2theadvocate.com | LSU Sports | Countdown to Showdown: 19 Days

By JOE MACALUSO AND JAY MARTIN
Advocate staff
Published: Dec 19, 2007

MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM 2007

Chop block drops Dorsey

There’s always something when LSU and Auburn square off on a football field.

The “Earthquake Game,” an on-campus fire caught by TV cameras, victory cigars — remember them?

Last year, at Auburn, it was final-minutes, pass interference call, then no call in Auburn’s 7-3 win.

OK, so that one-second-left-on-the-clock Matt Flynn-to-Demetrius Byrd TD pass meant LSU had a 30-24 win this season.

Still, the celebration didn’t erase a third-quarter play ESPN ran over and over: The Chop Block.

And, because the illegal block was made on LSU All-America defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the play riveted the attention of coaches, fans and the SEC office. The play was more spurious because it put Dorsey on the bench with an injured right knee for the rest of the game, and at that point, maybe the rest of the season.

Auburn tackle Lee Ziemba took Dorsey’s surge off the snap. Ziemba was high on Dorsey, around chest level when Auburn guard Chaz Ramsey lunged at the side of Dorsey’s right leg.

Bent backwards by the combination of blocks, Dorsey, writhing in pain, went to the turf.

Injuries like this to defensive linemen was the reason why the “chop block” was declared illegal years ago by the NCAA. When detected, it’s a 15-yard penalty.

Though Dorsey insisted he could play, defensive coordinator Bo Pelini would not let him return.

“It’s important that everybody understand that it’s immoral, that block,” Miles said in his day-after news briefing. “It’s something that should not be tolerated.”

There were apologies: Miles said Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville told him that Ziemba and Ramsey were “sick” and “sorry” about Dorsey’s injury.

“He (Tuberville) expressed to me how unfortunate it was and how both participants were sorry that it happened, however it happened,” Miles said.

Even the SEC office got into the act: “The commissioner (Mike Slive) feels that there should have been a penalty called on the play,” SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom said.

By the following Monday, Miles said he hoped Dorsey’s injury was minimal and said the season’s only open date would help.

Still, Dorsey nursed his right knee for the next four games. With limited mobility, Dorsey’s tackles for losses — he had 12 through the first 10 games — dropped off to nothing in the last three games of the season.

LSU vs. Auburn — there’s always something.

Vote for the most memorable moment of 2007

Advocate sportswriters have selected 20 memorable moments from LSU’s march to the BCS Championship Game, from the 45-0 win over Mississippi State through the 21-14 SEC Championship Game victory over Tennessee. This series will run through Jan. 1 when readers will be able to go to The Advocate’s Web site — http://www.2theadvocate.com — and vote on their most memorable moment of the season. The voting results will be run in Jan. 7 Advocate Sports’ BCS Game Day Special.

The list so far:

Fake field goal vs. South Carolina

Six interceptions vs. Mississippi State

Tigers overwhelm Virginia Tech

LSU unveils special uniforms for Tulane game

Fourth downs trigger win vs. Florida

Mike VI appears in Tiger Stadium

Auburn chop blocks LSU’s Glenn Dorsey

2theadvocate.com's Countdown to the Showdown Archive

BCS TRIVIA

TODAY’S QUESTION: Which school has the most BCS bowl game appearances? What is its record?

TUESDAY’S QUESTION: In nine years of BCS games, which conference has the lowest winning percentage? The ACC, 1-8, .111 winning percentage. The ACC’s lone win came in the 2000 BCS title game, Florida State’s 46-29 win over Virginia Tech.

TIGERS’ SCHEDULE

Today: Practice

Thursday: Practice

BUCKEYES’ SCHEDULE

Today: Practice.

Thursday: Practice.

NOTEBOOK

Coaches look at the game

Finals have been taken: The layoffs are over.

LSU and Ohio State are back at practice, and both coaches, LSU’s Les Miles and Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, have welcomed back their teams to the field, and have opened BCS Championship Game preparations with news conferences.

The teams are just under three weeks away from college football’s biggest showdown.

LSU Head Coach Les Miles

“I think the ability that this team has had to focus is maybe its strength, and I think that they understand that we are playing in a tremendous game.

“What needs to happen is we need to prepare to play in this game, and I think this team has that.

“We understand that we are second ranked in the nation playing the No. 1 team for the opportunity of being No. 1. I think our football team understands that.

“As they look at film they understand that they have to prepare against a quality opponent.

“There is no appreciable mismatch.

“ It is going to be a very competitive game, start to finish, and we have to play well. We understand that.

“I think that is what gives this game such national attention but certainly creates a focus for our players as well.”

Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel

“We get a chance to go and play for the national championship. I think you’ve learned you don’t get to do that much. What an opportunity that is, and you want to do your best. That’s probably the biggest thing.

“It’s exciting for our kids to have a chance to be in New Orleans.

“I think New Orleans grabbed the emotion of our whole country as it battled through its adversity. … Our kids are really looking forward to being in that place they’ve heard so much about, and it happens to be for the national championship, which makes it even greater.

“It’s LSU’s home base, but I guess that’ll make the electricity even stronger. That’s what you hope for. You hope to be in those games that are just full of that electricity.”

BREAKING DOWN THE SHOWDOWN

FULLBACK

QUINN JOHNSON

6-2, 238, Soph.

Edgard

Big play was 9-yard reception on fourth-down punt formation from punter Patrick Fisher to keep drive alive against Tennessee in SEC title game … converted from linebacker to fullback after redshirt freshman year in 2005 … played in 12 games in 2006 with 2 carries for 6 yards … the “blocking” fullback did not have a carry this season, but caught 2 passes for 18 yards … led West St. John to 2003 State 2A title.

"Quinn takes a lot of punishment from opposing teams, never whines and does whatever it takes for our team to be successful."

-- Larry Porter, assistant coach

DIONTE JOHNSON

6-0, 242, Sr.

Columbus, Ohio

Blocking in the I-formation is his forte … had 1 carry this season and 5 (9 yards) in 4-year career … played in 42 games since playing in true freshman season in 2004 … plays special teams, mostly kickoff team … was backup in junior year … son of former N.Y. Giants Pro BowlerPepper” Johnson, current New England Patriots coach … godfather is dad’s former Ohio State All-America teammate Keith Byars.

"The emotion and enthusiasm Dionte brings to the field makes him special."

-- Dick Tressel, assistant coach


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