Gators Nuke Tigers: Fall Out May Doom LSU

The mushroom cloud that hovered above The Swamp last night was not a covert military explosion gone awry. It was Tim Tebow backing up his statement that he would never allow his team to play like they did when they lost to Ole Miss.

Apparently the Gators were hiding their weapons of mass destruction and planned to use them for this match-up against LSU.

LSU was obliterated by Florida. Absolutely demolished.

Coming into the game the Tigers were apparently reading too much of their own press. Many college sports experts picked LSU over Florida amid the point spread that had picked the Gator’s by 6.

To add and injury to insult; the Ricky Jean-François story circulated nationally by a Florida newspaper and instantly became more fuel for the fire for Urban Meyer and Co.

The Gators came into the game hungrier and angry. They systematically took advantage of LSU in all phases of the game and dictated the pace, presence, and attitude from the opening kick-off.

Third play of the game, after the Tigers had aggressively stopped the Gators the two previous plays; a long third down play that was almost batted down, was tipped in the air to the receiver and it was seven to nothing in a blink of an eye.

That was the omen for the rest of the night.

I don’t want to take anything away from Florida; they played like they were possessed, but LSU looked like they were a step slow, sleepwalking, and off kilter; running on just four cylinders.

What was so surprising was that LSU has been masterful in big games. Coach Les Miles typically has his troops ready and primed for these huge battles. The Hat did not come through. Not this time.

The Tigers came out with less swagger; less attitude, and less confidence.

I’m not sure if Bo Pelini would consider coming back, but LSU’s defense has not been the same without him. Look for changes after the season if Miles two headed D coordinators don’t get their act together.

The fall out from this game may be just the beginning for the Tigers. Tough games coming against Georgia and Alabama might yield a 9-3 season.

Possibly a 8-4 finish with a road trip to South Carolina if LSU can’t rebound from not just the physical ailments from this Florida game, but the mental ailment of having their guts knocked out of them in a game that was suppose to be much closer.

The Tigers have lost tough games before, but this loss was the biggest and most humiliating in the Miles era. Will his team rally and circle the wagons and regroup with more focus and tenacity? Those of us who bleed purple and gold certainly hope so.

With that thought I’d like to publicly thank Ryan Perrilloux for putting our beloved Tigers in the hands of a red-shirt freshman who is having to grow up the hard way.

And I’d like to send a shout out to my man Ricky Jean - thanks for everything. Your words of wisdom will echo in college football history as one of the dumbest things to say before a big game. Dude - for real?

Superman gets his revenge in a undeniable convincing way.