Special teams decides Game of the Century: No. 1 LSU defeats No. 2 Alabama

[Coach Hank Crisp]

Click here for link

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Streets oozed with pedestrians. Lawns grew into epic tailgates. And fraternity homes lived up to legend.


The Game of the Century?


The partying Saturday in anticipation of the biggest game in this town's history impressed generations of fans while attracting plenty of stars.


Gov. Robert Bentley, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and NBA superstar LeBron James, among others, were here to witness an epic defensive battle decided by special teams.


In overtime, No. 1 LSU defeated No. 2 Alabama 9-6 in a game void of touchdowns and settled by kickers.


Some fans said this had a BCS title game feel to it. That's good, considering Alabama's championship hopes are now at the mercy of the BCS system, and likely the ultimate success or failure of some undefeated teams in other conferences that are likely to leapfrog the Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1 SEC).


"We still have a great opportunity in front of us," Tide center William Vlachos said. "That was a great (LSU) team and our hat is off to them. They beat us tonight and at the same time we can't control our destiny, but we can control what we do from here on out. If we continue to keep the foot on the pedal and get better, I think we have a chance to do something very, very special this season."


LSU is in control not only in the SEC West, but in the battle to reach the BCS national championship game in its backyard.

[BAMAWV]

The central purpose of the BCS is to get a matchup in the NCG of the two very best teams in the country. To ignore the Crimson Tide now is to ignore everything that was said before, during, and after last nights game. Nothing has changed. They are still #1 and #2. Their strengths and weaknesses may be a little better defined today, but the culmination remains by far the very best in the country.

[Chechem]

The central purpose of the BCS is to get a matchup in the NCG of the two very best teams in the country. To ignore the Crimson Tide now is to ignore everything that was said before, during, and after last nights game. Nothing has changed. They are still #1 and #2. Their strengths and weaknesses may be a little better defined today, but the culmination remains by far the very best in the country.

Well said.  But the bottom line is 'nobody outside the SEC wants to see an all-SEC game' in the BCSNC.  Look for the dopes to vote Okie State, Stanford, and probably Okie ahead of us.

[bamalum67]

Last nite I was in a funk and posted some negative thoughts..I am a competitor and hate to lose, but I don't think our team has to take a back seat to anyone..they played their hearts out, and had a few breaks go against them, but hung in there and had a chance to salt the game away until the last. AJM played a great game, as did MM and MB, both playing hurt in the second half. They played the number one team, and outplayed them for most of the game..I still think we are the better teasm, and in a re-match..well, it would be different!

I feel privileged to have seen this game, and to be a fan of a great team and great program.  I applaud the team and the staff.  We have a great season before us to complete..

There is certainly no shame in losing to a great LSU team. And besides what I said last nite, I hope LSU goes to the NC and beats the dogcrap out of whoever they play showing that the SEC is THE BEST conference!

[Chechem]

Last nite I was in a funk and posted some negative thoughts..I am a competitor and hate to lose, but I don't think our team has to take a back seat to anyone..they played their hearts out, and had a few breaks go against them, but hung in there and had a chance to salt the game away until the last. AJM played a great game, as did MM and MB, both playing hurt in the second half. They played the number one team, and outplayed them for most of the game..I still think we are the better teasm, and in a re-match..well, it would be different!

I feel privileged to have seen this game, and to be a fan of a great team and great program.  I applaud the team and the staff.  We have a great season before us to complete..

There is certainly no shame in losing to a great LSU team. And besides what I said last nite, I hope LSU goes to the NC and beats the dogcrap out of whoever they play showing that the SEC is THE BEST conference!

Classy.  e-cred.

[Jamos]

Special teams is the part of Bama's game that everyone knowledgeable of Bama football feared the most coming into this season. For the most part, kick coverages had shown a big improvement this season but everyone was still talking about Bama's punting and kicking capability had not being as good as it should be.

Well, it reared it's ugly head last night and basically was the reason Bama lost the game. The punting was not so much a factor as was the field goal kickers and then the huge mistake by Maze as he watched that crucial punt sail over his head late in the game with little or no effort to retrieve the ball. He complained the ball hit a camera cable but that is no excuse, he hardly moved backwards as the ball sailed over his head and then watched as it was downed inside of Bama's 20 yard line.

My hope is that Bama will put more emphasis on getting better kickers after this season or get a better coach for them, or maybe do both. The special teams problem is something that didn't just happened this year, it has been there pretty much as long as CNS has been the coach of Bama and it may have coast Alabama a national championship. JMO

[SUPERCOACH]

Special teams is the part of Bama's game that everyone knowledgeable of Bama football feared the most coming into this season. For the most part, kick coverages had shown a big improvement this season but everyone was still talking about Bama's punting and kicking capability had not being as good as it should be.

Well, it reared it's ugly head last night and basically was the reason Bama lost the game. The punting was not so much a factor as was the field goal kickers and then the huge mistake by Maze as he watched that crucial punt sail over his head late in the game with little or no effort to retrieve the ball. He complained the ball hit a camera cable but that is no excuse, he hardly moved backwards as the ball sailed over his head and then watched as it was downed inside of Bama's 20 yard line.

My hope is that Bama will put more emphasis on getting better kickers after this season or get a better coach for them, or maybe do both. The special teams problem is something that didn't just happened this year, it has been there pretty much as long as CNS has been the coach of Bama and it may have coast Alabama a national championship. JMO

You nailed it J.  Maybe we can find a kicker with his very own golden horseshoe.    I wonder if Jessie has any mates that can kick the ball.

[XBAMA]

I thought Cade Foster  was  one of the highly sought after kickers in the nation
wasn't he rated like # 2 or 3 out of High School ?

[SUPERCOACH]

I thought Cade Foster  was  one of the highly sought after kickers in the nation
wasn't he rated like # 2 or 3 out of High School ?

Yes.  I have no idea what happened to him.

I was watching the Kentucky/Ole Miss game yesterday.  UK kicked the ball 5 yards deep into the end zone on the one kickoff that I saw.

[XBAMA]

I looked it up Coach  #3 rated ... Click here for link

Cade Foster is an American football placekicker for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Foster was considered one of the best placekickers of his class.

Foster attended Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, where he made 38-of-48 field goals during his high school career. He also started at middle linebacker and finished with 106 tackles, including six tackles for loss and six sacks. Foster was a four-star prospect by Scout.com and its No. 3-rated kicker in the 2010 class.[2] He also played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Game.

As a freshman in 2010, Foster made 7-of-9 field goals and 7-of-7 extra points; his misses were from 44 and 54 yards.[3] Foster, a former linebacker, made 9 special teams tackles and 1 forced fumbles.

Against #1 LSU in 2011, Cade missed 3 of 4 field goals, with 2 short and 1 shanked.

Most famous for missing 4 FG's at BDS allowing LSU to reamain unbeaten, and knocking Alabama out of a BCS run.

[Marshal Dillon]

I looked it up Coach  #3 rated ... Click here for link

Cade Foster is an American football placekicker for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Foster was considered one of the best placekickers of his class.

Foster attended Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas, where he made 38-of-48 field goals during his high school career. He also started at middle linebacker and finished with 106 tackles, including six tackles for loss and six sacks. Foster was a four-star prospect by Scout.com and its No. 3-rated kicker in the 2010 class.[2] He also played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Game.

As a freshman in 2010, Foster made 7-of-9 field goals and 7-of-7 extra points; his misses were from 44 and 54 yards.[3] Foster, a former linebacker, made 9 special teams tackles and 1 forced fumbles.

Against #1 LSU in 2011, Cade missed 3 of 4 field goals, with 2 short and 1 shanked.

Most famous for missing 4 FG's at BDS allowing LSU to reamain unbeaten, and knocking Alabama out of a BCS run.

What a cheap shot! You don't ask a player to do something he can't do. It's obvious he can't kick 50 yard field goals, but Saban had him try twice, just like Saban had our "short" field goal kicker try a 50 yarder. Is that Foster's fault, too. Plus, why hasn't Saban recruited a kicker who can kick the ball into the end zone on kick-offs? Is that Foster's fault? Who called those two trick plays that blew up in our face, Foster or Saban? Who's paid $4 million a year, Foster or Saban? Saban lost the game more than anyone, just like last years Auburn and LSU game.

[Jamos]

You are wrong when you say that he can't kick 50 yd field goals. I know for a fact he has good success in practice kicking from that distance but we all know that practice and game time are two different things. Personally I think it has become a mental problem for him as is in many cases for athletes.

I can assure you CNS would not ask him to do anything that he isn't capable of doing especailly when the national championship is on the line.

[SUPERCOACH]

You are wrong when you say that he can't kick 50 yd field goals. I know for a fact he has good success in practice kicking from that distance but we all know that practice and game time are two different things. Personally I think it has become a mental problem for him as is in many cases for athletes.

I can assure you CNS would not ask him to do anything that he isn't capable of doing especailly when the national championship is on the line.

Good point.  I kind of got the impression that we kept going to him as a way to kind of drag him out of the funk kicking and screaming until he decided to settle down and start making them, or at least getting a solid attempt.

I did notice that when they are about to snap the ball, every time he looks to his right instead of where the holder is going to put the ball.  I even thought he was looking at the coaches one time to see if they were going to make some sort of audible call at the last minute.  I know it isn't likely, but I couldn't figure out what he was looking at.  Then when the ball is snapped he looks around just as he begins his approach.  I wonder if this is to blame for the misses.

[Jamos]

You are wrong when you say that he can't kick 50 yd field goals. I know for a fact he has good success in practice kicking from that distance but we all know that practice and game time are two different things. Personally I think it has become a mental problem for him as is in many cases for athletes.

I can assure you CNS would not ask him to do anything that he isn't capable of doing especailly when the national championship is on the line.

Good point.  I kind of got the impression that we kept going to him as a way to kind of drag him out of the funk kicking and screaming until he decided to settle down and start making them, or at least getting a solid attempt.

I did notice that when they are about to snap the ball, every time he looks to his right instead of where the holder is going to put the ball.  I even thought he was looking at the coaches one time to see if they were going to make some sort of audible call at the last minute.  I know it isn't likely, but I couldn't figure out what he was looking at.  Then when the ball is snapped he looks around just as he begins his approach.  I wonder if this is to blame for the misses.

I've seen him hit from 60 yds out at practice and the ones he missed had the distance. You may have a point about him looking off, there might have been a fake in the works if LSU had lined up in a certain way, just guessing on that.

He reminds me of myself playing golf, I'm sitting out there at a distance where an easy 3 iron is the shot to make but no, I swing very hard at it to make sure I get it there and duff the ball. It's all a mental game.

[SUPERCOACH]

You are wrong when you say that he can't kick 50 yd field goals. I know for a fact he has good success in practice kicking from that distance but we all know that practice and game time are two different things. Personally I think it has become a mental problem for him as is in many cases for athletes.

I can assure you CNS would not ask him to do anything that he isn't capable of doing especailly when the national championship is on the line.

Good point.  I kind of got the impression that we kept going to him as a way to kind of drag him out of the funk kicking and screaming until he decided to settle down and start making them, or at least getting a solid attempt.

I did notice that when they are about to snap the ball, every time he looks to his right instead of where the holder is going to put the ball.  I even thought he was looking at the coaches one time to see if they were going to make some sort of audible call at the last minute.  I know it isn't likely, but I couldn't figure out what he was looking at.  Then when the ball is snapped he looks around just as he begins his approach.  I wonder if this is to blame for the misses.

I've seen him hit from 60 yds out at practice and the ones he missed had the distance. You may have a point about him looking off, there might have been a fake in the works if LSU had lined up in a certain way, just guessing on that.

He reminds me of myself playing golf, I'm sitting out there at a distance where an easy 3 iron is the shot to make but no, I swing very hard at it to make sure I get it there and duff the ball. It's all a mental game.

I think you are right.  And the misses last night can't help his confidence.

[Guest]

Username:
Password:
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

There aren't any users online.

Loading Tweet...