Before Saban began with his opening
remarks concerning this week’s game against Western Illinois, the fourth-year
LSU head coach presented Dubois with a purple and gold sombrero, which drew
thunderous laughter from the entire press corps. Red-faced, Dubois accepted
Saban’s gift, which brought words of a speedy recovery from the Tigers’ head
man.
After the bit of comic relief,
Saban thanked the number of LSU fans who made the long trip to cheer on LSU to a
resounding 59-13 win Saturday night in Tucson.
“I would like to say something to
our fans and the people who support the program here,” Saban said. “It is quite
a trip and quite an expense and the fans never left the game, they stayed for 60
minutes. I want all of our fans to know how much our players, our staff- myself
included, really appreciate the support they give us.”
The folks in Arizona were shocked
at how many LSU fans showed up in Tucson for Saturday’s game.
“I heard a lot of people from
Arizona talking about the fact that, other than playing Arizona State, they have
never had that many people follow a team to play at Arizona, and it is not like
we are adjoining states,” Saban said.
A much better game than the season
opener against UL-Monroe, the Tigers played one of their best all-around games
since Saban became head coach.
“I think there was vast improvement
from the first game to the second,” Saban said.
As for the players of the week,
quarterback Matt Mauck (10-11, 137, 1 TD) and Joseph Addai (18-86, 2 TDs)
brought home the offensive honors.
“Matt Mauck, who was 10-11, did a
great job of running the offense in terms of the “check with me’s”, and all the
things he did in the game,” Saban said. “The execution was outstanding. Joseph
Addai has been a two-game workhorse for us and also did an outstanding
job.”
Marquise Hill and Marcus played
possibly their best games in a Tiger uniform providing plenty of pressure to the
Arizona quarterbacks.
“We felt our two defensive ends
probably played the best that they have played since they have been here, and
they have both played a lot of good football here,” Saban said. “They were very
productive, that is Marquise Hill and Marcus Spears, and had outstanding games.
They also had the two highest point totals on defense.”
Gino Giambelluca and Corey Webster
were named the special teams players of the week.
Saban did not dwell on this
weekend’s opponent. However, he did say the top-ranked Leatherneck should not be
taken lightly. Western Illinois is No. 1 in the I-AA poll and has a knack for
beating Division I schools.
“Western Illinois is that they have
beaten three Division 1 opponents, three or four maybe, in the last couple of
years,” Saban said. “I know they have beaten Northern Illinois once and Northern
Illinois beat Maryland when they were in the top 25.”
Saban stressed that WIU is
dangerous team and not to let the I-AA moniker fool you.
“Just because a team is 1-AA does
not mean that they do not have, especially when they can beat 1-A schools,
football players that need to be respected and regarded and prepared for just as
any other team,” Saban said. “I think this is an opportunity for our team to
show that they can play with consistency as well as make an improvement as a
football team.”
On the injury front, Kirston Pittman (sprained MCL) is the only significant injury stemming from the Arizona
game. Randall Gay’s status has not changed and Terrell McGill is up and around
and is questionable for this weekend’s contest.
“I do not think either of
those two guys (McGill and Gay) will play in the game,” Saban said. “I would
have to say that Randall Gay is not going to play in the game and Terrell McGill
would still be very questionable for the game.”