Aftermath of 2008

Aftermath of 2008

One quote stood out more than all others after LSU’s 38-24 Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game win over Ohio State:

“They didn't fight back like an SEC team would do.”

That’s what LSU safety Harry Coleman, who came in when a shoulder injury sidelined All-American Craig Steltz, had to say after the game to ESPN.com’s Pat Forde.

Perhaps it’s not a fair assessment, but it appeared true Monday night.

LSU had been battered during more than Rocky during it’s championship run. The Tigers were knocked to the floor by Florida, Auburn and Alabama, but found a way to get off the mat.

LSU was lost split decisions to Arkansas and Kentucky.

But when the Tigers had reached the biggest stage, they were battletested and capable of weathering a flurry of vicious shots from the Buckeyes in the opening quarter.

In this case, the boisterous Southeastern Conference fans have a right to their superiority complex. Growing up in the SEC proved to have the same impact of growing up in the Bronx – only the tough survive.

That’s why LSU didn’t panic when Ohio State jumped out to a 10-point lead. The Tigers had been there before – three times. And all three times, against Auburn, Alabama and Florida, LSU came back to win.

The Buckeyes dominated the first quarter of play. They looked to have virtually every answer for what the Tigers were trying to accomplish. Then LSU, leaning against the ropes, fought back and mounted a furious rally.

Ohio State, on the other hand, came in the obvious regular season champ as the only team to win its conference with just one loss.

Like Lennox Lewis in his first fight against Hasim Rahman, the first time the Buckeyes were hit with a haymaker, they were toast. LSU smashed Ohio State’s glass jaw with 31 unanswered points.

By the time the Big Ten champ climbed off the mat, the game was already over and the Buckeyes were again left wondering what hit them.

At game’s end, Ohio State looked more like Rahman after the Evander Holyfield fight.

Few doubted the SEC’s strength, but their bowl success was staggering – the sixth selection among SEC teams, Auburn, beat the second pick among ACC teams, Clemson.

The league finished 7-2 in bowl games, with LSU and Georgia finishing 1-2 in the Associated Press poll. In fact, Georgia and Southern California looked like the two best teams at season’s end – even if they didn’t finish with a national title.

Not that the SEC was perfect – Arkansas laid a total egg against a vastly superior Missouri team and Florida was outclassed in Lloyd Carr’s coaching farewell game for Michigan.

Still, a league that prides itself on being the biggest and baddest in the nation can rest proud for another offseason.

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