(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
In 2000, despite the LSU Tigers coming off of a 3-8 season, there was a bit of excitement in Tiger Town.
Tiger Stadium’s new expansion was holding its grand opening, a new coach was going to run out from under the crossbar, and the promises of a winning season were on the minds of Tiger fans all over.
After two convincing wins, the Tigers dropped their third game to UAB. Yep, the University of Alabama-Birmingham.
The following Monday morning there was still a buzz around Baton Rouge, but it was more of a stinging buzz than the excitement previously felt.
“This aint the Big 10, Nick!” “If Coach would just let Jimbo take care of the offense!” “This conservative crap has to go!” “UAB?! Can you imagine what Tennessee will do to us next week?”
Fast forward to Saturday and the LSU Tigers outlasted the Tennessee Volunteers 38-31 in overtime, giving coach Saban his first of many signature victories.
That “pathetic” football team went on to finish 8-4 with a surprising victory over Georgia Tech in the Peach Bowl. The excitement was back and things weren’t as bad as some conceived it to be earlier in the season.
Three seasons later LSU would finish 13-1 and claim the 2003 BCS National Championship. The following year the Tigers faced defeat three times, the final loss coming on the final play of the final game for Nick as the LSU head coach.
Despite the high expectations, the Tigers finished the following three seasons at No. 5, No. 3, and claimed the National Championship in 2007.
The championship season of 2007 provided Tiger fans with some of the best games ever played in Death Valley, and some of the best and most electric crowds ever seen.
Fast forward two seasons and the Tigers are sitting at 4-0. That’s four wins, and no losses. Zip. Zero. Nada. Unbeaten. Perfect.
How does that feel? Ask USC…uh, nevermind. Ask Ole Miss…scratch that. Ask Oklah…oh forget it!
Actually, there are only 16 other teams that this question could be asked to. I am pretty sure every team outside of these 17 undefeated teams would love to know how a perfect record feels.
However, at some point in the year, they couldn’t get it done. They couldn’t finish the job. They failed to get the “W”. They didn’t play for victory.
We all know the only fans that get the publicity are the ones complaining. It’s human nature. No one wants to hear about positive things. It makes for a better story, for a better radio program, and for better message board material to hear complaints. It’s “spicier.”
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