One more day until the LSU game and many of us have started engaging their fans in tailgating debates about how and why we will win this year. We know they are coming off a huge loss to Auburn and may produce a deflated team on the field. We know history is on our side. But, will these variables produce a win for the Crimson Tide?
We do know that Greg McElroy, our affable quarterback, loves playing at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. When asked about his love for LSU's stadium, he commented:
"Most people would agree that Tiger Stadium is the best. It's crazy. It's rowdy. The fans are into it. All the little cheers where they throw their hands up ... all that stuff is so cool. Their band is awesome and it's just such a fun experience to go play there.''
Historically speaking, why wouldn't an Alabama quarterback love Tiger Stadium? The Crimson Tide boasts an impressive 24-6-2 overall record when playing in LSU's stadium that essentially debunks the myth of home field advantage. Tomorrow, McElroy will get his first start in Death Valley. Tomorrow, he leads a supporting cast that hold a record of their own against the Tigers: two wins in two years against the Bayou Bengals. Convincing enough?
Well, we know all too well that past records have little application when applied to game time situations. So to gain a more adequate reading of how the Tide will perform tomorrow, we must go to the game film to study our 2010 LSU opponent. Many of us might look at LSU's trouble with Auburn this year as proof to discount the efficiency of the Tiger's defense, but Coach Saban avoids making that assumption. In fact, he's not even looking at the game film from the Auburn versus LSU game.
"From our standpoint, we discount it because that's not really our style," Saban said. "That's not something that we would look at and say, 'Wow they'll have difficulty defending those plays against us,' because we don't really have those plays. We don't have that kind of quarterback. We don't have that kind of offense."
Les Miles agrees. "Alabama has a very, very talented offense, but we understand the complexities of Alabama's offense a little bit better than Auburn's," Miles said. "We look forward to stopping tailback runs and Wildcat runs. We won't change our philosophy. ... We are not comfortable going against Alabama's I formation, but we do have pieces in place. What they do makes it a little more traditional for our linebackers and defensive linemen."
So you might want to forget about mentioning the Auburn loss to your LSU friends. Alabama and Auburn have different styles that may produce different results on the field. Do flaunt the history and the record at Tiger Stadium. This year, the atmosphere, the fans, and the struggles will be all too familiar to seasoned Crimson Tide fans. RTR
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