THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
Monday, November 23, 2009
PAGE 5
Runnin’ Wild Amayfiring be BABBLING BROOKS
REBEL
Running back racks up 193 yards against Tigers By Rob Landry Sports Contributor
OXFORD, MISS. — It was no surprise that the smallest man on the field would be the biggest thorn in the side of the LSU defense in the Tigers’ 25-23 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday. Not one of the 61,752 fans that packed Vaught-Hemingway Stadium that afternoon was stunned to see the ball in the hands of No. 22. Dexter McCluster was a familiar name to the LSU defense or coaching staff. LSU coach Les Miles reminded the Tigers (8-3, 4-3) all week that the senior running back was capable of doing some major damage. “He’s one of the most talented players in college football,” Miles said. “I think he’s a very good player.” Just last weekend against Tennessee, McCluster posted Ole Miss records of 282 rushing yards
and 324 all-purpose yards. He also tallied four touchdowns in that game. His performance earned him Walter Camp Football Foundation National Offensive Player of the Week honors. McCluster, who ranks second on the Ole Miss career all-purpose yardage list, lived up to Miles’ assessment and then some on Saturday. The Largo, Fla., native, playing in his final home game for the Rebels (8-3, 4-3), went off for 193 allpurpose yards and one touchdown. His 148 rushing yards on 24 carries marked the second-straight game he rushed for more than 100 yards and the fourth consecutive Southeastern Conference matchup he has reached the century mark. On the second play from scrimmage, McCluster got the handoff on a stretch play, found a hole and kicked it into high gear, gaining 57 yards and setting up Ole Miss to kick a field goal and take an early
3-0 advantage. LSU senior middle linebacker Jacob Cutrera felt the defense allowed McCluster to break big runs by missing assignments and not being in position. “[The defense] played average,” Cutrera said. “We had missed
tackles, guys not being in the right gaps. But you have to give credit to them. They have some good [running] backs.” McCluster spread out his yardage well and gained 107 in the MCCLUSTER, see page 7
ROGELIO V. SOLIS / The Daily Reveille
Mississippi senior running back Dexter McCluster and junior quarterback Jevan Snead celebrate their 25-23 victory against LSU on Saturday.
photos by ROGELIO V. SOLIS / The Associated Press
[Top] LSU cornerback Chris Hawkins tackles Mississippi running back Dexter McCluster on Saturday during the game in Oxford, Miss. [Above] McCluster slips past LSU senior linebacker Perry Riley on a first down run Saturday.
RYAN MOORE / The Associated Press
Mississippi players celebrate with the Magnolia Bowl trophy after their victory against LSU in Oxford, Miss.
in order at LSU
LSU football coach Les Miles’ teams have always seemed to have an excuse for underachieving, but now enough is finally enough. Last year it was inexperience at quarterback and a bad defense. It was a bad call on an interception this season against Alabama. What’s the new excuse for Saturday? It shouldn’t even matter anymore because what occurred Saturday was some of the most painful exhibitions of both “football” and “coaching” I’ve ever seen in my Johanathan life. Brooks There’s simply no ex- Sports Columnist cuse for LSU to look as bad as it did during that game. I’ll recap a bit of what happened. LSU had just scored but missed a two-point conversion attempt and trailed Ole Miss by two, 25-23. The Tigers were successful on an onside kick attempt and were stationed at their own 42-yard line after a 26-yard catch by senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell. Two plays later, it all went to hell for the Tigers. Jefferson took a sack on second down and threw a bad screen pass to sophomore running back Stevan Ridley, which lost LSU 7 yards on third down, bringing up a fourth down with 26 yards to go with 26 seconds on the game clock. Instead of calling a timeout immediately and trying to regroup, the FIRING, see page 7
VOLLEYBALL
LSU clinches share of SEC title with victory, UK loss Tigers sweep past Miss. State, Bama By Andy Schwehm Sports Writer
LSU’s volleyball seniors got their bouquets and framed jerseys after a 3-0 (25-12, 27-25, 25-19) sweep of Alabama on Sunday afternoon in the PMAC. But the real present came some 800 miles away in Lexington, Ky., when Florida defeated Kentucky, 3-1, to give LSU a share of the
Southeastern Conference title for the first time since 1991. The victory for the Gators came 15 minutes after the end of LSU’s match and got the Tigers and the remaining fans celebrating and hugging on the main floor of the PMAC. Kentucky still has one match remaining Wednesday night against Tennessee. If the Volunteers defeat the Wildcats, LSU will win the SEC title outright. “What a great way to go out your senior year,” said LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs. “This year has been exciting for us, especially with
beating Florida twice. All the emotions are just running around in my head right now. I don’t even know what to do.” It was the seniors who carried the No. 17 Tigers (24-5, 18-2) to the victory against Alabama on Senior Day. Outside hitter Lauren DeGirolamo corralled a career-high 21 digs, and her four kills put her at more than 1,000 for her career. Fellow outside hitter Marina Skender led the Tigers with 11 kills on a .300 hitting percentage, while middle VOLLEYBALL, see page 7
GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs sets the ball Friday in the PMAC against Mississippi State. If Tennessee defeats Arizona on Wednesday, LSU will win the SEC title.