Countdown to Showdown: 17 Days
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The%20LSU%20Geology%20Department%20must%20have%20had%20the%20night%20off.%20Or,%20somebody%20turned%20off%20the%20seismometer.%20
In%201988,%20when%20Tommy%20Hodson%20hit %20Eddie%20Fuller%20with%20a%20pass%20into%20the%20end%20zone%20to%20beat%20Auburn%207-6,%20the%20eruption%20from%20Tiger%20Stadi" target="_new">
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MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM 2007
Auburn beaten by Byrd
The LSU Geology Department must have had the night off. Or, somebody turned off the seismometer.
In 1988, when Tommy Hodson hit Eddie Fuller with a pass into the end zone to beat Auburn 7-6, the eruption from Tiger Stadium registered on the low end of the Richter Scale.
No way the Oct. 20 Matt Flynn-to-Demetrius Byrd, one-second-left touchdown pass didn’t make something stir across campus from Tiger Stadium.
If LSU 30, Auburn 24 didn’t set off the same machines that marked the 1988 matchup “The Earthquake Game,” it definitely stirred LSU’s embers in the hotbed of college football.
LSU was a week removed from a three-overtime loss to Kentucky, and it looked like Auburn was ready to douse the Tigers’ fire for good.
Auburn went up 24-23 with 3:21 left and squibbed the kickoff to keep the ball away from LSU’s dangerous returner Trindon Holliday.
LSU had the ball at its 42. Flynn scrambled twice for 18 yards and backup tailback Richard Murphy converted on a third-and-3 in the game-winning drive.
A pass to the Auburn 22 with 45 seconds left and it looked like a 39-yard field goal try was the call to win the game.
On the way back to the huddle, Byrd signaled to offensive coordinator Gary Crowton in the press box.
“They were playing ‘man’ coverage and there was no help over the top (from a safety),” Byrd explained. “I raised my hand up for Coach Crowton to see and, when the play was called in the huddle, I said to myself, ‘Man, I’ve got to make this play. I’ve got to get open.’”
LSU broke its huddle and by the time Flynn and Byrd confirmed the coverage the snap came with 8 seconds left.
Byrd could give Flynn a small window of an opening and the senior quarterback was on the mark.
Byrd caught the ball with 4 seconds left, fell in the end zone with 3 seconds left and by the time the officials raised their hands, there was 1 second showing.
And the rambling, scrambling, gambling reputation the LSU Tigers gained in the fourth-quarter comeback win over Florida added another dimension.
LSU was back on the winning side heading into the only open week on its schedule. Alabama was on the horizon.
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:
2theadvocate.com's Countdown to the Showdown Archive
BCS TRIVIA
TODAY’S QUESTION: In the previous 37 BCS bowl games, name the quarterback with the most passes attempted, the opponent and the bowl game.
THURSDAY’S QUESTION: Including this year’s games, which conference has sent more teams to BCS bowl games?
The Big Ten, 17 (Ohio State 6, Michigan 4, Wisconsin 2, Illinois 2, Penn State 1, Purdue 1, Iowa 1). The SEC is second with 15.
TIGERS’ SCHEDULE
Today: Practice
Saturday: Practice
BUCKEYES’ SCHEDULE
Today: Practice.
Saturday: Practice.
NOTEBOOK
Friends, rivals and the big game
When it comes to the New Orleans Saints locker room, former LSU wide receiver Devery Henderson is outnumbered two to one by Ohio State Buckeyes.
When he reports to work, Henderson walks right past the locker of long snapper Kevin Houser and sits across the room from former Buckeyes All-America defensive end Will Smith. It’s a great time to be from LSU or Ohio State. But in the Saints locker room, it’s quiet, probably because the Saints are making a final push to reach the playoffs. But that will change soon enough.
WIDE RECEIVER DEVERY HENDERSON
Henderson, as most LSU and Saints fans know, is a man of few words. So it’s not surprising he’s been quiet since the BCS national championship pairing was announced.
“There hasn’t been a lot of talking, but I see it coming,” a smiling Henderson said. “It’ll soon be here.”
Henderson spends more time reflecting on the Tigers’ journey to the BCS title game and his own experience of playing in the Superdome on the night of Jan. 4, 2004 — when LSU won its first national football title in 45 years.
“Just making it to that game is a big accomplishment because you know how hard it is,” he said. “We just took it one game at a time and wound up there. You want to see your team make it again and I’m just so proud that within a four-year window they’re right back at it.
“This year’s team did a great job. They did what they were supposed to do even though they let a couple of games slip away from them, but everything played out. I think they’re ready and will do a good job. I’ll put my money on LSU.”
DEFENSIVE END WILL SMITH
Smith predicted in early November that his beloved Ohio State and LSU would meet in the title game. Smith, the Saints’ top draft pick in 2004, became an LSU fan shortly after moving to south Louisiana.
"I have to be an LSU fan; I live here,” Smith said. “All my neighbors are LSU fans and you start to watch them. I really respect the way they play the game, and throughout the time I have been here I’ve become an LSU fan.
“But my heart lies with the Buckeyes, and now that they’re facing LSU, I have to go where my heart is. You go with the team you played for. I grew up watching Ohio State on TV and always wanted to be a part of that, and now I get to see those guys go out and battle a tough team like LSU for the national title.”
So, is there any trash-talking going on with Henderson?
“Devery hasn’t been talking,” Smith said with a laugh. “I think he doesn’t know what’s going to happen yet, so he hasn’t come out of his shell.”
BREAKING DOWN THE SHOWDOWN
WIDE RECEIVER
DEMETRIUS BYRD
6-2, 195 Jr.
Miami
First-year signee out of Pearl River Junior College … among 2006’s top junior college receivers with 45 catches, 730 yards, 5 TDs … played in JUCO national championship last season … 2007’s big play last-second TD catch in 30-24 win over Auburn … biggest game, 6 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD vs. Alabama … team’s third leading receiver … filled in for loss of first-round draft picks Dwayne Bowe and Buster Davis.
CAREER: 33 catches, 593 yards, 7 TDs
“The way we ended up in the national championship I really look at it like it was meant to be for us. We are blessed.”
-- Demetrius Byrd
BRIAN HARTLINE
6-3, 180, Soph.
North Canton, Ohio
Filled in spot left by loss of first-round draft picks Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzales … played in 13 games in 2006 redshirt freshman season … finished 2006 with 17 receptions, 256 yards, 2 TDs … looks smaller but plays bigger than 6-3 … best 2007 game, 7 catches, 95 yards vs. Wisconsin … team’s second-leading receiver this year with 46 catches for 619 yards, 5 TDs.
CAREER: 63 catches, 875 yards, 7 TDs
“If you pass him on the street, you’d think he’s a punter.”
-- James Laurinaitis, Ohio State linebacker
Monday, Dec 31, 2007
12:33 AM