The College Football thread

“Take it easy on the Ducks this weekend, pixmeister. We don't want to have to face them when they're ticked off....”

“LOL! Well, we'll see what we can do Bowlder.

Just got my plane tickets. Yay!”

“Army lost, but played fairly well against Iowa State. Maybe it will be a springboard to bigger and better things.”

“Time for the Tide to play the Gaytors. I just hope it's a good game. Bama fans are still gunshy and just hope to not get blown out. If we are fortunate enough to beat UF then for the first time in quite a while our rallying cry won't be, "Wait til next year."”

“Spartan Football finally got a bit of respect this week!

Michigan Missed-again... and dropped out of the top 25...

MSU is now ranked 11th........... can't wait for the big game next weekend AT Spartan Stadium!”

“SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Charlie Weis doesn't usually let anyone else call plays on offense. He made an exception for 10-year-old Montana Mazurkiewicz.

The Notre Dame coach met last week with Montana, who had been told by doctors weeks earlier that there was nothing more they could do to stop the spread of his inoperable brain tumor.

``He was a big Notre Dame fan in general, but football especially,'' said his mother, Cathy

Weis showed up at the Mazurkiewicz home in Mishawaka, just east of South Bend, and talked with Montana about his tumor and about Weis' 10-year-old daughter, Hannah, who has global development delay, a rare disorder similar to autism.

He told Montana about some pranks he played on Joe Montana -- whom Montana was named after -- while they were roommates at Notre Dame.

``I gave him a chance to hammer me on the Michigan State loss, which he did very well. He reminded me of my son,'' said Weis, whose son, Charlie Jr., is 12 years old.

Weis said the meeting was touching.

``He told me about his love for Notre Dame football and how he just wanted to make it through this game this week,'' Weis said. ``He just wanted to be able to live through this game because he knew he wasn't going to live very much longer.''

As Weis talked to the boy, Cathy Mazurkiewicz rubbed her son's shoulder trying to ease his pain. Weis said he could tell the boy was trying not to show he was in pain.

His mother told Montana, who had just become paralyzed from the waist down a day earlier because of the tumor, to toss her a football Weis had given him. Montana tried to throw the football, put could barely lift it. So Weis climbed into the reclining chair with him and helped him complete the pass to his mother.

Before leaving, Weis signed the football.

``He wrote, 'Live for today for tomorrow is always another day,''' Mazurkiewicz said.

``He told him: 'You can't worry about tomorrow. Just live today for everything it has and everything you can appreciate,'' she said. ``He said: 'If you're (in pain) today you might not necessarily be in pain tomorrow, or it might be worse. But there's always another day.''

Weis asked Montana if there was something he could do for him. He agreed to let Montana call the first play against Washington on Saturday. He called ``pass right.''

Montana never got to see the play. He died Friday at his home.

Weis heard about the death and called Mazurkiewicz on Friday night to assure her he would still call Montana's play.

``He said, 'This game is for Montana, and the play still stands,''' she said.

Weis said he told the team about the visit. He said it wasn't a ``Win one for the Gipper'' speech, because he doesn't believe in using individuals as inspiration. He just wanted the team to know people like Montana are out there.

``That they represent a lot of people that they don't even realize they're representing,'' Weis said.

When the Irish started on their own 1-yard-line following a fumble recovery, Mazurkiewicz wasn't sure Notre Dame would be able to throw a pass. Weis was concerned about that, too. So was quarterback Brady Quinn.

``He said what are we going to do?'' Weis said. ``I said we have no choice. We're throwing it to the right.''

Weis called a play where most of the Irish went left, Quinn ran right and looked for tight end Anthony Fasano on the right.

Mazurkiewicz watched with her family.

``I just closed my eyes. I thought, 'There's no way he's going to be able to make that pass. Not from where they're at. He's going to get sacked and Washington's going to get two points,''' she said.

Fasano caught the pass and leapt over a defender for a 13-yard gain.

``It's almost like Montana was willing him to beat that defender and take it to the house,'' Weis said.

Mazurkiewicz was happy.

``It was an amazing play. Montana would have been very pleased. I was very pleased,'' she said. ``I was just so overwhelmed. I couldn't watch much more.''

Weis called her again after the game, a 36-17 victory by the 13th-ranked Fighting Irish, and said he had a game ball signed by the team that he wanted to bring to the family on Sunday.

``He's a very neat man. Very compassionate,'' she said. ``I just thanked him for using that play, no matter the circumstances.''”

“Vandy is 4-0

welcome to the big time

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050926/NEWS01/509260386

1 VU player shot, 2 hurt in scuffle at dorm party. School says they were not in the wrong and won't face sanctions”

“Fuk...

When's hockey season start?”

“Thanks for that great story Pantscandy.”

“1st time in History that Michigan is not over-rated.

Lizs - Thanks for coming to the Shoe this year! Can't wait to pulverize you at your house next year!”

“Tenn vs LSU tonight in Baton Rogue, La. It will be on ESPN2 tonight at 6:30 CDT.

Vols need this one bad. If they lose they can pretty much forget winning the SEC East”

“Pantscandy,
That was a great story.

I saw the piece they did about the Coach's daughter... I think it takes a lot of courage to show others your personal vulnerabilites and that you can be a compassionate and caring person, even in a field where you are expected to be a tough "manly man". All teasing aside about football, people sometimes tend to forget that outside of the football stadium, the players and coaches are real people.

I've noticed from working with students that some athletes are quite shy, reserved and unassuming when outside of the football field. I understand that this is a lot more common than people expect.”

“What the heck is wrong with ND this year? I was hoping they'd be good so we could have one interesting game this season. : (

The ND fans were so so grumpy after their game. A bunch came over to the sports bar we were at and some were downright testy! Some of the worst Irish behavior I've ever seen.”

“When does baseball start?”

“Baseball... that's so "last year"....”

“Hell yeah, bring on the Tigers!!!!”

“OMG! What a fantastic game. I bet LSU won't be calling Rick Clausen little Ricky anymore.
last edited: 9/26/05 11:06:14 PM”

“talk about 2 different teams. The 1st half LSU did no wrong and UT did nothing right. The 2nd half was the exact opposite.

Clausen needs to be the starting QB IMO.”

“Tennessee saved their season last night. Another benefit to starting Clausen is it might improve their chances of getting his brother, the best QB in the nation and a better QB right now than 50% of the starting college QB's.

I figure it's between Tennessee and USC, although the Trojans may have shot themselves in the foot with an illegal scholarship offer.

As a Tennessean, I was embarrassed by the Tennessee arrest/citation statistic. Can't Fulmer recruit a higher caliber of athlete?”

“I went to sleep when UT scored their 3rd TD and was only mildly suprised that they won. The 1st half was embarrassing, but what a comeback.

Is anyone else embarrased at the state of SEC football? The elite teams just don't look elite.”

“Wish that I was on Ole Rocky Top,
Down in the Tennessee Hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top,
Ain't no telephone bills.
Once there was a girl on Rocky Top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Once two strangers climbed on Rocky Top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from Rocky Top,
Guess they never will.
Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Yeah Rocky Top Tennesee eee eee eee.”

“Wish that I was on Ole Rocky Top,
Down in the Tennessee Hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top,
Ain't no telephone bills.
Once there was a girl on Rocky Top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Once two strangers climbed on Rocky Top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from Rocky Top,
Guess they never will.
Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Yeah Rocky Top Tennesee eee eee eee.”

“Wish that I was on Ole Rocky Top,
Down in the Tennessee Hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top,
Ain't no telephone bills.
Once there was a girl on Rocky Top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Once two strangers climbed on Rocky Top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from Rocky Top,
Guess they never will.
Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Yeah Rocky Top Tennesee eee eee eee.”

“Wish that I was on Ole Rocky Top,
Down in the Tennessee Hills.
Ain't no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top,
Ain't no telephone bills.
Once there was a girl on Rocky Top,
Half bear the other half cat.
Wild as a mink, sweet as soda pop,
I still dream about that.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Once two strangers climbed on Rocky Top,
Lookin' for a moonshine still.
Strangers ain't come back from Rocky Top,
Guess they never will.
Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top,
Dirt's too rocky by far.
That's why all the folks on Rocky Top
Get their corn from a jar.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Now I've had years of cramped up city life,
Trapped like a duck in a pen.
Now all I know is it's a pity life
Can't be simple again.
Rocky Top, you'll always be
Home sweet home to me.
Good ole Rocky Top,
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee.
Yeah Rocky Top Tennesee eee eee eee.”

“I like the way the telecast crew made a point of showing Jim Bob Cooter. They said something like that he had the most sought after name in college football.”

“As a Tennessean, I was embarrassed by the Tennessee arrest/citation statistic. Can't Fulmer recruit a higher caliber of athlete?”
karma police
8:02:15 AM

That was a blatant attempt by ESPN to advertise against UT. ESPN's bias is no secret. Take a look at the date 12 or 13 arrest since the end of 2003. Not saying that is good, UT should still be embarrassed. However, have you ever heard ESPN mention that USC and GA have the same # and (for GA) more arrest for significantly more serious crimes since mid 2004? No, and you won't.

I agree dayhiker; the SEC doesn't look like it has a consistent top tier team. No good team allows a comeback when being up by 21. The SEC shows sparks or brilliance but this is certainly not a year the SEC as a whole would fair well in a playoff. Good defenses and great athletes but there is also poor execution of both sides of the ball. I could not believe how bad a job LSU’s coach performed last night. Did anyone notice that he was trying to call their final time out after LSU intercepted the ball at midfield with little time on the clock. Also, what about poor clock management and wasted timeout before the half which prevented the possible game closing fieldgoal. That'll get ya fired.

Rumor also has it that LSU fans knocked out many of the windows on UTs bus following the game. UT was forced to ride a half hour to get back on the plane.
last edited: 9/27/05 9:28:13 AM”

“I haven't heard that rumor, but it doesn't suprise me. I have no interest in ever attending a game at LSU.

This does bring up something my wife and I talked about a week or so ago. I think it would be fun to pickout the top 10 or so stadiums/venues in the country and go to one game a year. I don't know if we'd ever attempt it, but how cool would it be to go to a game at:

USC
Notre Dame
Michigan
PSU
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Texas
UT
UF

Those are just a few off the top of my head.

I would like to go to some of Bama's away games over the next few years. UT, AU, and UF are atop that list.
last edited: 9/27/05 9:32:44 AM”

“longlost - what's your email, I'll add you to the email list we have going about the trip.”

“A friend in Knoxville has been going to "rivalry games."

ND-your pick (probably USC or Mich)
USC-UCLA
Bama-Auburn
Florida-FSU
Texas-Oklahoma
Pitt-Penn State
Ohio State-Michigan
Stanford-CAL
Nebraska-Oklahoma
Army-Navy
Harvard-Yale

That way, you really get to see all the stadiums, great atmosphere and games.”

“That's sorta what I had in mind. The only thing that would hold me back from only doing the rivalries is that scalping prices at those type of games would be very steep.

Which did your friend enjoy the most. I suspect mine would be Army/Navy or OSU/Michigan. Granted, I'm biased and think the Iron Bowl is best, but I would sure like to experience others.”

“UF/UGA

Oklahoma/Texas

Michigan/OSU

Those would be the top of my list.

I agree with dayhiker, it would be hard to beat the Iron Bowl, particularly when it is in Auburn.”

“....Rumor also has it that LSU fans knocked out many of the windows on UTs bus following the game. UT was forced to ride a half hour to get back on the plane.
last edited: 9/27/05 9:28:13 AM”
trailhound57
9:25:11 AM

That rumor is very believable.
The only fans in the SEC worse than LSU are UTs.”

“Actually, the Maryville Times said that many windows were broken after UT arrived on campus. I assume before the game. That's one crazy place that I continue to avoid. I know everyone has there share of bad fans. Since when have UT fans developed a reputation? Most of them are too old.
last edited: 9/27/05 10:26:38 AM”

“I had friends in school that were in the band that said whiskey bottles thrown into the Bama band section at the UT game were a common occurance. That was 15 years ago when our team mattered tho'.

The Iron Bowl is at AU this year. I'm tempted to go down with the family just for the experience and watch the game in a restaurant.”

“I could almost be talked into going to Auburn for the Iron Bowl.”

“I've been away on vacation. How are my Razorbacks doing?”

“They are on vacation, too, arky.”

“LOL! A Monday night college game has made Tuesday really interesting. Of course, like the Thursday broadcast the big schools would avoid it like a plague. Still wishing for a new OC for Christmas.”

“Me and you and everyone else in East Tennessee, trailhound.

But then, just when you can't take anymore Randy Sanders, he pulls one off.

That guy has more lives than an alley cat.”

“The Oregon fans are pretty evil. They threw all kinds of stuff at our fans and onto the field at the game. Bottles of soda, food, etc. But I guess they break out their super meany-ness for the OSU Beavers. I don't know why that is allowed. I think the Oregon stadium security needs to be stepped up and the people throwing stuff kicked out and on probabtion with the school or something.”

“although the Trojans may have shot themselves in the foot with an illegal scholarship offer.

karma police: Are you talking about that Clausen kid? Lots of schools made offers. It's doubtful that it would effect our chances to threepeat. Besides I hear that rule is new and it's possible the offers were made before the schools knew it was against the rules.”

“I will guarentee that the Oregon fans have nothing on the LSU fans. I will never go back to that place again. I hope Baton Rouge falls into the sea. That was such a beautiful game last night.”

“Yeah, Clausen III. He's supposed to be the best high school recruit to come out since Marcus Dupree.

Anyone remember him?”

“Good point, KP.

Recruiting ratings are like pre-season polls.

Interesting, but not always accurate.”

“The only thing that would hold me back from only doing the rivalries is that scalping prices at those type of games would be very steep.

dayhiker



Just come out to the Stanford/Cal "Big Game" - not a whole lot of scalping going on here. This year's will be the final Big Game in Stanford Stadium, capacity 85,000+/-. Two years from now, there may indeed be some scalping, since Stanford will have a new stadium that only holds around 60k....


BTW, this year will be my 27th consecutive Big Game - my record is 15-10-1....”

“Jeff said, interestingly enough, Harvard-Yale was great, but his favorite was Army-Navy. He said the atmosphere and tradition was hard to beat.

Regarding UT, I think they're going to have some real long term problems. This new coach at Florida may be better than Coach Superior and he's definitely going to outwit Randy Sanders and Chavis. I'm shocked those guys still have jobs, but I admire Fulmer's loyalty.

Jeff offered me a ticket for the Ole Miss game this weekend...may head up to Rocky Top and see 'em crunch Ole Miss, another team with no quarterback whatsoever.”

“Regarding UT, I think they're going to have some real long term problems. This new coach at Florida may be better than Coach Superior and he's definitely going to outwit Randy Sanders and Chavis. I'm shocked those guys still have jobs, but I admire Fulmer's loyalty.
karma police

Can't say I agree with that at all. Sanders will be gone by Feb if not a co OC will be added at UT by the name of Cutcliffe. Fulmer is begining to really give RS some heat for lack of dominant play. Chavis is quiet possibly the most under rated DC in the nation. Very few teams play as agressive a UT has under Chavis. I also don't believe UF has that good of a coach. Yes, it is still early but I see AL hanging plenty of points on them this weekend. There was certainly nothing attractive or even near dominating about UF's offense against UT. That game was totally decided by UT's offensive woes. Sorry, I can't see anything UF did to give them any credit for the victory other than not making the critical mistake.
last edited: 9/27/05 3:55:55 PM”

“Here’s one for the weird file.

A guy I knew from my old church died from a massive heart attack at the age of 42. His funeral notice states that formal dress is not allowed and that everyone is to wear something Ohio State for his final farewell where they will play the Ohio State fight song and celebrate his life.”

“Chavis is definitely underrated, every year he reloads and has a decent if not great defense, even though the offense fields more "talented" players, at least by the prep ratings. His teams are aggressive every down. Secondary has been his biggest weakness most every year. Sanders, on the other hand, is in over his head. I've heard (on pretty good authority) that the team doesn't have a lot of respect for him. Anybody catch the ESPN article on Clausen?

Clausen once again saves the day for TennesseeBy Pat Forde
ESPN.com


BATON ROUGE, La. -- The hero of the greatest rope-a-dope performance since the original, Ali vs. Foreman, was Rick Clausen.

No, seriously. Rick Clausen. Nobody's All-American. The middle child cursed to be lost in the shadow of both big brother Casey (a four-year starter at Tennessee) and little brother Jimmy (one of the nation's top quarterback prospects).

INSTANT CLASSIC: GAME 5
Tennessee's upset of LSU will be rebroadcast as an Instant Classic on ESPN Classic on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.

The guy who's been dissed, dismissed and demoted so often that he should have officially changed his first name to "Backup." The guy who was buried on the depth chart for two years at LSU, spurring him to transfer. The guy who then was buried on the depth chart last year at Tennessee, until multiple injuries gave him a chance to save the Big Orange season.

His reward for that was to be trap-doored twice more this season in favor of fancy-pants youngster Erik Ainge, a move that threatened to fracture the team. Clausen outplayed Ainge in the preseason but still lost the job. Then he regained it for the Florida game. Then he lost it for LSU, seemingly for good.

Funny thing, though. This Clausen guy just doesn't take a hint, despite being stepped on more often than the entryway carpet at Wal-Mart. He won't go away. He keeps believing he can make plays and win games, if someone will only give him a chance.

Just last week, when coach Phillip Fulmer benched him yet again in favor of his pet QB, Erik Ainge, Clausen was furious.

“ There's a lot of games to remember in Tennessee history. ... This'll be one of those we'll talk about a long, long time. ”
— Vols coach Phillip Fulmer

"I really didn't want to be here," Clausen said. "To be perfectly honest, I was unhappy with the decision."

Unhappy, but also unbroken.

"You put me in," he told Fulmer last Monday. "I'll get it done."

He got it done Monday night under Custer-at-Little-Bighorn conditions.

Understand this: LSU officials said in the wee hours of Tuesday morning that the Tigers had never, in the 112-year history of the program, blown a 21-point lead at home. Into this no-win situation walked a winner named Rick Clausen.

With the Vols surrounded, hounded and all but punched out on their feet, he authored one of the most amazing comebacks you'll ever see for a 30-27 overtime win over crestfallen LSU.

"There's a lot of games to remember in Tennessee history," said Fulmer, a player, assistant and head coach in Knoxville. "... This'll be one of those we'll talk about a long, long time."

Down 21-0 in front of 92,000 fans enjoying the loudest, giddiest group therapy session in college football history, Fulmer turned to the quarterback he'd kept treating like a bag of dirty sweat socks. He had no choice.

Ainge had just been spun like a rag doll in his own end zone and served up a discus-throw pop fly of an interception that was returned three yards for the score. The Vols were officially unhinged.

After the saddest month in Louisiana history, this was destined to be the Tigers' night. The crowd had passionately willed it to happen, turning Tiger Stadium into a surging emotional cauldron before kickoff. Meanwhile, Tennessee buckled.

The Vols were the sacrificial offering to a fan base that had to wait 23 heartbreaking days for its home opener, and the Vols played their compliant part well. Until an unwanted former Tiger stepped in and replaced LSU's feel-good script with his own Cinderella story.

"People say I transferred from LSU because I wasn't good enough to play," Clausen said defiantly before leaving the field, with most of a stunned home crowd still staring glassy-eyed at the orange-and-white celebration. "They can say what they want."

Say this: Rick Clausen, not Ainge or touted LSU starter JaMarcus Russell, was the best quarterback in Tiger Stadium Monday night. His stats (21-of-32 for 196 yards, a touchdown and an interception) only partly tell the story.

He led an 11-play, 61-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter to get Tennessee back in it. He led a 13-play, 75-yard drive in the fourth quarter to make it 24-14 and spike the anxiety in the stadium. And after Russell served up a short touchdown drive with a horrible interception midway through the fourth, Clausen led a nine-play, 52-yard drive for the tying field goal.

By the time we reached overtime, the LSU crowd was slack-jawed and exhausted. They'd poured so much inner fuel into the first half, on a steamy Louisiana night, that they were as emotionally spent as the Tigers by overtime.

Once there, Tennessee battering ram Gerald Riggs took over. That left Clausen to celebrate like a vindicated man.

"I'm so thankful for the guys in the locker room keeping faith in me," he said. "Those are the guys that kept me going."

If you don't think Clausen has been the choice for QB all along in the locker room, then you missed the way he was embraced after the game. Defensive back Jason Allen hugged him like a long-lost relative. A member of the coaching staff jumped Clausen so exuberantly that he smashed him to the ground, appearing to knock the wind out of him.

"Rick's an awesome guy," said defensive lineman Jesse Mahelona. "We revolve around him."

Meanwhile, Fulmer was pulling a hammy jumping back on the QB's bandwagon.

"I don't know if there's ever been a better story than Rick Clausen," Fulmer said. "I really don't, in all of college football. ... Coming in and getting done what he got done is just unbelievable.

"I may have underestimated him a lot, obviously. ... He was mad as heck and he should've been. ... I admire him and I love him. He probably doesn't love me a whole lot right now. ... That's OK. I'm a big boy."

When the inevitable question came -- who's the starter going to be this week? -- Fulmer had his answer.

"I don't think there's any question that Rick will be the guy," Fulmer said. "The young one has an awful lot of talent, and he'll be fine, but he's got some work to do."

So do the crestfallen Tigers, who squandered both a 21-point lead and one of the most pronounced home-field advantages you'll ever see.

From well before kickoff, an incredible energy percolated through this old stadium. The Golden Band from Tigerland strutted into place, white shoes stepping crisply across the green grass, and the anticipatory roar began to build. The roar surged across Tiger Stadium, from deep in the collective gut of 92,000.

And when the LSU band blasted the four famous notes that start the school fight song ...

... Daaaaaa da-daa da ...

... It was time for a manic, primal, cathartic eruption.

The song is entitled, "Hold That Tiger," but there was no holding back. Not anymore. Four weeks to the day after Hurricane Katrina hurled rain and wind and destruction and death across the Gulf Coast, after the saddest month in Louisiana history, LSU would finally play a home game.

They had been denied this home-opening rite for 23 heartbreaking days, since the opener with North Texas was supposed to be played. They played their second home game across the country in Tempe, Ariz. Then this game with Tennessee was postponed two days by Hurricane Rita.

As the kid's sign read in the student section:

"Katrina is gone
and Rita is away
dear God, let me see
the Tigers play"

And so the band played, and the noise broke loose and pierced the broiling Louisiana air. And a few minutes later, when the LSU players' gold helmets bounced into view from the tunnel leading to the field, the noise grew even louder.

It pressed on your eardrums on the floor of Tiger Stadium. It chilled your skin. It damn near lifted your feet off the ground.

Les Miles stood in front of his screaming LSU players at the edge of the field and spread out his arms.

"Hold on!" Miles yelled over his shoulder. "Hold on!"

No shot, Les.

The players pushed their coach 15 feet until he was underneath the goal post, and finally poured around him. The roaring even healed the lame. Running back Alley Broussard, out for the season with an August knee injury, high-stepped onto the field like he was ready for 25 carries.

The emotional floodgates broke and they let it all go in Tiger Stadium. Death Valley became Celebration of Life Valley.

At that deafening moment you wondered whether this was what it was like during Billy Cannon's Halloween run 46 years ago. That fabled outburst registered on university seismographs. This one was off the charts on the emotional Richter Scale.

Monday night was the ultimate evidence that college football thrives on a raw emotion not evident anywhere else in American sports. But emotion does not exist in endless quantities and can only carry a team so far -- and in the end, emotion didn't work overtime.

Tennessee did, lifted to one of its greatest victories by Nobody's All-American.”

“Nigal,
Sounds like he wanted to go out the New Orleans - Dixieland way... With the funeral jazz band in celebration of his life vs. the mourning of his death.”