LSU-Alabama: 5 Good Incentives For Tigers To Beat Tide
The annual meeting of LSU and Alabama has always had a very significant meaning to both teams.
Going back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the legendary Paul "Bear" Bryant was coaching the Alabama Crimson Tide, during most years both teams would meet as two undefeated SEC teams with national rankings and bowl games on the line.
Even though the Bear would usually find a way to beat his former pupil Charlie McClendon, the games were always close and sometimes would end in either a tie, or they were not be decided until the final play or winning field goal.
These days, nothing has really changed as both teams are nationally ranked and the SEC West Championship is still on the line this year, just like most other years.
Of course, these days Alabama is led by Nick Saban instead of Bear Bryant, and LSU is led by Les Miles instead of Charlie McClendon.
However, with Nick Saban being the former LSU coach, this matchup has reached a new and more significant meaning of importance, especially for the LSU Fans.
In fact most Tiger fans circle this game on their calendar each year, and it is now called the "Saban Bowl."
To put the present day LSU vs Alabama series in prospective, here are five good incentives for the Tigers to beat the Tide.
1. Beating Former LSU Coach Nick Saban
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Nick Saban was lured to LSU from Michigan State in 1999 by former LSU Chancellor Mark Emmert for the then-ridiculous sum of $1.2 million per season.
From the very beginning, Saban began making improvements to the LSU facilities and started building his program. After four short years in 2003 as the Tiger coach, Saban brought LSU its first BCS National Championship.
From that time on, Nick Saban was thought to be a Tiger through and through, and he put that burning desire in the hearts of all LSU fans to continue striving for the BCS Championship.
But when the Miami Dolphins came calling and offered $4 million per year, it was a dream come true for Nick Saban, and it proved to be too good an opportunity and too much money for Nick to pass up.
However, after one year with the Dolphins, Nick realized how much he missed college football, and Alabama was looking for a leader to take them back to the glory days of Bear Bryant. So, they offered the same $4 million per year and Nick accepted. In 3 short years he was able to lead Alabama to its BCS National Championship.
Since Nick Saban became the Alabama Coach, there is still a certain element of LSU fans that just can't get over him accepting this job, as they still see Nick as the LSU coach. As hard as it has been to accept, most Tiger fans now regard Saban as the coach of a major SEC rival and a team they want to beat.
So, beating Nick Saban and Alabama in the "Saban Bowl" is regarded as one of the biggest reasons LSU has for beating Alabama. It is considered a double whammy victory for LSU fans as they get to beat their old coach and they get to beat one of their major rivals.
2. Keep SEC West Hopes Alive
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When LSU played Auburn two weeks ago and lost, coach Les Miles told the team that their right to determine their own destiny to the SEC West Title ended with their loss to Auburn.
However, their chances have not ended, but since they no longer determine their own destiny, now they will have to keep winning and then get some help from other SEC teams that play Auburn.
Actually, Auburn will have to lose twice and LSU will have to win all of its remaining SEC games in order to win the West and make it to the SEC Championship game.
Though those chances are mighty slim, especially the way Auburn and Cam Newton are playing these days, one never really knows as strange things can happen in the SEC.
One possible surprise for Auburn will be the Georgia Bulldogs, who are playing better each week, and that is always a big rivalry game for both teams.
Of course the other big rivalry game for Auburn will be huge, as Alabama will meet them in the Iron Bowl. This year's Iron Bowl will be a major war, and unless LSU can do something about it this Saturday, that game could well be for the Western Division Championship.
So, the second big reason LSU has for beating Alabama is to keep their slim SEC West hopes alive. With Nick Saban and a rugged Alabama team coming into Death Valley this Saturday, this game should be a war as well, and you can bet LSU will be out to play its best in this game to date.
3. Regain Their Reputation As a National Contender
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LSU is one of only two teams in BCS history to win two National Championships. The Tigers won their first in 2003 under Nick Saban, and they won their second under current coach Les Miles.
After Les Miles and the LSU Tigers won their second title in 2007, they lost their fine defensive coordinator Bo Pelini to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. From here the LSU program and the fans' love for Les Miles began to crumble.
Miles tried to keep Pelini's defense intact by going with two of the assistants on staff, but that worked out miserably as the LSU defense performed poorly and the 2008 regular season ended on a sour note against Arkansas.
Couple the defensive problems with LSU's unexpected replacement of former SEC Championship MVP Matt Flynn with redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee. LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton tried to continue running the offense as he had under Flynn, but Lee was just too young and inexperienced to handle the throws required of him, and he threw seven pick-sixes, costing LSU several games.
The 2008 season produced a record of 8-5, and LSU was left to play in the Chick Fil A Bowl, which is a nice game but certainly not one for the defending BCS Champion.
To further disappoint the LSU faithful, the 2009 season produced a 9-4 record with losses to Ole Miss and Penn State. Both losses can be attributed to Les Miles end-of-game clock management issues.
So, a victory over the defending 2009 BCS National Champions would gain some much-needed respect for LSU, go a long way towards restoring its reputation as a National Title Contender and move it up in the BCS standings. Additionally, the Tigers would remain alive in the SEC race.
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4. LSU Needs To Prove It Is Not a Mediocre Program
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During the early 1990s under-then LSU coach Curley Hallman, LSU failed to have a winning season during his tenure.
Then former Vanderbilt coach, Gerry Dinardo, was hired in 1995 and LSU became a winner as it won three straight bowl games.
However, at the end of 1997, Dinardo lost both his defensive and offensive coordinators and was never able to replace them and regain his winning ways.
At the end of 1999, LSU's new Chancellor Mark Emmert seized control of the coaching search and contacted and met with Michigan State Head Coach Nick Saban. Once Emmert made his offer and Nick Saban accepted, things have never been the same at Tiger Town since.
What Nick Saban did while at LSU is legendary as he re-established the program, put it on a solid footing and gave LSU the reputation of being one of college football's dominant programs.
In his first five years, Les Miles more than maintained that reputation, but in his last two years, Les has had very disappointing years and many adversaries are saying that LSU is returning to it old days as a mediocre-to-good football team.
So, if LSU is to distance itself from the mediocre label, it must begin to show that it can beat highly ranked teams such as Alabama.
Beating a great coach like Nick Saban and a great program like Alabama will certainly have a major impact on returning LSU to again being recognized as one the top SEC and NCAA powers.
5. Recruiting Advantages
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Beginning in 2000 under Coach Saban, LSU's recruiting has ranked in the top 10 in Rivals.com ratings every year.
Once Nick left and became the head coach of Alabama, Les Miles has continued everything Saban started and he has become a direct rival to Alabama every year for recruiting the top talent in the Southeast.
Recruiting is the life blood of any program, and LSU must battle Alabama and Auburn for Louisiana high school talent. LSU rarely recruits in Alabama for its players, but Alabama under Nick Saban recruits heavily against LSU for many top players in Louisiana.
Through the years, most Louisiana high school players prefer to stay in-state to play for LSU, but lately Alabama has taken some very good players from the state and its reputation as being a national contender has been a big influence on these young players.
Because of LSU's most recent 2007 championship, Les Miles has also been able to maintain his stronghold for the most part. Plus Les has gone to Texas, Georgia and Florida with great success.
However, if LSU continues to prove it is not an equal to Alabama and cannot convince the high school talent that it will have a chance to play at the highest level, LSU may begin to lose its instate talent to Alabama and Auburn.
So, my fifth reason for LSU to beat Alabama and Nick Saban may be one of the most important, as many of these recruits that are considering both schools will be in attendance and this game will effect their decision. I think the outcome of this game is more important for LSU than it is for Alabama.
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