2theadvocate.com | LSU Sports | Countdown to Showdown: 13 Days

By JOE MACALUSO AND JAY MARTIN
Advocate staff
Published: Dec 26, 2007

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MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM 2007

Jones turns Tide with sack

Chad Jones was a question mark at LSU since the day he signed the National Letter of Intent in February.

Drafted by the Houston Astros, and considered among the top high school baseball players in the country, LSU’s coaching staff had their fingers crossed that the Astros wouldn’t come up with the big bonus Jones and his dad Al Jones Sr. wanted.

Jones came on campus with star potential, a Parade All-American ranked the top safety prospect in the country out of Southern Lab in Baton Rouge.

In August, a couple of weeks after opening preseason camp, school started and the younger Jones was in class.

No Astros now: He was a fully striped Tiger. His defensive end brother Rahim Alem, nee Al Jones Jr., already had his stripes and was battling for the starting spot.

Though a freshman, Chad Jones knew about Alabama. He knew about ’Bama’s new coach Nick Saban, too. He knew beating the Crimson Tide on their home field in the ninth game of the season was key to the Tigers’ first goal, winning the SEC West Division.

No revenge, he said. Just win.

That issue on Nov. 3 was in doubt in the closing minutes: The Tigers, already dubbed the Cardiac Kids for their comeback wins against Florida and Auburn — there was the three overtime loss to Kentucky, too — needed another fourth-quarter spurt.

Alabama, down 17-7 early in the second quarter, made the most of LSU mistakes for a 20-17 halftime lead that went to 34-27 midway through the final period.

A Matt Flynn-to-Early Doucet 32-yard scoring strike got the Tigers even with 2:49 left.

Not another overtime!

At the ’Bama 30, the third-and-12 plan was to use six defensive backs. The blitz call came: Jones knew the play.

The hole opened by the defensive line gave Jones a clear shot at QB John Parker Wilson. Jones’ second sack spun Wilson and when Wilson came full circle, Jones knocked the ball loose.

Chevis Jackson, coming off the corner, recovered at the Crimson Tide 3.

A couple of plays later, Jacob Hester scored with 1:26 left. Ball game.

In his freshman season, Jones laid claim to the season’s biggest hit.

“The play was there. Anybody could have made that play,” Jones said.

“He’s going to be pretty damn good, man,” LSU coach Les Miles said.

“It’s the best feeling I’ve had as a college football player,” Jones said.

BCS TRIVIA

TODAY’S QUESTION: In the 37 previous BCS bowl games, name the single-game rushing record holder. What school, what game, how many yards?

MONDAY’S QUESTION: Who holds the record for rushing yards in a BCS National Championship Game? How many yards?

Vince Young, QB, Texas, 200 yards, 19 carries, 2006 Rose Bowl. Texas 41, USC 38.

TIGERS’ SCHEDULE

Today: Holidays

Thursday: Back to campus

BUCKEYES’ SCHEDULE

Today: Holidays

Thursday: Back to campus

NOTEBOOK

Football facts and figures

The players, coaches, trainers and managers worked hard to get through the season, the students among them worked hard to get through final exams, then all worked through a week’s worth of early bowl-game preps before taking time off for the Christmas holidays.

The Sports Information departments of both schools worked hard, too.

Christmas is about sharing, and it’s time to share some of the work compiled by the SIDs of the two schools readying themselves for the BCS showdown.

n LSU will be making its fourth trip to a BCS bowl game, and is 3-0 in its previous BCS games all in the Sugar Bowl. The Tigers defeated Illinois 47-34, Oklahoma 21-14 for its most recent national championship after the 2003 season, then Notre Dame 41-14 last season.

n With the BCS championship game in the Superdome, it means all four of LSU’s BCS games will have been played in New Orleans.

n LSU went 6-2 this season against teams participating in bowl games. It had wins over Virginia Tech (Orange Bowl; Mississippi State (Liberty Bowl); Florida (Capital One Bowl); Auburn (Chick-fil-A Bowl); Alabama (Independence Bowl); and, Tennessee (Outback Bowl). The two losses came against Kentucky (Music City Bowl) and Arkansas (Cotton Bowl).

n The trip to the BCS title game is a school-record eighth consecutive trip to a bowl game.

n LSU goes into the Ohio State game having scored at least 21 points in every game this year, the first team in school history to accomplish that feat.

n This is the first season when LSU has scored 40 or more points in at least seven games.

n LSU is ranked No. 5 in the nation in turnover margin, at a plus-1.38 average per game.

n This is the first time LSU has won at least 10 games in three-straight seasons.

n It’s the first time in school history with six wins against teams ranked in the Top 25 during the regular season.

n Ohio State has won at least 10 games in five of head coach Jim Tressel’s seven seasons at OSU.

n Ohio State has won 30 of its last 32 games.

n This will be Ohio State’s third BCS championship appearance under Tressel.

n The Buckeyes lead the nation in scoring defense, pass defense and total defense.

n The Buckeyes have scored at least one touchdown in their last 138 games.

n Ohio State scored on its opening drive in nine games this season.

n Tressel is 73-15 in seven years at Ohio State; 208-72-2 in 22 years as a head coach.

n Ohio State is the only Big 10 school to play in the national championship game since the BCS inception in 1998.

BREAKING DOWN THE SHOWDOWN

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

DARRY BECKWITH

6-1, 230, Jr.

Baton Rouge

Linebacker in the mold of other top Baton Rouge prep linebackers like Moonie Winston, George Bevan, Mike Anderson, Warren Capone, Albert Richardson … starred on special teams in 2005 true freshman season … moved from outside linebacker to inside in the middle of the 2006 season … team’s second leading tackler in 2006 … first career interception in win over Tennessee … big 2006 game nine tackles against Arizona … fourth leading tackle this season … top game 12 tackles vs. Kentucky … key interception in SEC title game … first-team Coaches All-SEC … had arthroscopic surgery in early November

CAREER: 35 games, 136 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, 10 1/2 tackles for losses

“We play with a sense of urgency.”

Darry Beckwith

JAMES LAURINAITIS

6-3, 240, Jr.,

Hamel, Minn.

Follows in the footsteps of big-time Buckeyes linebackers like A.J. Hawk, Andy Katzenmoyer and Chris Spielman … Butkus Award winner for nation’s top LB … finalist for Lombardi, Nagurski & Bednarik awards & Lott Trophy … consensus All-America … Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year … career best 19 tackles in this year’s win over Wisconsin … top player on top defense in country … led or tied for team lead in tackles in 15 or last 24 games … 103 tackles, five sacks, two interceptions this year.

CAREER: 37 games, 227 tackles, 17 1/2 tackles for losses, nine sacks, seven interceptions

“He is that dedicated in his preparation, in his study and in his quest to gain every competitive advantage.”

Luke Fickell, assistant coach


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