This year's LSU game was strangely reminiscent of the 2013 LSU game, only a little bit worse and with less rain. In 2013, we went down by several touchdowns early in the game. However, in the second half, we battled back and came really close to tying the game by the time it was over. This year, we played better in the second half than we did in the first (we went down 24-0 in the first half but matched them score for score in the second half), but we didn't give nearly as much effort as in 2013.
Jeremy Johnson had another interception AND a fumble, which didn't become a turnover but which did cost us about 19 yards. Leonard Fournette ran for a career-high 160-something yards against us...IN THE FIRST HALF ALONE. Our defensive players were laying down on plays and just kind of jogging after him (looking at you, Rudy Ford). It just didn't seem like we had much heart. I guess I can't blame the defense too much, as it was 120 degrees on the field and the offense wouldn't give them more than a couple minutes' break each series. Gus Malzahn said in his halftime interview that "our passing game is God-awful." That's about as bad as it gets coming from Gus.
Then in the first minutes of the second half, Jeremy broke loose for a 65-yard rushing touchdown. Hello! Who knew he could run?! That seemed to put some fire into the team; it helped build Jeremy's confidence; and it gave him a bit of a break in the passing game because LSU suddenly also had to prepare for a quarterback who might actually run. So the second half definitely was better for us, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. As we would see the following week (because I'm way behind in my blogging), it also wasn't enough to save Jeremy's starting position.
In addition to the stress of the game itself, I once again had to listen to Verne and Gary, which is always frustrating. In this particular game, Verne was pontificating on LSU's "Australian connection" for punters. Apparently their new punter is Australian (as was their previous punter), and, according to Verne, "He's the oldest player on the team. He's 76 years old!" After a few seconds, Gary replied, "Well, that certainly is old." Yep. Pretty sure the kid is 26.
Anyway...Weagles for the LSU game go to Kerryon Johnson for having 129 all-purpose yards (Kerryon, my wayward son); and Tre Williams, Rudy Ford, and Kris Frost on defense for having 10 tackles each (although Rudy probably could've had 11 if he hadn't pursued Fournette with a lackluster jog at least once).
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