Humble Pie Tastes Good In Death Valley

by Dylan Brossette (Special to ESPN 1420)

They did it. They actually did it. I am still in such shock over LSU’s 10-7 victory over Ole Miss Saturday night that I needed an extra day to compose myself. Well actually I was at the Saints game, but the latter statement holds true nonetheless.

I am not too proud to accept an enormous helping of humble pie when the situation calls for it, and I will gladly allow anyone who wants to come and tie on my bib to do so. I spent the better part of two weeks telling anyone within earshot how badly the Tigers would lose in Death Valley to the Rebels, but l have found myself practically floating since leaving Cooter Brown’s Sports Bar late Saturday night, finding that I’ve never been happier to be absolutely wrong.

Was that the best overall performance LSU has ever had on a football field? I’d say decidedly not. For me, that win was a product of pure emotion. LSU handled the situation, feeding off the vicarious Tiger faithful present. Ole Miss withered, especially Bo Wallace, under the burning lights and ear-splitting screams. Sure the Tigers’ defense played its best game of the season, but there’s something to be said about a quarterback who’s been sacked just twice looking as if he’s spent the whole game on his back.

Wallace was rattled, and the Tigers have their crowd to thank for that.

For the third week in a row, the outstanding player of the game is the LSU defensive unit as a whole. From the front four to the free safety, that side of the ball was completely lights out. They may have dropped three interceptions, but with the game on the line they answered the bell.

Hats off to Jermauria Rasco, Kendell Beckwith and Kwon Alexander. They highlighted the effort for me, but I would be remised if Jalen Collins and Ronald Martin didn’t receive a resounding standing ovation. Holding this prolific offense, which was averaging 35.5 points a game coming in, to a mere seven points was like watching a master orchestra at work.

LSU’s offense was its usual self. Or perhaps I should say Anthony Jennings was his usual self, completing 50 percent of his passes with 2 picks. However, that bootleg touchdown toss still makes me rub my hands together and giddily stomp my feet. If you say you don’t giggle recalling the score, I’m calling you out. It was fabulous. It’s hard to say a 406 yard total offensive effort was lackluster, but it feels that way doesn’t it?

Perhaps it was the lulling way in which the Tigers went about accruing the yardage. It took Leonard Fournette, who has to be an SEC freshman of the year front-runner at the very least, 23 carries to earn his 113 yards. While Jennings averaged eight yards per completion. To steal a basketball term, it was a “quiet” 400 yards for the offense.

There is no doubting the enormity of this win and what it means to the Tigers going forward. They may be out of the race for the SEC West, but I do not now feel confident saying they will lay an egg against Alabama. Anthony Jennings will have to perform better to beat the Tide, who will take the running game away from LSU if necessary, but just the fact that LSU is being considered to possibly come out victorious over Bama speaks to the strides they’ve made since that Auburn loss that seems so very long ago now.

It’s a great day to be a Tiger fan, and it was a great weekend for Louisiana football overall. I’d love to say I picked the Saints to beat Green Bay in my work Pick ‘Em challenge, but (here we go again) I’m not too proud to accept an enormous helping of...well, you know.