BIGGEST
CONTROVERSIES
The most controversial topics
in LSU history
1. Saban leaves LSU/arrives
at Alabama
While it is one of the most recent
controversies, it may also go down as the most bitter in the history of LSU
football. Fans were nuts about Nick Saban when he led LSU to 48 victories, two
SEC championships and a national title in his five-year stay at LSU. They were
upset when he bid farewell for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins following the 2004
season. Even when Les Miles went 22-4 in his first two seasons as LSU’s new
coach, fans still longed for Saban. However, that all changed when Saban
returned to college football, most notably the SEC Western Division, as the new
head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Now and forever, Saban’s return will
have LSU fans seeing red.
2. 2003 LSU & USC
national championship debate – BCS vs. AP
One thing is for certain: LSU did
everything it was supposed to do to reach the 2003 BCS National Championship
Game. The only problem – the BCS got it wrong. Instead of sending Pac-10
champion USC to the Sugar Bowl to meet LSU, the BCS selected Oklahoma, who got blown out in its conference championship
game 36-7 by Kansas State. Outraged, Trojan fans declared
themselves national champions following a rout of Michigan in the Rose Bowl
– and the AP obliged. LSU beat the Sooners in the Sugar and hoisted the crystal
football, leading to an ongoing debate that still rages on today.
3. 1970 Cotton Bowl
fiasco
Just how costly was LSU’s 26-23
loss to Ole Miss in 1969? Well, 9-1 LSU was passed over by the Cotton Bowl,
which took 8-1-1 Notre Dame, who lost to eventual national champion Texas. Arguably LSU’s
greatest team ever (allowed less than 400 yards rushing on the entire season),
the 1969 Tigers did not go bowling and were left to wonder what if.
4. Officiating at
Auburn
There always seems to be some sort
of controversy surrounding the LSU-Auburn game. From earthquakes, to cigars, to
interceptions, all the way to a burning barn, something always stands out.
Lately, it’s been the officiating – or lack thereof. Auburn’s 10-9 win over LSU
in 2004 snapped the Tigers’ 10-game winning streak. That game was marred by a
ridiculous leverage penalty against LSU on a missed Auburn extra point. The homestanding Tigers got to try
again, and John Vaughn booted the game winner through the uprights. Two years
later, officials picked up an obvious pass interference penalty flag late in the
game which awarded Auburn the ball after an LSU fourth down. The
visiting Tigers got the ball back with a chance to win the game, but they fell
short 7-3.
5. Dietzel leaves LSU,
comes back as South
Carolina coach
“I’ll never leave LSU,” said coach
Paul Dietzel following the Tigers’ 1958 national title. But three years later,
Dietzel packed his bags for Army following the 1961 season, and LSU fans were
bitter. Things didn’t work out for Dietzel at Army, and he landed at South Carolina. In 1966,
Dietzel’s Gamecocks visited Tiger Stadium for the season opener. Charles
McClendon’s Tigers downed South
Carolina 28-12, much to the delight of the 67,000-plus
in attendance. Dietzel and LSU mended fences, however, and he returned to LSU in
1978 and served as athletic director until 1982. Dietzel, now 82, still resides
in Baton
Rouge.
6. Biff Jones and Huey
Long
It was no secret that former
Louisiana Governor Huey Long loved his LSU Tigers. He attended every game,
traveled with the team, and even led the band in parades. In the early 1930s, it
was also apparent Long didn’t have much love for coach Biff Jones. Jones was the
coach at LSU for three seasons, from 1932-34. In those three years, Jones
compiled a 20-5-6 record, which, however, did not please Long. At halftime of
the 1934 season finale, LSU was losing to Oregon 13-0. Long approached Jones in the
locker room, wanting to talk to the team. Jones said, “No,” to which Long
responded, “Who’s going to stop me?” Jones again refused, and Long said, “I am
sick and tired of losing and tying games.” And he added, “You’d better win this
one.” Jones quipped, “Well Senator, get this: Win, lose, or draw, I quit!” Long
bellowed, “What a bargain!” The Tigers won that day 14-13, but Jones stood by
his word. Both admitted later they regretted the exchange and eventually split
amicably.
7. Bo Rein’s
death
LSU had found the perfect guy to
replace longtime coach Charles McClendon. North Carolina State coach Bo Rein was young, energetic,
and one of the hottest names in the country. When he was announced head coach on
Nov. 30, 1979, Rein hit the ground running. Unfortunately, no one will ever know
what kind of impact Rein would have had at LSU. On Jan 10, 1980, Rein was
returning from a recruiting trip in Shreveport. The plane in which he was flying
apparently lost cabin pressure and climbed to some 40,000 feet. A flight that
was supposed to last 40 minutes ended some 1,500 miles later when the plane
crashed into the Atlantic Ocean just 41 days
after Rein was introduced. Rein was only 34 years old. A mad scramble followed
as LSU tried desperately to find a coach. Finally, Jerry Stovall was
hired.
8. Bob
Brodhead
No doubt Bob Brodhead left his mark
on LSU. Brodhead hired some of the best coaches in LSU history including Skip
Bertman, Sue Gunter, Pat Henry and Bill Arnsparger. However, controversy seemed
to follow Brodhead at LSU and it eventually led to his resignation as LSU’s
athletic director. During his stint as AD from 1982-1986, Brodhead had historic
feuds with coach Jerry Stovall, who he fired following the 1983 season.
Brodhead’s relationship with Stovall’s replacement (Arnsparger) began well but
ended ugly as well when Arnsparger eventually left after just three seasons. In
1983, Brodhead fired baseball coach Jack Lamabe but didn’t bother telling him.
Lamabe’s wife read a classified ad in the Baton Rouge Advocate
advertising the head coaching vacancy. But the most memorable occurrence during
the Brodhead era was the infamous “bugging” scandal. Brodhead bugged university
offices so he could eavesdrop on NCAA investigators. He later pled guilty to
federal charges, was sentenced to community service, and later resigned in
October 1988.
9. Charles McClendon’s
retirement/firing
Nick Saban was 53 years old when
LSU won the national championship. In 1979 in his final season at LSU, Charles
McClendon was 53 years old also. At 53, Saban was regarded as a genius. For
McClendon, the game was said to have passed him by – a stark contrast to his
heyday in the 1960s when LSU was consistently ranked in the top 10. As the 70s
dragged on, LSU struggled 5-5-1 in 1974 and 5-6 in 1975. While McClendon’s teams
enjoyed back-to-back 8-4 seasons in 1977 and 78, there was a growing sentiment
among administrators and fans that Mac needed to go. When Paul Dietzel returned
to LSU as athletic director in 1978, it was rumored his first act of business
was to fire his successor as LSU coach and long-time friend. McClendon was set
to serve as president of the National Football Coaches Association in 1979, a
great honor for a head coach. McClendon and Dietzel came to an agreement that
Mac would retire following the 1979 season. While he went quietly, his
staunchest supporters swear he was fired.
10. Tiger Stadium
Expansion/Dormitories
Tiger Stadium's structure includes
several dormitories which are no longer in use. These became part of the stadium
because the state budget included money for dormitories but not the stadium
expansion desired by Louisiana Governor Huey Long. In order to get around the
budget restrictions, Long had the dorms built into Tiger Stadium and included
seating for football games.
Honorable
Mention:
1998-99 – Lou
Tepper and the drop linebacker
2007 – Les Miles
and the Alabama “F” Bomb
2002 – Saban and
Dennis Franchione
2001 - Damon
Duval and the LSU tuba player