NEW ORLEANS — If Nov. 5, 2011 marked the Game of the Century, then Jan. 9, 2012 marks the Game of the Millennium.
The buildup to the first clash between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., can only be topped by the hype surrounding the rematch in the Big Easy.
Sixty-five days after round one of the Southeastern Conference bout, the two bitter rivals will suit up Monday night for an even bigger prize – the BCS National Championship.
“This is what you worked so hard for,” said LSU junior cornerback Morris Claiborne. “We pretty much know what they’re going to do and they pretty much know what we’re going to do, but it’s going to be a good game. I think it’s pretty much going to be the same.”
While it may be the same teams, the same coaches and the same playbooks, both coaching staffs have made it clear in the days leading up to the contest that they expect a different game progression the second time around.
The first game against the Crimson Tide marked the abrupt ending to LSU senior quarterback Jarrett Lee’s reign as starter, when fellow senior signal-caller Jordan Jefferson took over after Lee threw two interceptions.
That game was Jefferson’s fifth game back following his pre-season suspension. The Destrehan graduate competed 6-of-10 passes for 67 yards in that game and rushed 11 times for 43 yards.
LSU offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa said he expects Jefferson to have an even bigger impact this time around.
“[Jefferson] was still coming back from getting into the swing of things and getting back in our offense,” Studrawa said. “His total package of what we do with him wasn’t in. It’s in now.”
Studrawa said one of Jefferson’s best qualities is his mobility in running the option play.
And after watching Georgia Southern’s option-based offense tear up the Tide up for 302 yards on the ground back on Nov. 19, Studrawa said he expects the option to be a pivotal part of the Tiger’s success Monday night.
“It’s going to be in our offense,” said the first-year offensive coordinator. “It’s something we do, and it’s something that Jordan brings to the table. I’m sure they’re going to be prepared for the option, there’s no doubt. The fact that they’re concerned about it…I think is obvious it’s a fact that we had some success doing it.”
But unlike the past few LSU games that left Lee riding the pine until garbage time, the coaching staff said they expect to see Lee early and possibly often to change the pace and mix things up.
“Jarrett brings a different aspect to it too,” Studrawa said. “It’s like having two really good quarterbacks and their skill sets are just a little bit different. In talking to the defensive guys that we’ve played, that’s difficult for them. That’s another advantage.”
The Tiger gunslingers aren’t the only group that sees a rotation mid-game.
The heart and soul of the offense all season long has been the stable of backs LSU has at its disposal.
True freshman Kenny Hilliard is the newest addition to the bunch, averaging 77.6 yards per game in his last three outings while compiling five touchdowns.
The Tigers have four running backs that have eclipsed the 300-yard mark this season, including two 700-yard rushers in sophomores Michael Ford and Spencer Ware.
“When I call the running plays, I don’t care if it’s Michael or Spencer or Kenny,” Studrawa said. “All those kids are fast, strong, big and hard to tackle. I’ve never been to an end of the season like that, where you’ve got four guys that you watch practice and as the season wears on things slow down, their speed didn’t.”
While LSU relies on a multitude of backs in its rushing attack, Alabama puts most of the load on Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson. In Alabama and LSU’s first meeting, the junior tailback carried the ball 23 times for 89 yards and added five receptions for another 80 yards.
But while Richardson posted impressive numbers, the LSU defense held him to zero in the most important statistical category – touchdowns.
“Certainly when you have a player gain that many yards, whether it’s passing or running, you can’t say we did a real good job,” said LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis. “That’s obvious. We kept him out of the end zone, which was the biggest thing. We played well when we had to.”
Though Richardson failed to reach the end zone on Nov. 5, Chavis didn’t credit that to exhaustion.
He said it will take more than pure physicality to contain the SEC Player of the Year.
“I don’t know that you ever can wear a guy down like him,” Chavis said. “He gets better, and some of the better backs get stronger as the game goes on. And certainly he has those kinds of qualities.”
The key for the LSU defense will be getting past an Alabama offensive line that includes two Associated Press All-SEC selections – seniors Barrett Jones and William Vlachos.
“We just have to get penetration in the backfield,” said LSU sophomore defensive tackle Michael Brockers. “I feel like that will mess up their zone schemes a lot. If we get penetration and keep them from running east and west and finding a hole, we’ll make them make a quick decision and run into linebackers.”
That battle in the trenches led to an offensive standstill in the first meeting. With both teams failing to find the end zone, a heavy burden was placed on the kickers to deliver.
While LSU junior kicker Drew Alleman shined on the big stage – nailing all three attempts, including the game winner in overtime – Alabama’s kickers suffered. Cade Foster and Jeremy Shelley combined to make only two out of six attempts.
If the championship again comes down to special teams, LSU coach Les Miles said he has full confidence in his kickers.
“We set up certain regiments that we count on our kicking and punting to take that really starts during the year,” Miles said. “The measures that we take allow them to get comfortable in their confines, wherever they’re playing. It allows them to understand and work through their mental issues by themselves and then when we put it together, it’s reflective.”
No one knows how the championship game will play out Monday. Once the lights come on, the play on the field will determine who will be crowned champion.
If that team is LSU, and the Tigers win their third BCS Championship since 2003, does this year’s squad deserve to be considered the best team ever?
“I’ve been asked that question a couple times, and I think it’s fair after [Monday] night,” Miles said. “I think it’s all about this game. It’s one that we’re all looking forward to, and I think that those conversations are best served for then.”