Da Boot Sports
5/29/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - It was not only one of the best games of the 2018 season, but perhaps one of the best games in LSU football history.

   The 14th ranked LSU Tigers (2-0) headed to the Plains to take on the undefeated #7 Auburn Tigers (2-0) in a nationally televised contest. It would be the SEC season opener for both schools and Jordan-Hare Stadium was filled to capacity for the 2:30pm kickoff on CBS.

   Auburn received the opening kickoff and begin the drive from their own 25 yard line, but would become quick victims of DBU on the second play of the game. Facing 2nd and eight, Jarrett Stidham dropped back to throw and fired a pass under heavy pressure that Grant Delpit intercepted at the Auburn 34 yard line. 

   The LSU offense took full advantage of the first turnover of the game, driving 34 yards in nine plays for the first score of the day as Clyde Edwards-Helaire would power into the end zone from one yard out to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

   After both teams traded punts, Auburn would drive into LSU territory and face a 4th and one at the LSU 15 yard line. Gus Malzahn decided to roll the dice and go for it instead of settling for a field goal attempt. The LSU defense shut the door in Auburn's face as Devon White tackled JaTarvious Whitlow for a two yard loss giving the Tigers the ball back with 6:04 left in the first quarter. 

   LSU moved the ball 48 yards in eleven plays before the drive stalled at the Auburn 35 yard line with 29 seconds left in the first quarter. Cole Tracy entered the game attempting to increase the LSU lead, but missed the 53 yard field goal try. It was Tracy's first miss of the season.

   LSU started their next possession from their own 11 yard line early in the second quarter, driving 75 yards in ten plays to extend their lead to 10-0 with 8:37 left in the half on a Cole Tracy 33 yard field goal. The big play of the drive came on a 1st and ten from the LSU 22 yard line when Joe Burrow found Justin Jefferson for a 33 yard gain down to the Auburn 45.  

   Auburn dominated the final eight minutes of the first half, holding LSU to two three-and-out possessions, while they put together two nice long scoring drives. 

   The first scoring drive for the home Tigers came on a 74 yard, ten play drive that took 3:31 off the clock as JaTarvious Whitlow would score from seven yards out to cut LSU's lead to 10-7 with 5:06 remaining in the half. 

   Auburn would get the ball right back after their defense held LSU to minus three yards on three plays, Auburn would then take their first lead of the contest. Shaun Shivers scored on a seven yard run with 1:31 left on the clock, ending an eight play, 66 yard drive. 

   Auburn took a 14-10 lead and the momentum into the locker room at the half as Jordan-Hare Stadium loudly celebrated their approval. 

   LSU took the second half kickoff and drove into Auburn territory but stalled at the 45 yard line where the Tigers faced a 4th and three. Ed Orgeron tried to surprise the Auburn defense with a fake punt, but Zach Von Rosenberg's pass attempt fell incomplete as LSU turned the ball over on downs. 

   Auburn made LSU pay for the missed opportunity, driving 55 yards in seven plays, scoring on a four yard touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham to Darius Slayton, giving Auburn a 21-10 lead with 10:38 left in the third quarter. 

   After both teams traded punts, LSU began their next scoring drive from their own 32. On 1st down Joe Burrow would connect with Dee Anderson on a 20 yard completion to the Auburn 48 yard line. A 15 yard personal foul face mask penalty against the defense, move the ball to the Auburn 33. The Tigers reached the Auburn eight yard line but couldn't punch it in, settling for a 27 yard Cole Tracy field goal, cutting the lead to 21-13 with 3:58 left in the third quarter. 

   Auburn would begin the fourth quarter driving to the LSU 35 where the Tigers' defense stiffened, forcing a field goal attempt. Auburn kicker Anders Carlson missed from 52 yards out with 12:57 left in the game, keeping the score at 21-13.

   Once again both teams traded punts setting up a LSU drive that began at their own 29 yard line with 8:30 left on the clock. It took the Tigers one play and twelve seconds to score as Joe Burrow hit a wide open Derrick Dillon who raced down the far sidelines for a 71 yard touchdown. LSU went for the two conversion hoping to tie the game at 21, but failed as Auburn held a 21-19 lead with 8:18 remaining. 

   The LSU defense stood tall on the next possession forcing an Auburn three-and-out. Jonathan Giles would fair catch Arryn Siposs' 46 yard punt, setting up the LSU offense with a 1st and ten at their own 24 yard line with only 5:38 left in the contest. 

   Two huge pass interference calls helped the Tigers on their final drive. The first came on a 3rd and 11 from the LSU 23, giving the Tigers a 1st down at their 38 yard line. Next the LSU offense faced a 4th and seven at the Auburn 48. Joe Burrow made a fantastic throw to Stephen Sullivan for nine yards to keep the drive alive. The second pass interference call came two plays later, moving the ball to the Auburn 24 with only 1:14 left. The Tigers then ran the ball three straight times with Nick Brossette to keep the ball in the middle of the field. With it 4th and ten at the Auburn 24 yard line, LSU called a timeout with two seconds left on the clock. Cole Tracy kicked the game winning 42 yard field goal on the game's final play for a 22-21 LSU victory. 

   LSU celebrated on the field in Jordan-Hare as they carried Cole Tracy off the field. It was simply another great game in the LSU vs. Auburn series and another Epic LSU Football Moment..... 

Photos Below By: Terrill Weil

Game Highlights Below

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
5/28/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - As the final seconds ticked off the clock the capacity crowd of 80,677 began to storm the field. Both goal post fell like the #1 ranked Gators did that night in Death Valley.

Tiger fans celebrated on the field as it was the first time ever LSU had defeated a No. 1-ranked team. It took LSU officials
almost an hour after the game ended to clear the field.

Top ranked Florida (5-0, 3-0) came into Tiger Stadium that Saturday night looking to extend their nine game winning streak over a LSU (4-1, 2-1) team who played very poorly the week before, struggling to squeak out a 7-6 win over Vanderbilt.

The Tigers used a powerful running attack lead by Kevin Faulk and the LSU defense played inspired football putting tremendous pressure on Florida quarterback Doug Johnson all night long, sacking him five times while forcing five Gator turnovers.

“We were sick and tired of hearing that we had no chance to win this game,” LSU running back Kevin Faulk said.

LSU took the opening kickoff and began a nice drive starting from their own 20, moving the ball 58 yards in seven plays before a Rondell Mealey fumble at the Gators 22 yard line blew an early scoring opportunity.

LSU's defense flexed their muscles early on Florida's first offensive possession. Chuck Wiley would sack Doug Johnson for a 14 yard loss on 2nd and five before Troy Twillie tackled Erron Kinney for a four yard loss setting up a 4th and 23 from the Gators' 12 yard line.

Florida punter Robby Stevenson blasted a 58 yard punt, but Kevin Faulk made him pay for out kicking the coverage returning the punt 30 yards to Gators' 40 yard line.

The Tiger offense wasted little time going 40 yards in one play as LSU quarterback Herb Tyler ran to the right side on an option, keeping the ball and following blockers up the sideline for the touchdown. The score sent the Tiger Stadium crowd into a frenzy as Wade Richey kicked the extra point to put the Tigers up 7-0 with 8:42 left in the first quarter.

Three plays later Cedric Donaldson would intercept a Doug Johnson pass at the LSU 25 yard line and return the ball to the Florida seven yard line setting up a 1st and goal for the Tiger offense.

Once again, LSU wasted little time as fullback Tommy Banks blasted up the middle, diving into the end zone from seven yards out to extend the Tigers' lead to 14-0 with 7:44 still left in the 1st quarter. The drive went seven yards on one play. LSU had now scored two touchdowns in the last 98 seconds.

The Gators showed no signs of panic trailing by two scores early answering the LSU score by driving 80 yards in 13 plays. Fred Taylor would punch the ball in from two yards out cutting the LSU lead to 14-7 with 2:14 left in the first quarter.

​ Both teams would blow scoring opportunities in a scoreless 2nd quarter as Wade Richey missed a 39 yard field goal attempt, followed by Chis Cummings blocking a 44 yard field goal attempt by the Gators as the first half ended with LSU leading #1 ranked Florida, 14-7.

The Gators took the second half kickoff and easily drove 80 yards in only seven plays to tie the game at 14-14 as Fred Taylor would score from one yard for his second touchdown of the contest.

With the game still even at 14-14 early in the 4th quarter, Cedric Donaldson stepped in front of a Doug Johnson pass and returned the interception 31 yards for a touchdown. Danny Boyd added the PAT giving the Tigers a 21-14 lead with 13:13 left in the game.

On the ensuing kickoff, Florida's Bo Carroll fumbled on the return and Troy Twillie recovered for the Tigers at the Gator 30 yard line as the Tiger Stadium crowd remained deafening.

Once again, LSU scored quickly making the Gators pay. After a 15 yard pass completion to Abram Booty and a four yard run by Kevin Faulk, the Tigers faced a 2nd and six at the Florida 11 yard line. Herb Tyler again ran the option to the right and kept the ball for a 11 yard touchdown run. With 11:40 left on the clock, LSU now lead 28-14 and Death Valley was rocking.

Steve Spurrier and his Gators again showed no panic trailing by 14 points as they began their next drive from their own 22. Florida would eat 4:54 off the clock, driving 78 yards in 13 plays with Fred Taylor scoring from three yards out to cut the Bayou Bengals' lead to 28-21 with 6:44 remaining in the contest.

The Gators got the ball right back after a LSU three and out, starting from their 21 yard line. But Florida would shoot themselves in the foot on back to back plays, as an illegal procedure penalty wiped out a 19 yard gain, followed by a personal foul penalty that backed the Gators up to the shadow of their own goal line. Facing a 3rd and 22 from their nine, Doug Johnson fired the ball deep down field. Raion Hill would pull the ball in at the LSU 46 yard line for the 4th interception of the game for the Tiger defense.

With 2:47 left in the contest the LSU offense was able to keep the ball, running the game clock down to zero for a huge 28-21 upset victory.

The loss snapped the Gators’ two long SEC winning streaks,.... 25 games overall and 19 straight on the road. Florida also failed to get a touchdown pass in the contest, snapping its NCAA record streak of 62 straight regular-season games with at least one score through the air.

“Our defense won tonight,” Cedric Donaldson said. “If their defense was good, ours was better. If their offense was good, ours was better. We had a total team effort and that’s what it takes.”

Offensively, Kevin Faulk, Herb Tyler, and Tommy Banks each had a great game. But in my opinion the MVP of this contest on offense was true freshman wide receiver Abram Booty. Booty finished the game with 101 yards on four catches. All four of his grabs were huge ones that helped keep LSU drives alive. The biggest one came on the final drive of the game when Booty caught a 15 yard pass across the middle in the teeth of the Gators defense on a 2nd and six to keep the drive going allowing LSU to run the clock down for the epic win.

This LSU team went on to finish the 1997 season 13th in the final AP poll with a 9-3 record, including a win against Notre Dame in the Independence Bowl to avenge one of their regular season losses. (Notre Dame 24, LSU 6 in Tiger Stadium).

This game would go on to be not only the biggest win in the Gerry DiNardo era, but also one of the best ever in school history.

Game Highlights Below

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
5/28/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   ​It happened on a muggy Saturday afternoon on September 20, 2003. Year three of the Nick Saban era in Baton Rouge.

92,251 fans packed Tiger Stadium (back then became the largest crowd in Tiger Stadium history), to witness an epic SEC battle between two undefeated foes.

Most, including myself, feel like this is one of the greatest games in LSU football history. It was a memorable day for me as
it was my eight year old son's first ever LSU football game. He also remembers the deafening roar of the Tiger Stadium crowd and the heart stopping finish. We both agree it was one of our favorite father/son moments.

I can't remember a more hyped and electric LSU game day home crowd. I was so impressed at how loud Tiger Stadium stayed throughout the game as the record crowd of 92,000 plus raised the atmosphere to a relentless level. Death Valley was truly alive on that Saturday afternoon. Any LSU fan in attendance that day can confirm that.

“That Georgia game put LSU on the map,” said Matt Mauck, the Tigers’ starting quarterback in 2003 during an interview with SI. “It was our coming-out party.”

Georgia came into Death Valley ranked #7 in the country with a 3-0 overall (1-0 in the SEC) record to face #11 LSU, 3-0 overall (0-0 in SEC play) in a 2:30pm, nationally televised game on CBS.

It was an intense defensive battle for a majority of the contest as both teams struggled to score.

The Bulldogs would get on the board first, taking a 3-0 lead on a 33 yard field goal by Billy Bennett with 6:24 left in the first quarter. Bennett ended up missing three field goals in the game. It was the first time in the senior's career that he missed three field goal attempts in a game. He came into the contest as Georgia's most accurate kicker in school history at 78.75% (63-for-80).

LSU finally put together a scoring drive late in the first half. The Tigers would go 85 yards on six plays, taking 1:58 off of the clock as Shyrone Carey busting an electrifying 21 yard touchdown run right up the middle of the Georgia defense with 3:20 left in the first half. Tiger Stadium erupted as Carey dove into the end zone from three yards out for the score. Ryan Gaudet added the point after to give LSU a 7-3 lead which they took into the halftime break.

The defensive battle continued into the second half until LSU was able to mount another scoring drive, going 51 yards in ten plays before the drive would stall at the Bulldogs' 30 yard line. Gaudet entered the game and drilled a 47 yard field goal to extend LSU's lead to 10-3 with 6:30 left in the third quarter.

The LSU defense played 'bend but don't break' ball all day, except for one play late in game.

With 4:53 left on the clock, Georgia was starting a possession 1st and ten at their own seven yard line. Mark Richt called the right play at the right time. David Greene dropped back to throw into the end zone and found running back Tyson Browning out of the backfield on a screen play with blockers in front. The Bulldogs blocked and executed the play to perfection as Browning raced up the sidelines for a 93 yard touchdown to tie the game at 10-10.

Devery Henderson fielded Billy Bennett's kickoff at the one yard line and made an outstanding return for 48 yards setting up the Tigers with a 1st and ten at their own 49 yard line with 4:16 left in the contest.

On 3rd and four from the Georgia 34 yard line, Matt Mauck rolled out to his left, squared up, set his feet and while under pressure released a perfectly thrown deep pass that a wide open Skyler Green would catch in stride, five yards deep in the north end zone with only 1:22 left on the clock giving the Tigers a 17-10 lead.

The Bulldogs quickly moved down the field and into LSU territory setting up a 1st and ten at the Tigers' 43. David Greene would then fire a pass down the sideline that Corey Webster tipped to himself for an interception at the LSU 22 yard line with 32 seconds left to seal the 17-10 win.

After the celebration in the stands died down, I sat with my son in our seats, exhausted as Tiger Stadium began to empty. My cell phone rang as one of my best friends, Roy buzzed in. It was no surprise as Roy would call me right after every LSU football game. I answered and he said. "Terrill, I believe that was the greatest LSU football game I've ever seen." I answered with my hoarse voice, "I agree."

​LSU HEAD COACH NICK SABAN POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES:

   “Well you can’t really say about enough about both football teams the way they competed out there. A heavy weight fight. A real street fight. Both teams competed their heart out. It was about a physical a football game as I’ve seen in a long time and I’m proud of the way our players competed in the game. I don’t know if we were a little bit anxious in the beginning of the game. We were a little out of sorts at the start then in the second quarter we started to come around. To compete in the game, to overcome the adversity we had in the first half, to have then have an 85 or 87 yard screen pass when we were playing zone for one of the first times of the day. Then to come right back with the kickoff return and to make the plays to get right back ahead in the game. We told the players that regardless of what happened in the game, the leadership of this team would show what its roots really were. There would be good thing to happen and we would have to stay focused and there would be bad things to happen and we would have to support each other and stay together and go play the next play and I’m proud of the way they competed and did that.
   “That was a tough game. Georgia’s a good team. My hat is off to them. But I can’t tell you how proud of all the people who are responsible for allowing us to get the football players that we have here, the way they competed today. I’m just proud that we can just give a great win for our players and all those who support the program. I know how happy it makes them when we have success and it makes me happy that it makes them happy.
“It wasn’t a pretty game for us all the time, but you can’t fault the effort, you can’t fault the competitive spirit, you can’t fault the three or four stops in the red area by our team and you can’t fault the way the offense came back when it had to. There’s obviously some things we can improve on from this game and we’ve got to build on it. We want our players to focus on what we have to do week in and week out. We have no expectations about what we are going to try to accomplish long term, we are worried about the next game that we play. We enjoy this victory for 24 hours and then we need to focus on the next game. Anything else they thing or do is going to be poisonous to how we compete with consistency and we don’t want to do that. So don’t ask me about those kinds of things.”


​  LSU would go on to play the Bulldogs again in 2003, this time in the SEC Championship game in Atlanta where the Tigers dismantled Georgia, 34-13 before heading to the Sugar Bowl to defeat Oklahoma, 21-14, winning the program's second national championship. ​

Game Highlights Below

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
5/27/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   ​  BATON ROUGE, LA - LSU headed into the 1986 season with high expectations, coming off of back to back winning seasons in Bill Arnsparger's third year as LSU's head coach. 

   The LSU offense was a big question mark in the preseason as they had loss starting quarterback Jeff Wickersham and star running backs Dalton Hilliard and Gary James to graduation. 

   "We have kids that can play." said Arnsparger when asked about offensive concerns the week of the season opener against a veteran Texas A&M team ranked #7 in the country. 

   Defensively LSU fielded one of the top units in the nation, led by All-American linebacker Michael Brooks. This LSU defense was loaded with speedy physical talent and had depth at every position. A Bill Arnsparger specialty. 

   The game was nationally televised on ESPN in Death Valley in front of 79,713 rabid Tiger fans, which at the time was the second largest crowd in Tiger Stadium history. 

   The Aggies received the opening kickoff and marched 74 yards on ten plays to take a 7-0 lead on a four yard touchdown pass from Kevin Murray to Shea Walker with 10:50 left in the first quarter.

   The LSU offense sputtered early in the game as redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy Hodson needed a couple of possessions to settle down, finally coming to life after a Ron Sancho interception that set up the Tigers 1st and ten at the Texas A&M 48 yard line. 

   It only took LSU five plays and 58 seconds to go 48 yards for their first score of the 1986 season. Tommy Hodson hit Sammy Martin out of the backfield for a four yard touchdown to even the game up at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
   It was the first of many touchdown passes that Hodson would pass for in his four year LSU career. 

   The Aggies would regain the lead early in the second quarter with the longest scoring drive of the contest, going 78 yards in 14 plays while burning 6:11 of the clock. Kevin Murray would hit Rod Bernstine in the back of the north end zone from 13 yards out for the score, giving the Aggies a 14-7 lead with 14:55 left in the first half. 

   With right at seven minutes left in the first half LSU began a drive, 1st and ten from their own 20 yard line. Arnsparger decided to give backup quarterback Mickey Guidry his first half series on this possession.
   On first down Guidry completed a 10 yard pass to Wendell Davis followed by a four yard gain by Sammy Martin to set up a 2nd and six. As the Tigers came to the line, Guidry read blitz and changed the play at the line of scrimmage moving Sammy Martin from the backfield, setting him up in the slot. Guidry took the snap and hit Martin on a quick four yard pass in the center of the field that Sammy turned into a 66 yard touchdown as he found an extra gear, splitting and pulling away from from the Aggies' secondary for the score. The electrifying play evened the game up at 14-14 with 6:37 left in the second quarter. 

   Neither team could manage a score over the final six minutes of the quarter as the first half ended in a 14-14 tie.

   The Tigers received the second half kickoff, but a Harvey Williams' fumble gave the Aggies the ball in LSU territory. 

   The Aggies drove into the LSU red zone before the Tigers would stop the drive at the six yard line forcing A&M to kick a 23 yard field goal. The three points would put Texas A&M up 17-14 early in the third quarter. 

   LSU would answer on their next possession, driving 69 yards in ten plays as Tommy Hodson had the hot hand on the drive, completing three big passing plays. (Two to Wendell Davis, One to Harvey Williams). The score would come on Harvey Williams' first touchdown of his career as he leaped into the end zone from one yard out for the score with 5:58 left in the third quarter as the Tigers took their first lead of the contest, 21-17.

   In front of an energized Tiger Stadium crowd, the Tiger defense began to dominate the ball game, shutting down the Aggies offensive attack for the remainder of the contest. 
   “In the first series, I think we were in awe of Texas A&M. Not in the sense that we were afraid of them, but we had a question about our team,” linebacker Ron Sancho said after the game. 
   
   With Murray and the A&M offense trying to answer the Tigers' last score, they slowly drove into LSU territory. Facing a 2nd and ten at the LSU 38 yard line, Murray was intercepted at the Tigers' 28 yard line by Kevin Guidry who raced up the side for 42 yards to the A&M 30 yard line. It was the third time the LSU defense intercepted Murray on the night. 

   Hodson and the LSU offense wasted little time. On 1st down Sammy Martin picked up ten yards and a 1st down at the Aggies 20, but a holding call negated the play and moved LSU back to the A&M 40 yard line. 
   On the next play Hodson dropped back to throw and completed a 35 yard bomb to Wendell Davis, who made a circus catch on the play, setting up a 1st and ten at the Texas A&M five yard line. 
   Two plays later on the final play of the third quarter, Hodson found his tight end Brian Kinchen in the back of the end zone for a five yard touchdown. LSU now led 28-17 as the game headed into the 4th quarter. 

   Neither team could move the ball until LSU mounted a drive late in the quarter, moving the ball deep into A&M territory before the drive stalled. LSU kicker Ronnie Lewis missed a 34 yard field goal attempt wide right. 

   The Aggies would take over at their own 20 with 1:06 left in the game. Jackie Sherrill decided to replace Kevin Murray with backup quarterback Craig Stump.
   On Stump's second passing attempt, Michael Brooks intercepted the ball after it bounced off of the attended receiver's hands and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown with only 35 seconds remaining on the clock. The interception would be LSU's 5th of the game off of A&M quarterbacks. 

   The 35-17 victory was an impressive and exciting start to the 1986 season, however many LSU fans remember the huge shocking let down the following week as LSU suffered a shocking 21-12 defeat to Miami of Ohio.

   The contest was also the beginning of the Tommy Hodson era.

   “I’m still nervous. I guess that’s normal when you go in front of 80,000 people,” Hodson said after going 15-22 for 193 yards  and two touchdown passes in the 35-17 victory.
   “Tommy worked hard, but he kept the game in perspective,” LSU Coach Bill Arnsparger said. “He said good or bad, he would still be here on Sunday.”

   Hodson would become LSU's starting quarterback from 1986 to 1989 and holds several school passing records. He would be named the SEC Freshman of the Year in 1986 along with being named First Team SEC from 1986-1989. Hodson passed for 9,115 yards and 69 touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback in SEC history to surpass 8,000 career passing yards, and the first quarterback in SEC history to surpass 60 career passing touchdowns. Hodson passed for over 2,000 yards during each of his four seasons at LSU, becoming the third player in NCAA history to achieve that feat.

   No doubt, it was another incredible night in Baton Rouge as the Death Valley crowd was deafening throughout the game. A game that can truly be called one of the best ever in LSU football history. 
   

GAME HIGHLIGHTS BELOW!!!

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.