LSU Football: Lots of Crow to Eat for Lots of People, Including This Writer

Larry Burton (Syndicated Writer) It was a busy week. I did at least five radio interviews and wrote numerous articles, all the while sure in my belief that not only would Alabama win the game, but win handily and score handily as well.

Boy, was I more than wrong on both counts.

And while I don't think that any fan of either school really thought that either team could shut the other one down so totally, it became obvious that these really are the two best defenses in the country, and perhaps the two best teams as well.

So while I have a ton of crow to eat, let me first congratulate the coaches, players and sportswriters I worked with in the press box from LSU and the fans, all of whom were very cordial before, during and after the game.

Les Miles and Nick Saban had the same exact game plan. Both teams executed them as well they could.

But in the end, as it has so many times in great SEC contests, the game was decided by field position and special teams, and that was just enough difference to put LSU on top.

There is no question that LSU and Alabama were equals on defense and offense, but there is fewer doubts that LSU was clearly better on special teams.

On every radio show I was on this week, I warned that LSU's punter could be the most deciding man on LSU's team. I gave the special team advantage to LSU in every article, but never did I dream that Alabama would miss four field-goal attempts.

Both coaches tried some trickery—it didn't fool these great defenses.

By in large, while it's hard to say to say that Les Miles out-coached Nick Saban, it is clear that Miles had recruited and prepared his special teams better than Saban.

Les Miles can now stand atop Nick Saban as the best LSU coach of the last 30 years and could equal him all time with another BCS Championship that they certainly look capable of attaining.

For Alabama fans who said Nick Saban built the program at LSU, that is no longer relevant.

Nick's players are long gone, this is a Les Miles team from top to bottom, who faced an almost all-Nick Saban team top to bottom. Both teams were nationally ranked, both with equal healthiness and highly recruited players, and Les Miles came out on top.

You can call Les lucky, call him clumsy, call him different—but call him a winner.

And now you can call him the best coach who's walked the turf as coach of the LSU Tigers.

He has eclipsed Nick's shadow, and Alabama fans are now forced to recognize there's a new sheriff in the SEC West, and his name is Les Miles.

Not even a rematch and an Alabama victory can take that away from him now. This is Les Miles' year to be top dog in the SEC.

For Alabama fans, that's tough to take.

And judging from the recruiting that LSU and Alabama are bringing in and the talent already on board at both schools, this is a battle that will continue for a long time.