Top 10 teams
battle in Tiger Stadium
It's been a while, nearly 30 years
to be exact, since a pair of SEC teams carrying top 10 rankings have battled in
Tiger Stadium. The last time it happened the coaches were the Bear and Coach
Mac, the game was LSU-Alabama and the year was 1973. Alabama, then-No. 2 in the
nation, posted a 21-7 win over No. 7-ranked LSU in a game televised nationally
by ABC on Nov. 22, 1973. The Alabama win snapped LSU's 9-game winning
streak. The last time two top 10,
regardless of conference affiliation, squared off in Tiger Stadium came on Sept.
26, 1987 when the No. 4-ranked Tigers battle No. 7-ranked Ohio State to a 13-13
tie in a game televised by CBS.
LSU on
CBS
The Tigers will mark their 29th
appearance on CBS vs. Georgia. The Tigers will carry a 14-13-1 mark in game
televised by CBS into the Georgia game. The game will be the first on the
network since last year's 21-20 loss to Arkansas in Little Rock. LSU is 4-3 on
CBS under Nick Saban, which includes a 2-0 mark in Tiger Stadium as well as a
win over Tennessee in the SEC Championship game. LSU has won three of its last
four games on CBS.
Clayton nearly
unstoppable
In three games this season, LSU
wide receiver Michael Clayton has looked almost unstoppable. To date, Clayton
leads the SEC in both receptions per game (7.67) and receiving yards (141.0).
Clayton has caught 23 passes for 423 yards and four TDs despite playing very
little in the second half of each of LSU's first three games. On Saturday vs.
Western Illinois, Clayton caught a career-best 11 passes for a career-high 162
yards and 1 TD despite sitting out most of the second half with a sprained
ankle. Of Clayton's 11 receptions, nine came in the first half for 134
yards.
100-150-300
vs. Western Illinois a rarity for Tigers
LSU's trio of quarterback Matt Mauck, running back Shyrone Carey and wide receiver Michael Clayton combined for
a rarity on Saturday vs. Western Illinois. Carey rushed for 124 yards, Clayton
caught passes netting 162 yards and Mauck threw for 305 yards as the trio became
just the fourth group in school history to have 100-yards rushing, 150-yards
receiving and 300-yard passing in the same game. The last time the Tigers had a
100-yard rusher, a 150-yard receiver and a 300-yard passer in the same contest
came against Illinois in the 2002 Sugar Bowl. In that game, Domanick Davis
rushed for 122 yards, Josh Reed had 239 yards receiving and Rohan Davey threw
for 444 yards. The other two times came in 2001 as well as the Tigers did it
against Kentucky (Toefield 129 rushing, Reed 160 receiving, Davey 383 passing)
and then against vs. Arkansas (Toefield 173 rushing, Reed 183 receiving, Davey
359 passing).
Tiger defense
has been stingy
Through 12 quarters this season,
LSU's defense has held the opponent out of the endzone in nine of those. In week 1, Louisiana-Monroe
didn't score until the fourth quarter and the same was true in week 2 as
Arizona's offense didn't score until there was only four minutes left in the
contest. For the first time this season, LSU allowed points prior to the fourth
quarter as Western Illinois scored on its first second half
possession.
Jones being
victimized by LSU's offense
The only person that seems to be
affected adversely by the potent LSU offense is that of Tiger punter Donnie Jones. One week after punting only one time vs. Arizona, Jones didn't even get
off a punt against Western Illinois. In his only opportunity to see the field,
the snapper sailed the ball over Jones' head for what turned out to be a 27-yard
loss. Jones did not get another punting opportunity vs. Western Illinois. A week
earlier vs. Arizona, Jones was one of the last Tigers to enter the game as the
Tigers were not forced to punt until there was less than eight minutes left in
the contest. Through three games, Jones, who is a Ray Guy Award candidate, has
punted six times for an average of 42.0 per punt. Jones has not met the minimum
number of punts to rank among either the SEC or national leaders.
Add two more
true freshmen to the list
You can add two more true freshmen
to the list of first time players for LSU as WR Craig Davis and DE Brian West
both played for the first time vs. Western Illinois. Through three games, LSU
has now played 14 true freshmen. LSU opened the season by playing 11 true
freshmen against UL-Monroe and then 12 played against Arizona. The following is
a listing of the true freshmen who have played this season and the number of
games they have seen action in: DB
Jessie Daniels (3 games), S LaRon Landry (3), CB Nick Child (3), DB Daniel Francis (3), DT Carnell Stewart (2), DE Kirston Pittman (2), RB Alley Broussard
(2), RB Justin Vincent (3), WR Dwayne Bowe (3), TE Keith Zinger (3), PK Chris Jackson (3), RB Barrington Edwards (2), WR Craig Davis (1) and DE Brian West
(1).