AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2005 > September > 27 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMuch to digest from Vols’ win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some thoughts after watching Tennessee’s 30-24 overtime win over LSU:
*I’m always hesitant to use too many superlatives, lest they become meaningless. But what Tennessee did Monday night was one of the biggest gut-checks the SEC has seen in years. The Volunteers weren’t simply about to lose a game at halftime — their entire season was getting ready to implode.
But to their credit, Phillip Fulmer and the Tennessee coaching staff threw out their game plan and inserted quarterback Rick Clausen after sophomore Erik Ainge had a major meltdown. Tennessee used patience and finally took what the LSU defense was giving.
As a result, the offense finally gained some confidence and wore out the LSU defense. Now Tennessee is back in the SEC East race, especially if Florida loses to Alabama on Saturday. It was Fulmer’s biggest regular-season win since the Volunteers beat Florida in 1998 en route to the national championship.
*Think about what it took for Clausen to come off the bench and lead Tennessee to victory. After the loss to Florida on Sept. 17 he was basically told: “Sorry kid, you’re just not talented enough.” Tennessee made the decision to go with the more gifted Ainge and let the chips fall where they may.
It was the third time in his career (once at LSU and twice at Tennessee) that Clausen had been benched — not for bad play, but because his coaches just didn’t think he lacked talent.
Yet Monday night, Tennessee became a different, more confident team when Clausen entered the game. The team’s quarterback controversy has to be over and everyone (including this writer) who thought Ainge was the guy were flat wrong. This is Clausen’s team now.
*There’s a lot of second-guessing today about new LSU coach Les Miles. And there should be.
When the score is tied and you have the ball with two minutes to go at home, you go for the win. LSU was clearly playing for overtime, afraid that its quarterback, Jamarcus Russell, was going to make another mistake.
There was no way that LSU was going to win in overtime. The Tiger defense was exhausted because it had been on the field so long in the second half. And last night proved what I’ve been saying about Russell all along: He looks great in a uniform, and he will make some wonderful plays like the one he did to beat Arizona State on Sept. 10. But at the end of the day, he will break your heart with the big mistake.
My Top 10 As promised yesterday, here’s my revised Top 10. Tennessee jumped to No. 6 behind Florida and Georgia, while LSU drops to No. 10.
1.USC
2.Virginia Tech
3.Texas
4.Florida
5.Georgia
6.Tennessee
7.Florida State
8.Ohio State
9.Michigan State
10.LSU
Comments
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By Old Dawg
September 27, 2005 05:00 PM | Link to this
I like your top ten. Too bad the SEC teams will knock one or two into the second bracket. You are absolutely right about the gut check. Clausen gave great leadership but I am not yet a believer. I just don’t see in him a championship quarterback. But I’ve been wrong before. Go Dawgs!
By Kelvin Self-Centered
September 27, 2005 05:15 PM | Link to this
Tech sucks. Big time.
By Bryan G.
September 27, 2005 05:41 PM | Link to this
I think the Tenn/LSU game was just LSU getting outcoached. I don’t know what Miles was doing. It was just a poor showing by a guy who’s never really shown that he was a great coach. Welcome to the SEC, Les. Better get your act together—you still have Florida, Auburn and Alabama left to play.
By The Phlegmmer
September 27, 2005 05:50 PM | Link to this
Go Raiders!
By BULLDOG JOE
September 27, 2005 06:17 PM | Link to this
YOU NAILED IT ON THE HEAD. OUT COACHED, TIRED OUT, GOING FOR A TIE AT HOME, AFRAID OF QB MAKING A MISTAKE.
THE MIGHTY TIGER DEATH VALLEY NOISE FELL DEAFENLY AND SUDDENLY SILENT.
SHOCK AND AWE.
By Fred
September 27, 2005 07:47 PM | Link to this
Why is everyone so surprised by Clausen? What short memories! Yes, UT lost to Auburn in the SEC championship, but didn’t Clausen help make it a close game in the second half? Then didn’t he engineer a tremondous a*-whipping of Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl? It isn’t a fluke and that’s what Fulmer finally realized last night. God help ole Miss and UGA now!
By Jim
September 28, 2005 01:49 AM | Link to this
Since I live in Northern California, I have a hard time explaining just how important a SEC football game is. Now all I have to do is point to the LSU-Tenn game. Tenn certainly isn’t flashy but boy do they have courage! LSU seemed to go into a semi-prevent defense and let Tenn to get back into the game. Now, we’ll see just how good a coach miles is. Having a game on Saturday will be a huge test. Jim
By PHIL FORTSON
September 28, 2005 08:18 AM | Link to this
GENTLEMAN, PLEASE. I’M NOT SO SURE ABOUT TENNESSEE. FROM WHAT I SAW LES MILES IS IN WAY OVER HIS HEAD.(THIS AIN’T STILLWATER, OK.) LSU WAS NOT OUT PLAYED IN THAT SECOND HALF. THEY WERE OUT COACHED. THE PEOPLE OF THE RED STICK WILL NOT PUT UP WITH MANY MORE LIKE THAT ONE.
By Kyle
September 28, 2005 08:38 AM | Link to this
I watched the game. Tennessee’s defense is tough and held tough. LSU didn’t muster much offense (they staked that bid 1st half lead off of Tenn gifts).
Les certainly has a lot of questions to answer. Concerning his offense, I found it odd that he never ran a play with that RB that scored their first TD - he looked really fast on that play.
GO DAWGS!
By jere
September 28, 2005 11:58 AM | Link to this
lsu did have a meltdown but tennessee gained a lot of confidence with 2nd half performance…they will never feel out of game after big comeback on monday nite in bat-tawn rouge…good georgia has 2 weeks to prepare as they will have to solve red zone problems and overall inconsistency to win in knocksville
By pdburch32
September 28, 2005 12:02 PM | Link to this
Miles is an idiot. He tried to call time out to stop the clock when his team had a late pick. He doesnt even know the rules of the game.
By GWJ
September 28, 2005 01:32 PM | Link to this
Well said, Tony. As a Georgia fan, I was pulling hard for LSU. Give UT credit, big time win. Les Miles had that “deer in the headlight” look for most of the second half. LSU played the 2nd half not to lose and of course, they lost. Interesting to see if LSU rebounds from this disaster.