William Weathers
TigerBait.com Managing Editor
Want an idea of just how LSU's players are viewing Saturday's 2:30 p.m. matchup with No. 1 Alabama?
There's more than a few storylines brewing this week as Nick Saban and Bama come to Death Valley
Try this sampling from senior middle linebacker Darry Beckwith, typically one of the most reserved interviews on the team.
"It's beyond a big game," Beckwith said following Saturday's 35-10 win over Tulane. "Ole Saint Nick's coming back. It's going to be special."
Said sixth-year defensive end Kirston Pittman, "We're going to be amped up," Pittman said. "The entire team's going to be excited about this game. We're celebrating the win right now but there's talk in the locker room already."
There was plenty of rhetoric before the season when the subject turned to Alabama's visit to Tiger Stadium on Nov. 8.
At the heart of the conversation was the much anticipated return of second year Alabama football coach Nick Saban to Tiger Stadium for the first time as a college coach after guiding LSU to 48-16 record over five seasons, including the 2003 BCS national championship. Saban brought the Miami Dolphins into Baton Rouge in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina forced the New Orleans Saints to play some of their home games in Baton Rouge.
But this will be totally different and the players realize it.
"It would mean a lot to me," Beckwith said of a win over Saban. "He recruited me coming out high school and he left right before I signed so I kind of know him and have a nice relationship with him. It's going to be a fun game and the atmosphere's going to be crazy. I'm looking forward to it."
Now add to that smoldering pot of emotions an Alabama team that's 9-0 and ranked as the nation's No. 1 ranking after previously No. 1 Texas was upset Saturday in the final second of play by Texas Tech.
Couple that scenario with an LSU team (6-2) still harboring thoughts of a return trip to the Southeastern Conference game in Atlanta. Standing right there in the thick of the path is the Western Division leading Crimson Tide with a 5-0 league mark compared to the Tigers' 3-2.
"It's a big game," LSU junior defensive end Rahim Alem said. "It's big for us because we've got to win this one if we're trying to make it to Atlanta. It's probably the biggest game of our season right now coming up."
Pittman, one of the few remaining players on the team that played for Saban, still has an admiration for his old coach and the job he's done there in such a short period of time.
"He's done a great job," Pittman said. "He's turned the program around from last season. This year they're undefeated and the No. 1 team in the country. He's a great coach and he's great at what he does. He does a really good job of getting his guys ready to play and what they're doing right now really shows that a lot. He's a really great coach."
The prospect of facing Alabama also brings a smile to the face of both Beckwith and Alem because of the Crimson Tide's preferred mode of operation. After a schedule full of spread, shotgun teams the Tigers realize there's only one way the Tide like to move and that's straight ahead behind a powerful offensive line and capable running game.
"It's old school football with them," Beckwith said. "They're not going to do anything fancy. We'll just have to line up and stop them man on man."
Said Alem, "The game plan's going to be simple. It isn't going to be too much thinking. It's going to be football like you've been playing all your life. Simple game plan. No trickey. Just who's better."
Pittman appeared ready to step back onto the field the more he thought about Saturday's upcoming game.
"You have the No. 1 team in the country coming into Death Valley. ? it doesn't get much better than that," Pittman said. "We're going to be well prepared. We know the coaches are going to do a good job of getting us ready to play. You can expect our best next weekend. It's going to be a dogfight."
Not even the usual low-keyed Beckwith could hold back the ramifications of LSU's next game.
"It would mean great things for us," Beckwith said. "This win would put us over the edge in our season. I'm going to be honest. If we get this win we'll be straight for the rest of the year. It's a must win and we'll be challenged by our coaches as a must win. It's plain and simple."
This quote is interesting :
Not exactly sure what this means:shrug: , but it sounds like we should fade LSU next week win or, more likely, lose against Bama.
TigerBait.com Managing Editor
Want an idea of just how LSU's players are viewing Saturday's 2:30 p.m. matchup with No. 1 Alabama?
There's more than a few storylines brewing this week as Nick Saban and Bama come to Death Valley
Try this sampling from senior middle linebacker Darry Beckwith, typically one of the most reserved interviews on the team.
"It's beyond a big game," Beckwith said following Saturday's 35-10 win over Tulane. "Ole Saint Nick's coming back. It's going to be special."
Said sixth-year defensive end Kirston Pittman, "We're going to be amped up," Pittman said. "The entire team's going to be excited about this game. We're celebrating the win right now but there's talk in the locker room already."
There was plenty of rhetoric before the season when the subject turned to Alabama's visit to Tiger Stadium on Nov. 8.
At the heart of the conversation was the much anticipated return of second year Alabama football coach Nick Saban to Tiger Stadium for the first time as a college coach after guiding LSU to 48-16 record over five seasons, including the 2003 BCS national championship. Saban brought the Miami Dolphins into Baton Rouge in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina forced the New Orleans Saints to play some of their home games in Baton Rouge.
But this will be totally different and the players realize it.
"It would mean a lot to me," Beckwith said of a win over Saban. "He recruited me coming out high school and he left right before I signed so I kind of know him and have a nice relationship with him. It's going to be a fun game and the atmosphere's going to be crazy. I'm looking forward to it."
Now add to that smoldering pot of emotions an Alabama team that's 9-0 and ranked as the nation's No. 1 ranking after previously No. 1 Texas was upset Saturday in the final second of play by Texas Tech.
Couple that scenario with an LSU team (6-2) still harboring thoughts of a return trip to the Southeastern Conference game in Atlanta. Standing right there in the thick of the path is the Western Division leading Crimson Tide with a 5-0 league mark compared to the Tigers' 3-2.
"It's a big game," LSU junior defensive end Rahim Alem said. "It's big for us because we've got to win this one if we're trying to make it to Atlanta. It's probably the biggest game of our season right now coming up."
Pittman, one of the few remaining players on the team that played for Saban, still has an admiration for his old coach and the job he's done there in such a short period of time.
"He's done a great job," Pittman said. "He's turned the program around from last season. This year they're undefeated and the No. 1 team in the country. He's a great coach and he's great at what he does. He does a really good job of getting his guys ready to play and what they're doing right now really shows that a lot. He's a really great coach."
The prospect of facing Alabama also brings a smile to the face of both Beckwith and Alem because of the Crimson Tide's preferred mode of operation. After a schedule full of spread, shotgun teams the Tigers realize there's only one way the Tide like to move and that's straight ahead behind a powerful offensive line and capable running game.
"It's old school football with them," Beckwith said. "They're not going to do anything fancy. We'll just have to line up and stop them man on man."
Said Alem, "The game plan's going to be simple. It isn't going to be too much thinking. It's going to be football like you've been playing all your life. Simple game plan. No trickey. Just who's better."
Pittman appeared ready to step back onto the field the more he thought about Saturday's upcoming game.
"You have the No. 1 team in the country coming into Death Valley. ? it doesn't get much better than that," Pittman said. "We're going to be well prepared. We know the coaches are going to do a good job of getting us ready to play. You can expect our best next weekend. It's going to be a dogfight."
Not even the usual low-keyed Beckwith could hold back the ramifications of LSU's next game.
"It would mean great things for us," Beckwith said. "This win would put us over the edge in our season. I'm going to be honest. If we get this win we'll be straight for the rest of the year. It's a must win and we'll be challenged by our coaches as a must win. It's plain and simple."
This quote is interesting :
Not exactly sure what this means:shrug: , but it sounds like we should fade LSU next week win or, more likely, lose against Bama.
