(Editor’s note: Whether you laughed or cried, cheered or snoozed, the latest “Game of the Century” deserves a little more postgame analysis than your usual recap. How much more? Five times more, that’s how much more. In the first installment today, CBR’s staff writers look at the big surprises from LSU’s overtime win over the Crimson Tide.)
What was the most surprising aspect of Saturday night’s game?
Tom Perry: That Alabama’s fans were crying after the game like they actually made a block or a tackle. OK, I kid the Bama fans.
I wasn’t surprised by much. Everyone knew the defenses were outstanding and they would be on top of their game. However, I still thought there would be a bit more offense. A very average WVU team scored 21 on LSU and threw it all over the place.
What I learned, though, is I don’t want a rematch.
Kevin McGuire: I knew the defenses would be very tough in this game, but I didn’t think they would force a a 6-6 game in to overtime the way they did. I had both teams scoring in the double digits, so needless to say I was a tad surprised by the low scoring in this one. Right from the start of the game, we saw Alabama come out swinging at LSU but unable to finish off their drives with points. That, to me, was surprising and ultimately what cost the Tide the game.
Allen Kenney: Is Alabama’s special teams too obvious of an answer? Honestly, this game played out much like I expected, although I did figure there would be at least some scoring. The quarterbacking on both sides of the ball was worse than I expected. That’s saying something, too, because I wasn’t expecting much.
Michael Felder: The play of Jarrett Lee surprised me the most. I expected the same Jarrett Lee we saw a for the last two seasons – efficient, safe and confident – to show up for this game. Instead, we got two interceptions, skittish and uncertain from Lee, who was eventually yanked from the game. Blame it on rhythm, blame it on him showing his true colors, the fact is LSU’s been playing two QBs situationally for two seasons and last night Jarrett Lee failed to hold up his end of the bargain, going 3-7 attempts for 24 yards, 2 interceptions and a 14.52 rating. That was surprising.
Regie Eller: Overall, I was not surprised. These two teams played as they were suppose to on paper. This was as even of a match up as there has been in years for a big time game.
Aaron Torres: The most surprising aspect to me was that late in the game in winning time, everything LSU touched turned to gold, while nothing for Alabama seemed to work.
There were too many instances to count, but, seriously, let’s think about this. How about the fact that LSU continued to run a seemingly simplistic speed-option attack on offense and Alabama’s big, bad, historically great defense couldn’t slow it down? How about the fact that the Crimson Tide’s offense continued to be blander then my sister’s cooking, with LSU challenging and daring Alabama to throw the ball, and other than a haphazard duck from Marquis Maze, Alabama basically didn’t.
Given that Alabama and Nick Saban are known for their mental toughness, it surprised me that on the road, late in the game, it was LSU was that was more mentally tough.
