Dave Carsley

A few tidbits to ponder this morning:

Former LSU problem child Ryan Perrilloux now has the enviable responsibility of playing at national powerhouse Jacksonville State University. Last year’s SEC MVP was booted off the team after repeated off-field problems, including three suspensions in the past year.

Here’s to Perrilloux joining David Boston and Charles Rogers for a fine career bouncing around the Canadian Football League. He better learn what a rouge is very quickly.

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Meanwhile, the USC Trojans will spend the next quarter-century in their longtime home, the L.A. “Mausoleum.” The new lease includes improvements to the stadium, including the replacement of all seats. USC has played its home games at the Coliseum throughout its 85-year history.

I love this news because I’m a fan of vintage stadiums. Thank God for college football that keeps its storied squads playing at their venues forever. I’d be one unhappy camper if the Trojans suddenly moved to a Citibank Financial Field. It just wouldn’t be the same.

DC
E-mail: ninersbuzz@yahoo.com

Nicholas Hall

LSU’s 38-24 victory over Ohio State solidified the SEC’s second consecutive national championship. Les Miles led LSU to their second BCS title in five years. With the win the SEC now can claim four of the ten BCS championships. (’98 Tennessee, ’03 LSU, ’06, Florida, ’08 LSU) That is double the amount of any conference and the SEC is the only league to have not lost a BCS title game.

The SEC as a whole was once again extremely tough this season. The league was a combined 40-8 in out of conference play and won seven of their nine bowl games, which established a new mark for bowl wins by a conference. At the conclusion of the regular season six SEC teams were in the top 25, with Kentucky sitting just outside. It’s also worth noting that Tim Tebow, Florida’s standout QB, became the first sophomore to win the Heisman trophy.

More impressive than any of the national achievements was the quality of football in the SEC this season. There was not a single week off in the SEC, all eight games for each club was a battle. With that in mind there were several SEC games this season that will be dazzling audiences on ESPN Classic for years to come. Here is my Top 5.

5. September 15: Alabama 41 Arkansas 38

After twice blowing 21 point leads at home Alabama comes away with Nick Saban’s first major SEC win with a four yard TD pass with eight seconds to go. 

4. October 13: Kentucky 43 LSU 37 (3 OT)

At home Kentucky avenges the “Bluegrass Miracle” and takes out then #1 LSU in triple overtime.

3.  November 23: Arkansas 50 LSU 48 (3 OT)

In the last game of the regular season Arkansas goes into Death Valley and knocks off then #1 LSU in triple overtime. (See a pattern) The loss at the time seemed to eliminate any chance LSU had at a BCS title. 

2. November 24: Tennessee 52 Kentucky 50 (4 OT)

The next day the Cats and Vols treated SEC fans to another treat. The teams would swap 28-7 halves and then head to overtime, where two point conversions made all the difference in extending the nation’s longest winning streak over one opponent.  

1. October 6: LSU 28 Florida 24

#1 LSU converted three fourth down plays in the fourth quarter at home to comeback and steal one from the Gators. This game bar none was the biggest heavyweight tilt in the SEC this season and definitely the most entertaining. Special Bonus: Tim Tebow cries at the end.

For the SEC it was just another entertaining season of Southern football. A convincing SEC victory over Ohio State (again) in the national championship was just the cherry on top. At the 1:42 mark of the fourth quarter with the game in hand the chant was clear throughout the Louisiana Superdome, “SEC, SEC, SEC.” For LSU and the rest of the league its like they always say, laissez les bon temps roulez.