MESSINA, BRAD MESSINA, RACHEL SALTZBERG

Jacob Hester ripped his way to two game-tying touchdowns— one in the third quarter and one in the second overtime.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

BCS #1 LSU Arkansas

6 0

0 7

3

4

OT1

OT2

OT3

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

15 14

7 7

7 7

7 7

6 8

48 50

413 513 The Razorbacks kept the Tiger offense bottled up for most of the first half.

GAME 12 CONTINUED >>

61

Quarterback Matt Flynn’s dive for a two-point conversion tied the game at 14 in the third quarter.

Flynn threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.

LSU’s offense was nearly perfect in overtime, including Early Doucet’s first-down catch and Brandon LaFell’s touchdown catch (bottom right) in the third overtime. The Tigers only fell short when Arkansas batted away the ensuing two-point conversion pass.

62

PHOTOS: BRAD MESSINA (BOTTOM LEFT) AND STEVE FRANZ

Bo Pelini’s defense almost won the game for the Tiger’s in the first overtime, but the Razorback’s surprised LSU with a pass to fullback Peyton Hillis to convert a fourthand-10 that kept their possession alive.

Victory is always sweeter on the road.

Sprint congratulates the LSU Tigers on their exceptional journey to a victory at the 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship game.

That’s college football at SprintSpeed.

TM

©2007 Sprint Nextel. All rights reserved. SPRINT, the “Going Forward” logo, the NEXTEL name and logo, and other trademarks are trademarks of Sprint Nextel.

63

The Human Element of Dow...

Great tradition, great game plans, great coaching strategies…but it’s the Human Element of LSU’s players, coaches and many more…that came together to help forge a Championship Season. At Dow Louisiana Operations, we also know that the most important element of our continued success is the Human Element.

The inspiration, ingenuity and hard-working, “Can Do” spirit of the Dow and contract employees at our Plaquemine site not only helps us make great products, but also helps us support great community projects like Habitat for Humanity, educational and youth programs.

It’s the chemistry of the Human Element that helps us encourage future champions in our communities. Congratulations to the LSU Fighting Tigers on their Championship Season!

...in our People, our Products and our Community.

64

GAME 13

sec championship game December 1, 2007

STEVE FRANZ

Not so fast W my friend ...

This was big news to LSU fans. Unfortunately for Herbstreit, it was also big news to Les Miles.

hen Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr announced his retirement in November, everybody in the college football world knew the unfolding story would involve LSU one way or another. Les Miles was a former Michigan football player who also cut his coaching teeth under the wing of the legendary Bo Schembechler. It was, most believed, his dream job.

But no one could have quite predicted how the story actually did unfold, providing another unexpected and dramatic twist in the LSU Tigers’ melodramatic quest for the championship.

As fans tuned into ESPN’s College Game Day on Saturday morning, Dec. 1, they got more than a preview of the day’s conference championship games, which included LSU’s afternoon matchup with Tennessee in Atlanta. Instead, Game Day was leading with a story from analyst Kirk Herbstreit indicating that the speculation was over and Miles had indeed agreed to become the next coach in Ann Arbor: “Sources have told ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Michigan will announce early next week it has reached an agreement with LSU coach Les Miles to be its next head football coach.”

This was big news to LSU fans. Unfortunately for Herbstreit, it was also big news to Les Miles.

Within hours—and still hours before his team would take the field in Atlanta—Miles had called a press conference to angrily denounce the report as “misinformation.” Miles was furious—not just that

the report was incorrect but also that his players were asking questions about his future at LSU instead of preparing for one of the biggest games of their lives. “I’m the head coach at LSU,” he told reporters gathered in Atlanta. “I will be the head coach at LSU.” “For me to be an issue, for a coach to be an issue on a day like today, it’s not forgivable,” Miles said after the game. “That’s why I had to take the podium and tell the truth.”

Herbstreit would eventually admit his information came not from “sources,” but from a single, anonymous, uncorroborated source. Still, he suggested, it was accurate at the time, and LSU and Miles may have reached a deal in response to the situation caused on Saturday morning by his report. LSU officials discounted that scenario, telling reporters that the negotiations with Miles had been in progress for a week and were finished on Friday night.

Miles told reporters after the game LSU was now his home: “There’s not many places in America as good as this one. It has everything, a great school, great campus, great state. I’m home.”

And he had one final punchline about the misinformation from Herbstreit, a former Ohio State quarterback who was in a Buckeye uniform while Miles was an assistant at Michigan. “I think it’s an Ohio State plot. I keep an eye on those guys from Ohio State every chance that I get.”

65

GAME 13

SCORE BY QUARTERS

1

2

3

4

SCORE

TOTAL YARDS

BCS #7 LSU BCS #14 Tennessee

6 7

0 0

7 7

8 0

21 14

464 343

SEC champs!

R

11-2

eports of the death of LSU’s defense after the Arkansas game were greatly exaggerated. LSU finished off the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta when cornerback Jonathan

Zenon ran an interception back for a touchdown with under 10 minutes to play, then linebacker Darry Beckwith picked off another pass inside the LSU 10 to secure a 21-14 victory over Tennessee and the 10th SEC Football Championship in school history.

The two plays put the LSU defense back where it started the season—among the nation’s elite—

and put the Tigers right back in the middle of the national championship picture.

On third-and-5 from the Tennessee 14, LSU cornerback Jonathan receiver Quintin

Zenon stepped in front of wide

Hancock and picked off Vols quarterback Erik Ainge at the Tennessee 18. He

Meanwhile, LSU sophomore quarterback Ryan

Perrilloux earned championship

game MVP honors by calling the finest game of his short career. Starting for just the

Jonathan Zenon’s interception and score in the fourth quarter was one of the biggest plays of the 2007 season.

second time in place of an injured Matt

Flynn, Perrilloux was 20-of-30 passing for

243 yards and a go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter. He also rushed nine times for 14 yards and scored the crucial two-point conversion that gave LSU a seven-point lead after Zenon’s interception.

66

GAME 13 CONTINUED >>

FROM TOP: AP PHOTO/DAVE MARTIN, STEVE FRANZ

ran untouched into the end zone for LSU’s first defensive score of the season.

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67

All-American Glenn Dorsey (left) missed more than half the game, yet LSU held Tennessee tailback Arian Foster to just 57 yards on 21 rushes. Safety Craig Steltz (right) led the Tigers with eight tackles.

LSU running back Jacob Hester went over 1,000 yards rushing on the season and was again the force that powered the Tigers’ ground game, running 23 times for 120 yards.

When we got in a tight situation we came together as a team and did our assignments. If it wasn’t for the team doing their assignments, we wouldn’t have made the interceptions. So everybody did their jobs tonight and fortunately we came out with a victory.

”

Linebacker Darry Beckwith

Perrilloux piloted LSU’s offensive game plan and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Early Doucet continued his path back from an early season groin injury with a team-high five catches.

68

Darry Beckwith turned the LSU side of the Georgia Dome upside down with an interception that snuffed out the final Tennessee scoring chance.

PHOTOS BY STEVE FRANZ AND AP PHOTO BY DAVE MARTIN (BOTTOM RIGHT)

“

FROM TOP: AP PHOTO/DAVE MARTIN, STEVE FRANZ, AP PHOTO/DAVE MARTIN, STEVE FRANZ

We know Coach is here with us, and we know Coach has been sticking by us from the beginning. And for Coach to say (he will be the coach at LSU for a long time), that definitely put ease on a lot of people’s minds and hearts. We just went out and played for Coach, and Coach coached for us, and we won as a team—SEC champs.

Quarterback Ryan Perrilloux

69

Glenn Dorsey’s 2007 Awards

Tigers Honored by the SEC All-SEC First Team Herman Johnson Glenn Dorsey Craig Steltz Chevis Jackson Ali Highsmith Colt David Patrick Fisher All-SEC Second Team Jacob Hester Ciron Black Darry Beckwith SEC All-Freshman Team Terrance Toliver Chad Jones 70

Taking home the hardware

G

lenn Dorsey put his name alongside LSU greats Tommy

because without them and what we’ve done on the field as

Casanova, Billy Cannon and Gaynell Tinsley when he

unit, this award would not be possible.”

became just the fourth player in school history to be

Through 13 games, Dorsey was the key to an LSU

named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press

defense that ranked among the top 10 in the nation in three

twice during his career.

categories, including a No. 3 rating in total defense. Despite

Joining Dorsey on the 2007 AP All-America teams for

battling knee and lower back ailments for the last half of the

the Tigers were safety Craig Steltz, who was a first-team

season, Dorsey still managed 64 tackles, 11.5 tackles for

selection, and linebacker Ali Highsmith, who earned a spot on

losses and six sacks.

the second team.

Dorsey, who was also a first-team AP All-American in 2006,

The AP distinction capped a senior season for Dorsey that saw him capture four national awards on his way to becoming

earned the honor again this year after leading the second-

the most decorated defender in school history. Only Heisman

ranked Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title and a

Trophy-winner Billy Cannon can claim to have won more

berth in the BCS National Championship Game.

awards in his career than Dorsey.

“This is a tremendous honor to be named alongside some

In addition to the AP honors, LSU’s Chad Jones was named

of the great players in LSU history as a repeat All-American,”

to The Sporting News’ First-Team All-America squad and

Dorsey said. “To have my name mentioned in the same

Highsmith was named to the CBSSports.com All-America

sentence as Billy Cannon and Tommy Casanova brings a smile

Team. Steltz, who led the Tiger defense with six interceptions

to my face.

and 97 tackles, was also a member of the Sporting News and

“I have to give all the credit to my teammates and coaches

CBSSports.com All-America squads.

AP PHOTO/CHARLIE RIEDEL

Sporting News All-American CBSSports.com All-American Walter Camp All-American AP All-American Outland Trophy Nagurski Trophy Lombardi Award Lott Trophy SEC Defensive Player of the Year

71

2007 FINAL TEAM STATISTICS STATISTIC

LSU

OPP

SCORING ........................................... 541 ..................................279 Points Per Game ..................... 38.6 .................................19.9 FIRST DOWNS ................................. 316 ..................................231 RUSHING YARDAGE ........................ 2998................................1485 PASSING YARDAGE ......................... 3154................................2558 Att-Comp-Int .......................... 442-256-13...................451-212-23 Average Per Pass ................... 7.1 ...................................5.7 Average Per Catch .................. 12.3 .................................12.1 Average Per Game ................. 225.3...............................182.7 TDs Passing ............................. 29 ....................................19 TOTAL OFFENSE .............................. 6152................................4043 Total Plays ............................... 1054................................915 Average Per Play .................... 5.8 ...................................4.4 Average Per Game ................. 439.4...............................288.8 KICK RETURNS: #-Yards ............... 42-827 ...........................94-1909 PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards ............... 23-136 ...........................22-208 INT RETURNS: #-Yards ................... 23-282 ...........................13-137 KICK RETURN AVERAGE .................. 19.7 .................................20.3 PUNT RETURN AVERAGE ................. 5.9 ...................................9.5 FUMBLES-LOST............................... 18-3................................26-13 PENALTIES-Yards ............................ 117-880 .........................67-566 Average Per Game .................. 62.9 .................................40.4 PUNTS-Yards ................................... 61-2689 .........................82-3243 Average Per Punt..................... 44.1 .................................39.5 Net punt average ..................... 35.8 .................................36.7 TIME OF POSSESSION/Game.......... 32:15...............................27:45 3RD-DOWN Conversions ............... 104/223 ..........................71/202 3rd-Down Pct .......................... 47% ..................................35% 4TH-DOWN Conversions ................ 13/16 ..............................6/21 4th-Down Pct ........................... 81% ..................................29% TOUCHDOWNS SCORED................... 66 ....................................35 FIELD GOALS-ATTEMPTS ................ 26-33 .............................11-14 RED-ZONE SCORES ......................... 70-75 93% ......................33-38 87% RED-ZONE TOUCHDOWNS .............. 49-75 65% ......................24-38 63% PAT-ATTEMPTS ................................. 63-63 100% ....................32-33 97%

GAME-BY-GAME RANKINGS GAME 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

LSU RANK

AT KICK-OFF OPPONENT Miss. State 2 Va. Tech 2 MTSU 2 South Carolina 2 Tulane 2 Florida 1 Kentucky 1 Auburn 5

GAME 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final

LSU RANK AT KICK-OFF

OPPONENT Alabama La. Tech Ole Miss Arkansas Tennessee Ohio State

3 2 1 1 5 2 1

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING Jacob Hester PASSING Matt Flynn

1,103 yards 202-359 2,407 yards 21 TDs

RECEIVING Early Doucet 57 catches Brandon LaFell 656 yards Demetrius Byrd 7 TDs SCORING Colt David

147

TOUCHDOWNS Jacob Hester 13 INTERCEPTIONS Craig Steltz 6 SACKS Kirston Pittman 8 TACKLES Craig Steltz Ali Highsmith 72

101 101

BRAD SMITH © 2007 FedEx.

SENIOR MANAGER, FEDEX GROUND TULSA, OKLAHOMA

4,000 BOXES. 120 MILES. AND A 2-DAY SHUFFLE. A FedEx Ground facility learned it would receive a

It went off without a hitch. As Brad put it, “I didn’t want

shipment of 4,000 packages from a major retailer.

to give the customer a reason to look anywhere else.”

Sounds great, except their normal volume was 400 a day.

They definitely needed help.

Brad Smith is one of over 275,000 FedEx team members worldwide dedicated to every FedEx experience.

When they asked FedEx Ground Senior Manager Brad Smith for a hand, he and his team gladly accepted the challenge. It was something he’d never done before: pick up thousands of packages from another terminal 120 miles away and process them in his own facility.

To see more stories from around the world, go to fedexstories.com

No warranties or representations, express or implied, are extended. Service and limits of liability are governed by the terms and conditions in the FedEx Service Guide at fedex.com.

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L to R: Agent Robert “Bobby” Box, Intern Leon Audibert, Manager Jennifer deFrances, Managing Broker William H. Adams IV, Agent David Morgan, Agent Lenny LaPlace

WELCOMING

Associate Broker Doug Ferris and Agent Simone Fraternali

ExperienceResults.

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225 926.9221 74

LSU’S CHAMPIONSHIP TRADITION

Above: The ‘58 squad included Billy Cannon (20), who would go on to win the Heisman in 1959.

Below: Team members (from left) Lynn LeBlanc, Scooter Purvis, Gus Kinchen, Durel Matherne and Warren Rabb got together to share some memories in 2007.

1958: The undefeated champs

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SU won its first national championship in football long before there was an ESPN or computer rankings or a BCS. Head Coach

Paul Dietzel began the 1958 campaign with a youthful and unheralded 55-man roster that included just three seniors, but soon molded them into champions.

The Tigers were just 5-5 in 1957, but by homecoming weekend in 1958 they were 5-0 and ranked in the top 10 in the nation. A 10-7 homecoming victory over Florida, secured by

TOP AND MIDDLE: COURTESY LSU SPORTS INFORMATION; BOTTOM: LORI WASELCHUK

Tommy Davis’ field goal in the final three minutes, moved LSU to 6-0. The Tigers’ first win over Ole Miss since 1950 made it 7-0 and secured them a No. 1 ranking in the AP poll.

After hard-fought wins over Duke and Mississippi State, only ancient rival Tulane stood between the 9-0 Tigers and a national title. They led the Green Wave only 6-0 at halftime, but exploded for 35 fourth-quarter points en route to a 62-0 triumph, a score they would eerily repeat against the Greenies in 1961 and again in 1965. The national championship belonged to LSU, and a 7-0 New Year’s Day Sugar Bowl victory over Frank Howard’s Clemson Tigers vaulted them to 11-0.

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LSU’s Championship tradition

2003: A super finish

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ike the heroes of the 1958 squad, the 2003 football Tigers maneuvered their way up the college football mountain one game at a time and staked the LSU flag atop the summit. With their 21-14 victory over Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship Game in the Superdome, the Tigers claimed the school’s first national title in 45 years.

After one of the most exciting weeks in LSU sports history leading up to the Nokia Sugar Bowl, Justin Vincent put the entire nation on alert that it would be the Tigers’ night when he broke loose on the first play of the game for a 64-yard run.

Marcus Spears’ interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter proved to be the decisive play in what turned out to be a defensive struggle. LSU’s defense held the Sooners’ attack to just 154 total yards and sacked Heisman Trophy winner Jason White five times. Vincent finished the game with 117 yards rushing and a touchdown and was named the game’s MVP. The win over the Sooners capped a season that saw Nick Saban earn national Coach of the Year honors from three different organizations, including the Associated Press, while four Tigers were named first-team All-Americans.

LSU’s journey to a 13-1 season, the most wins in school history, began with the Tigers ranked No. 14. They moved up the polls steadily and caught the nation’s attention with a dramatic 17-10 win over 7th-ranked Georgia on Sept. 20. A loss to Florida in Tiger Stadium on Oct. 11 appeared to knock them out of national title contention, but the Tigers won out, including a 55-24 thrashing of Arkansas to end the regular season and a 34-13 cakewalk over Georgia for the SEC title.

The championship run was keyed by one of the nation’s best defenses and one of the most balanced offensive attacks in LSU history. For the first time ever, the Tiger offense featured both a 1,000-yard rusher (Vincent with 1,001 yards) and a 1,000yard receiver (Michael

Clayton with 1,079 yards).

PHOTOS: LSU SPORTS

Justin Vincent (25) ran past the Sooner defense on the first play of the national championship game.

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Business Report congratulates the LSU Tigers on their championship season!

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ABOVE: DAVID GALLENT, RACHEL SALTZBERG (BOTH CENTER PHOTOS), JIM ZIETZ

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t Tiger Stadium, gameday is a spirit that whispers at the crack of dawn, laughs all day under an oak tree, hollers when the jambalaya is ready, blares down Victory Hill and reaches full roar when night falls and the Tigers take the ďŹ eld. Ask anyone who was there: The 2007

season heard some of the loudest roars in the history of this historic ground.

BELOW: STEVE FRANZ, STEVE FRANZ, BRAD MESSINA (GOLDEN GIRL), JIM ZIETZ (CHEERLEADERS)

Gameday in Death Valley

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The hottest spot for LSU sports fans is Walk-On’s. With big screen coverage, a huge menu from burgers to Louisiana favorites, and live music outside, post-game.

No ticket? No problem. Be in the game without being at the game when you visit Walk-On’s. We’re family-friendly. And visiting fans are welcomed, too.

3838 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 www.walk-ons.com

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