Frenzied LSU fans ready for Saban’s long-awaited return

By David Moorman  |   Tuesday, November 04, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

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As LSU senior linebacker Darry Beckwith put it, “Ole Saint Nick” is returning to Tiger Stadium. The coach LSU fans love to hate will be in their midst again when the Tigers entertain the undefeated and No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

Commentary: The Tiger faithful wasn’t so upset that Saban left LSU after five years to take over the Miami Dolphins. It was Saban’s decision two years later to rejoin the Southeastern Conference Western Division with hated rival Alabama that rankled LSU supporters

Saban’s successor, Les Miles, has done extremely well in three-plus years with the Tigers, even winning last season’s BCS national championship. Still, Saban’s decision sticks in people’s craw. The game will mark Saban's first return to Tiger Stadium since leaving LSU after the 2004 season.

The media have built the showdown as a Miles-versus-Saban matchup, and fans have been only too happy to look at it that way. Unfortunately for the Tigers, Saban has Alabama playing more like national champions than his counterpart at LSU, where attrition is finally taking its toll.

The more demands put upon LSU redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee, the worse he has become. In a sloppy 35-10 victory over the woeful Tulane Green Wave last week, Lee had his third interception in two games returned for a touchdown.

He was knocked woozy on the play but later returned, which is a good thing for the Tigers, who can ill afford to lose another quarterback.

Sophomore backup Andrew Hatch missed the game with a lower leg injury sustained the week before against Georgia. Miles delayed announcement of the injury with a press release issued after his weekly press conference. Hatch isn’t expected to play again this week.

That leaves true freshman Jordan Jefferson as Lee’s understudy. Jefferson played briefly against Tulane, but it’s hardly enough to get him ready for the likes of Saban’s intricate defense.

LSU fans remember how masterful Saban was at disguising defenses during his five-year reign that included the 2003 BCS national title. Alabama is likely to have a field day against young quarterbacks such as Lee and Jefferson.

Saban is a maser at coaching the secondary, whose strength allows his teams to blitz with effectiveness. LSU’s leaky secondary and linebacking corps have limited the Tigers’ defense and led to criticism of Miles, who hired co-defensive coordinators to replace the departed Bo Pelini.

LSU’s offensive salvation has been junior running back Charles Scott, who produced his sixth 100-yard rushing game. Scott churned for 114 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries against Tulane, all in the first half.

He might be able to keep Alabama’s defense off-balance, while the frenzied home-field crowd spurs to the LSU defense to untold heights. That’s the only way for the unlikely upset to happen.

Fan Pulse: Since the day Alabama announced it was hiring Saban, memorabilia deriding Saban has circulated throughout Louisiana. Those who sell such items should make a fortune this week.

Injury Update: Hatch appears to be out for the game. Scott said his once-tender ankle has completely healed.
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About David Moorman

Dave Moormann is an award-winning journalist, who has covered LSU athletics since 1980. He began his coverage with the Baton Rouge Advocate, where he was a writer and editor from 1980-98. In 1996, he authored a book on the history of LSU football entitled, "Fighting Tigers Handbook: Stories, Stats...
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