NEW ORLEANS – It’s been more than five weeks since the announcement that LSU would face Alabama for the BCS National Championship. That wait, which must have seemed like an eternity for the players and coaches of both teams, comes to an end tonight when one of the most anticipated and hyped BCS Championship Games takes place here at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Kickoff between these two Southeastern Conference Western Division rivals is slated for 7:30 p.m. CT in what will be the first BCS National Championship Game between teams from the same league, let alone the same division.
ESPN, ESPN3.com and ESPN-3D will televise the game with Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the call.
Jim Hawthorne of the LSU Sports Radio Network will be calling his third national title football game for the Tigers. He will be joined on the broadcast by two former Tigers – Doug Moreau and Gordy Rush. Moreau will analyze the game, while Rush will bring the sideline adjustments and view from the field to the listening audience.
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BCS GameDay Info #1 LSU vs. #2 Alabama Ticket Will Call will open at Gate H ticket windows on the plaza level of the Superdome from noon CT until the end of the 1st Quarter. | More Info LSU will wear white jerseys and will occupy the sideline adjacent to the press box. TV: ESPN (National) Kickoff: 7:37 p.m. CST (Dome) Driving Directions (Baton Rouge to New Orleans, La. — 81 mi.; 1h, 22m) |
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“New Orleans is a fabulous city and it’s been a great week for our team and our fans,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “Our team owes a real debt of gratitude to our fans and to the way that they have traveled here to New Orleans and supported this team.
“There is a real energy on our team right now. They are excited and they are ready to play.”
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LSU brings a perfect 13-0 mark as the Tigers have won all but one contest by double-figures this year. LSU beat Alabama, 9-6 in overtime, on Nov. 5 in what was the only contest this season that the Tigers didn’t win by at least 10 points. LSU has trailed at the conclusion of just four quarters all season and they’ve been down at halftime only one time, which came against Georgia in the SEC title game.
LSU has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for a school-record 11-consecutive polls, a stretch that dates back to the Sunday following the win over West Virginia (Sept. 24).
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Since trailing Arkansas 14-0 and Georgia 10-0 during the final two games of the season, LSU roared back to outscore those two opponents, 83-7, to win both contests convincingly.
Alabama, ranked No. 2 in the nation, is 11-1 overall with its only loss come to the Tigers in Tuscaloosa.
The first meeting between these two teams, dubbed the “Game of the Century” by the media and fans, featured a total of 15 points and no touchdowns. It took a Drew Alleman field goal in overtime to determine the winner of the game that many of the participants called the most physical contest that they have ever played in.
There are no guarantees about what tonight’s game will bring, however, one thing is for sure – the nation’s top two defenses will be on display. Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (8.8), total defense (191.2), rush defense (74.9) and pass defense (116.3). The Tigers are second in three of the four categories, which include allowing just 10.5 points and 252.1 total yards per game.
Offensively, LSU has a much different look than the team that faced the Crimson Tide in November. Jordan Jefferson, who was still working his way back into the lineup after an early season suspension, has taken over at quarterback for the Tigers. Jefferson, who is a dual threat to run or pass, will become the first quarterback in school history to start four bowl games when he takes the field tonight.
In three career games against Alabama, Jefferson has thrown for 322 yards and two touchdowns and added another 86 rushing yards.
In addition to Jefferson, junior center P.J. Lonergan missed most of the first game between the teams with a lower leg injury and guard Josh Williford played at less than full strength after getting hurt just before halftime. Both players are back at 100 percent making the Tiger offensive line the healthiest its been since the start of the season.
Perhaps the biggest difference for the Tigers has been the emergence of freshman running back Kenny Hilliard, who had a breakout game with three touchdowns and 72 rushing yards against Georgia in the league title contest. Since carrying just twice for two yards in the first meeting between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide, Hilliard has become one of LSU’s featured backs, rushing for 223 yards and four scores over the past three games.
“We have a different look and feel on offense,” Miles said of the first meeting between the Tigers and Tide. “Kenny Hilliard is in the flow and our offensive line is health. Plus, Jordan is more ready to play four quarters than the last time we played this team.
Defensively, the Tigers seemed to have improved with each week and they capped the season by playing their best football of the season. Led by Heisman Trophy finalist and National Defensive Player of the Year in cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers have scored five defensive TDs and a league-high 37 sacks this year.
Other defensive standouts for LSU include cornerback Morris Claiborne, the 2011 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, who leads the nation in interception return yards (173), All-America defensive end Sam Montgomery (13.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks), and Barkevious Mingo (13.5 TFL, 7.0 sacks) and defensive tackles Bennie Logan (51 tackles, 5.0 TFL) and Michael Brockers (47 tackles, 9.5 TFL).
LSU, which hasn’t allowed a point in the fourth quarter since the first meeting between the teams, will have to stop running back Trent Richardson in order to have success tonight. Richardson, also a Heisman finalist, is a bruising runner who is expected to carry the ball at least 30 times in tonight’s game.
Offensively, the Tigers are going to attack Alabama with its four-headed monster at running back – Spencer Ware, Michael Ford, Alfred Blue and Hilliard – while also using the legs and arm of Jefferson. For the first time in school history, LSU has four running backs with at least seven rushing TD’s and, for the first time since 1997, the Tigers have three backs with at least 500 rushing yards.
Ford, who rushed for 72 yards earlier this year against Alabama, leads the group with 755 yards and seven TD’s, followed by Ware (700 yards/8 TD’s), Blue (539/7) and Hilliard (320/8).
When the Tigers go to the air, Jefferson’s top targets have been Rueben Randle (50 rec., 904 yards, 8 TD’s) and freshman Odell Beckham Jr. (36-437/2).
Jefferson has accounted for 684 passing yards and six TD’s with another 133 yards and a TD coming on the ground. He’s the only quarterback in school history to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a career. Jefferson will be backed up by senior Jarrett Lee, who leads the Tigers in passing with 1,306 yards and 14 scores.
The final phase of the game is that of special teams, an area that LSU has thrived this year. Punter Brad Wing earned All-America status after averaging 44.1 yards a punt, while Drew Alleman has connected on 16-of-18 field goals in his first year as LSU’s starting placekicker. The Tigers have also thrived in the return game, scoring twice on punt returns and once on a kickoff. LSU has allowed a measly six punt return yards all season, best in the nation.
“We are going to do the things that we’ve done to get to this point,” Miles said. “We are going to have play well in all three phases and take care of the football in order to have success. We’ve worked long and hard to get to this point. Now it’s time to go play. I can’t wait to take this team to the field.
“I’m very fortunate to be the coach of this team, a group of young men who came to work every day with the goal of being a champion. They saw the path that they had to take to get here today. Now it’s time to go play. Have fun, trust our preparation and play like a Tiger. This is a great day for LSU and I’m so proud to the coach of this team.”