OBSERVATIONS FROM THE NC GAME

[Coqui]

Well...

We're not talking about the "what if" and the "had this happened" I'm talking about just looking at the score by quarters and the score was 31-10 9 minutes into the 3rd and you didn't score until almost the 4th quarter to make it 31-17. So honestly the game wasn't close after the 2nd quarter and the 21 unanswered points put up by LSU. I'm not debating whether or not had different scenarios happened the game would have been closer because that can be said for any game. The fact is that the game wasn't as close as you think. Not a slight on you guys, just the was the cookie crumbled this year..

I think the point he was trying to make was, Ohio State outdid LSU in everything except for Time of possesion and score. Turnovers killed OSU and LSU was able to capitalize on those turnovers. Couple that with 5 uncharacteristic personal foul penalites and you have a 2 TD score lead. Yes turnovers are a huge part of football and can sway a game, but you remove those and the turnovers, chances are we would have been up by two TD's.

That being said, LSU was the better team that day (mainly due to discipline) and deserved the win. But it wasn't the blowout people say it was.

 

[cincibuck]

Ummmm, I love my Buckeyes, but if you didn't see the fire go out after the first field goal, if you didn't see both LSU lines take control of the game, then you and I watched two different games. I swear I saw a change in confidence within the Bucks. Reminded me of the Florida state game in the same building in the 90s, when the Bucks outplayed the semiholes throughout the first quarter and then, blam, blam, two big plays went the other way and the Bucks were looking for ways to burn the clock and get home.

There is no shame in admitting the talent level of LSU. It was recognized before the season ever started. In fact, Tressel and his staff spent some time with the LSU coaching staff in the spring and Tress's comment afterwards was about the LSU talent level being so impressive. Had it not been for that cheap chop block Auburn put on Dorsey, their talent would have been much more apparent throughout the season.

 

[Mac]

Well...

We're not talking about the "what if" and the "had this happened" I'm talking about just looking at the score by quarters and the score was 31-10 9 minutes into the 3rd and you didn't score until almost the 4th quarter to make it 31-17. So honestly the game wasn't close after the 2nd quarter and the 21 unanswered points put up by LSU. I'm not debating whether or not had different scenarios happened the game would have been closer because that can be said for any game. The fact is that the game wasn't as close as you think. Not a slight on you guys, just the was the cookie crumbled this year.

People leave early from all games, some are old, some weren't in the game to begin with and just waiting outside. Some are going to party early, some have to go home and beat traffic to get to work in the morning because they drove from many hours away. I didn't leave early but it happens all the time even in a game like this.

I'm LSU would be more than happy to have a home and home if we didn't already have so many top 25 teams scheduled each year by just being the SEC. The fact is that we don't have to schedule tough OOC games, but we do it and have tried to do it with quite a few programs.

I don't agree with much you said here. I can see the elder fans leaving earlier than everyone else. But your argument of beating traffic or to get to a party early is a terrible argument. Your team just won the nat'l champ. why not stay, watch, and enjoy it. You never know when your team is going to have the opportunity to play in the big game again. It seemed to me that it was pretty close to 60/40 (fan percentages) leaving the game with OSU obviously the 60. And I don't really want to hear about how they drove "many hours away."

I also agree with neomits post. It seems to me that every SEC team (that I have seen) has the same damn cheers, annoying cheers too. However I think the one cheer that I enjoyed that LSU did was the thing they did with their arms would they would hold em out and bounce them up and down while the band played some kind of funky tune. I thought that was pretty neat. That was probably the only cheer/chant that I could stand that I heard while down in Nawlins. As also stated, the LSU fans on a one on one interaction were quite respectful and helpful. But when they got together as a group, they were pretty rude.

 

[LSU_Ed]

Copied from the "going to the game" thread

- Do All SEC teams have the same cheers?
"Gator/Tiger Bait"
(band plays little tune) "GO GATORS/TIGERS!" (band plays little tune) "GO GATORS/TIGERS!"

- I could swear the stadium PA announcer was LSU's Death Valley announcer. Not unbiased in his calling at all. I was at times almost expecting "BOO YAAAAA FIRST DOWN HESTER!"

- The design and entrance into the superdome is HORRIBLE. Buckeye fans were trying to get to their gate (G) past another gate (A) and were stuck in fan traffic for 30 minutes plus just a few feet from the stadium. I ended up going down to the street level to get in and had no crowd.

- All my experience with LSU fans was very much positive. A few rotten apples who didn't know any other words than drunken "Tiger Bait" calls, but really, not that bad. Most were very very friendly.

No, just the best in the west and sometimes best in the east. The other teams have different cheers. Such as the one from Arkansas:

"Woooooooooo, Pig Sooie! "Woooooooooo, Pig Sooie! "Woooooooooo, Pig Sooie!"

Now THAT'S something to make fun of.

PLEASE!!! NO!!! We never want the Superdome announcer to come to Tiger Stadium.

Unfortunately, the dome entrance is still screwed up due to Katrina. The closure of New Orleans Center made everyone funnel to one spot. Before Katrina, people would gather in the mall, or walk through it to reach the dome, or go to other ramps if their gates were somewhere else. Now, everyone goes up the same two ramps and it does indeed get crowded. I'm not sure what can be done right now.

I enjoyed visiting with many OSU fans. It seemed that the ones I met had a positive experience, except for the game itself. I had drinks with many and enjoyed the conversation.

 

[Coqui]

Ummmm, I love my Buckeyes, but if you didn't see the fire go out after the first field goal, if you didn't see both LSU lines take control of the game, then you and I watched two different games. I swear I saw a change in confidence within the Bucks. Reminded me of the Florida state game in the same building in the 90s, when the Bucks outplayed the semiholes throughout the first quarter and then, blam, blam, two big plays went the other way and the Bucks were looking for ways to burn the clock and get home.

There is no shame in admitting the talent level of LSU. It was recognized before the season ever started. In fact, Tressel and his staff spent some time with the LSU coaching staff in the spring and Tress's comment afterwards was about the LSU talent level being so impressive. Had it not been for that cheap chop block Auburn put on Dorsey, their talent would have been much more apparent throughout the season.

The fire going out is a huge part of the discipline I was talking about. I wasn't just meaning the penalties.

 

[morbitzerker]

I'm LSU would be more than happy to have a home and home if we didn't already have so many top 25 teams scheduled each year by just being the SEC. The fact is that we don't have to schedule tough OOC games, but we do it and have tried to do it with quite a few programs.

This is the only thing I have a problem with, I mean Ohio State gets ripped for not having a tough OOC schedule this year, which it was weak, but OSU goes out of the way to schedule tough OOC, even when the Big Ten is tough. Granted it wasn't as good as it usually was this year, but still. I don't think that just because it is the SEC the teams can just say "We have it tough in conference, we don't need to travel or play any tough OOC." Granted the SEC was tough this year and I do give credit to LSU for playing Va Tech this year, but it was a home game they did not travel out of the region this year. People are already bashing OSU's schedule next year and we go to USC, hell we went to Washington this year. It may not have meant much in the long run, but at the time everybody was saying OSU would lose. I mean Alabama was 17th when they played LSU, and c'mon that was a crap ranking for them, the one win that stands out to me was the Tennesee blow out and a loss to UL-Monroe. IMHO I just don't see where all the inconsistencies come from. I'm not hating I just don't get how some of these teams get the benefit when there are team that are actually consistant but don't get the credit. I guess it this year for LSU it was like it was last year for OSU where they played 3 total #2 teams and went a stretch in a month where they played all ranked teams. Like I said I'm not hating I just don't understand the inconsistencies.

 

[IronBuckI]

I'm still waiting for someone...anyone to make their observations of the game. I can't believe that Oh8ch left me with this cold, empty feeling. I NEED MY OPINIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO BE VERIFIED!!!!

 

[JohnLSU]

No it wasn't. The game was a blowout anyway you look at it, if you didn't watch the game and just looked at the box score you would see that.

Death Valley, all BuckeyeInTheBoro was trying to say was that the Buckeyes put up a good game. OSU had 353 yards, while LSU only had 326. OSU averaged 4.8 yards per rush (145 yards from 30 carries), while LSU only averaged 3.1 yards (152 yards from 49 carries). OSU averaged 8.0 yards per pass (208 yards from 26 attempts), while LSU only averaged 6.4 yards (174 yards from 27 attempts). The only reason OSU lost is because so many crucial moments in the game went in favor of LSU (penalties, turnovers, sacks, blocked kick).

And LSU did not blow out OSU. Sure, we won by a comfortable two TDs, but that's not a blow out. The term "blow out" means that one team completely destroys the other team, like UF did to OSU last year 41-14 (UF had 370 yards, OSU had 82), like LSU did to VT this year 48-7 (LSU had 598 yards, VT had 149), like LSU did to Notre Dame last year 41-14 (LSU had 577 yards, ND had 291), and like LSU did to Miami the year before that 40-3 (LSU had 468 yards, Miami had 153).

To have a blow out, everything has to be lopsided in favor of the winning team (especially the score and total yards). Telling OSU that LSU blew them out this year is like claiming that Florida blew out LSU last year, when they beat us 23-10 (LSU had 318 yards, UF had 288).

 

[daveeb]

It is no secret that penalties and other mental errors cost us the game. Still, I do believe LSU still would have won (Better team overall). But, we could have given them a better game. And, maybe a score of 38-35 LSU would give us more respect than a score of 38-24 LSU.

Doesn't matter in the end.

 

[Gatorubet]

It is no secret that penalties and other mental errors cost us the game. Still, I do believe LSU still would have won (Better team overall). But, we could have given them a better game. And, maybe a score of 38-35 LSU would give us more respect than a score of 38-24 LSU.

Doesn't matter in the end.

That had a big impact for sure. Still, it was the 31 unanswered that I keep hearing about...harder to put lipstick on that one. It was like you guys were hell bent on momentum killing for two whole quarters with the uncharacteristic personal fouls

 

[Mike80]

That had a big impact for sure. Still, it was the 31 unanswered that I keep hearing about...harder to put lipstick on that one. It was like you guys were hell bent on momentum killing for two whole quarters with the uncharacteristic personal fouls

I hate to say it, but a lot of the pundits were correct.

When it got to 10-10, I thought (just my own observation) that the Buckeyes became a bit hesitant as if they were thinking too much.

the 2002 Ohio State team would have probably won that game had they gone up 10-0. However, they were also pretty well battle-tested time and again something this team and ESPECIALLY last year's team didn't have to face quite as much.

I think the mental aspect of the entire specter of last year reared it's ugly head during that 31 point swing. However, I DO think we all saw a team that kind of figured itself out in the 2nd half which Ohio State at the very least played even with LSU.

This one still bothers me more than last year's game did. Mistakes prevented this team from being in this game. Last year's game was a blow out and sometimes those happen. This year's game didn't have to be this way.

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

Death Valley, all BuckeyeInTheBoro was trying to say was that the Buckeyes put up a good game. OSU had 353 yards, while LSU only had 326. OSU averaged 4.8 yards per rush (145 yards from 30 carries), while LSU only averaged 3.1 yards (152 yards from 49 carries). OSU averaged 8.0 yards per pass (208 yards from 26 attempts), while LSU only averaged 6.4 yards (174 yards from 27 attempts). The only reason OSU lost is because so many crucial moments in the game went in favor of LSU (penalties, turnovers, sacks, blocked kick).

And LSU did not blow out OSU. Sure, we won by a comfortable two TDs, but that's not a blow out. The term "blow out" means that one team completely destroys the other team, like UF did to OSU last year 41-14 (UF had 370 yards, OSU had 82), like LSU did to VT this year 48-7 (LSU had 598 yards, VT had 149), like LSU did to Notre Dame last year 41-14 (LSU had 577 yards, ND had 291), and like LSU did to Miami the year before that 40-3 (LSU had 468 yards, Miami had 153).

To have a blow out, everything has to be lopsided in favor of the winning team (especially the score and total yards). Telling OSU that LSU blew them out this year is like claiming that Florida blew out LSU last year, when they beat us 23-10 (LSU had 318 yards, UF had 288).

That is exactly correct. Thank you for saying that better than I could. LSU was/is the better team for sure, but line us up and play 10 you don't win all 10 or anything. SEC vs. Ohio St. speed was a non-issue, I'd even say skill was pretty even (we didn't have a Dorsey though). Experience in tough games? That was clearly NOT even!

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

Ummmm, I love my Buckeyes, but if you didn't see the fire go out after the first field goal, if you didn't see both LSU lines take control of the game, then you and I watched two different games. I swear I saw a change in confidence within the Bucks.

I disagree. I think LSU's fire got lit more than OSU's going out.
I think we came out with our A game and our attitude never changed much. LSU started slow and then figured some things out. Dorsey had a huge impact on our O-Line, but it wasn't mental!
The only time I saw our D hang their heads and possibly give less than 100% was after the running into the punter. I think that one play could easily have been a 14 point swing.

I'm still waiting for someone...anyone to make their observations of the game. I can't believe that Oh8ch left me with this cold, empty feeling. I NEED MY OPINIONS OF WHAT HAPPENED TO BE VERIFIED!!!!

Why not give us your observations and we'll either validate them or tear them apart. Come on... take a chance... you must have observed something!

 

[Death Valley]

I think the point he was trying to make was, Ohio State outdid LSU in everything except for Time of possesion and score. Turnovers killed OSU and LSU was able to capitalize on those turnovers. Couple that with 5 uncharacteristic personal foul penalites and you have a 2 TD score lead. Yes turnovers are a huge part of football and can sway a game, but you remove those and the turnovers, chances are we would have been up by two TD's.

That being said, LSU was the better team that day (mainly due to discipline) and deserved the win. But it wasn't the blowout people say it was.

Well I have a lot to address in this thread so excuse me if I don't give you the long answer that you like.

As you said turnovers are a part of the game. The reason you won in the yards and other categories is because your team gave us a short field all game after turnovers. There is nothing you or I can do about it. If you find that as a moral victory, that's great. About removing the turnovers from the game, if you look at most levels of football. The team that turns the ball over the most normally loses. It's just a fact of the game and I don't discredit any of the turnovers because of LSU forcing your QB into bad situations, disguising coverages and things that play into it.


Just grab the stats from your favorite local team in the NFL, go and look at the turnover ratio and then the final score. I'd be willing to be that 7/10 times the team that turns it over more is the losing team.

 

[Death Valley]

I don't agree with much you said here. I can see the elder fans leaving earlier than everyone else. But your argument of beating traffic or to get to a party early is a terrible argument. Your team just won the nat'l champ. why not stay, watch, and enjoy it. You never know when your team is going to have the opportunity to play in the big game again. It seemed to me that it was pretty close to 60/40 (fan percentages) leaving the game with OSU obviously the 60. And I don't really want to hear about how they drove "many hours away."

I also agree with neomits post. It seems to me that every SEC team (that I have seen) has the same damn cheers, annoying cheers too. However I think the one cheer that I enjoyed that LSU did was the thing they did with their arms would they would hold em out and bounce them up and down while the band played some kind of funky tune. I thought that was pretty neat. That was probably the only cheer/chant that I could stand that I heard while down in Nawlins. As also stated, the LSU fans on a one on one interaction were quite respectful and helpful. But when they got together as a group, they were pretty rude.

I said people leave early from all games. I wasn't talking about this game in specific. I mean from NFL games, NBA games, high school games. It happens. I don't like any fan leaving early nor do I think they should. But if you are walking down Poydras St. how can you be sure that all these fans were in the stadium to begin with?