Maybe “Honey Badger” will win the Heisman after all. Tyrann Mathieu, owner of a most unique nickname, kept up his season-long heroics against Georgia in Saturday’s SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome.
He returned a punt for a touchdown, had a dizzying return that set up another score and recovered a fumble for the Tigers that led to a touchdown in their 42-10 victory. Mathieu’s play earned him the game’s MVP award and, more importantly, helped top-ranked and undefeated LSU secure a spot in the BCS championship game.
Georgia talked during the week about the need to keep Mathieu contained. He came into the SEC Championship game averaging 13.7 yards per return, seventh nationally. He returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown in the previous week’s win against Arkansas, the third-longest punt return in school history.
LSU coach Les Miles recently said Mathieu should be considered for the Heisman and other postseason awards. Mathieu got part way there, when he was named one of the five finalists for the Walter Camp Award, a player of the year honor.
Against the Bulldogs, Mathieu confirmed once more this sort of attention wasn’t farfetched.
Georgia punter Drew Butler tried to pin him close to the sideline. When Butler was backed deep into the end zone and his punt floated into the middle of the field, Mathieu made him pay.
Mathieu fielded the 59-yard punt at his 38, evaded a tackle and zigzagged his way for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was his fourth score this season and sparked the Tigers and aroused their mostly quiet fans in a Dome filled with people wearing the red and black. The return was also the second longest in SEC Championship history.
“I just felt that I needed to change the momentum of the game,” Mathieu said. “It was the perfect time with that punt return, just trying to make one guy miss and just get up the field.”
The first score didn’t come without some controversy. It appeared that Mathieu tossed the ball to an official before he crossed the goal line. The play wasn’t reviewed. Mathieu admitted afterward that he might have celebrated a bit too soon.
“I could see the referee looking at me kind of strange,” he said. “I’ll be sure next time to make sure I cross the goal line.”
Butler made another mistake in the third quarter when he kicked a low liner into the middle of the field. Mathieu fielded it at his own 36-yard line and evaded seven tacklers before he was brought down at the Bulldogs’ 17-yard line. The Tigers scored a touchdown four plays later.
Defensively, Mathieu also was disruptive. He led the Tigers with 66 tackles during the regular season; he had four more on Saturday. He didn’t create any turnovers -- he owns the school record with 11 forced fumbles -- but he recovered a fumble by Aaron Murray in the third quarter that led to an LSU touchdown. It was Mathieu’s fifth fumble recovery this season. He also had a tackle for loss and was credited with a quarterback hurry.
As for Mathieu and the Heisman, Miles said the sophomore’s accomplishments, and the team’s, were convincing.
“I can tell you this, as the conference champions in the SEC, and as one of the key players on that team, I think he needs real consideration,” Miles said. “I think he’s a special player and has a special place and maybe warrants, if the judges can make a quality decision, for him to attend in New York.”
About the Author
