On Saturday, September 3, the Oregon Ducks met LSU in the most highly anticipated college football matchup of Week 1. The teams traveled to Texas to play in the Death Star, the gargantuan structure that the god-like Jerry Jones created from nothing so that all may bask in his grandeur. Arriving four hours early, the purple and gold clad LSU supporters started the night off strong in the parking lot, showing those who braved the trip from Eugene, Oregon, how tailgating was really done. LSU had a rowdy advantage, as well as a numeric one, with the majority of the 87,000 people cheering on the Tigers. As the fans filed into their seats, the excitement of the game finally overwhelmed all of the off-field controversy that had plagued both teams for the entire summer.
Starting with a recruiting scandal which has led to a NCAA investigation and culminating in the suspension of All-American defensive back and punt returner Cliff Harris, the Ducks faced scrutiny for much of the off-season. The Tigers fared no better, however, when it was discovered that starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson decided to try out for punter by bashing a man’s face with his foot. A search warrant was issued for his house, where 48 pairs of shoes were discovered. Four other players were suspended in the incident, and it appeared as if the Tigers were doomed before the game began.
When the game began, though, it was clear that Les Miles (often referred to as the Mad Hatter) had devised a scheme capable of stopping the high flying Ducks’ offense. Holding superstar running back LaMichael James to only 54 yards, the LSU defensive line dominated the entire game, keeping Oregon to only 95 total rushing yards. Darron Thomas attempted 54 passes in the game for 240 yards with a touchdown and one interception. It was the fumbles, though, that derailed Oregon’s bid for a national championship in only the first game of the season. Backup running back and fill-in punt returner Kenjon Barner decided to field a punt while retreating near his own end zone which resulted in a fumble and an easy touchdown for the Tigers. Later in the game, De’Anthony Thomas coughed up the ball after picking up a first down, turning it back over to LSU and leading to another Tiger score. Soon after, Thomas fielded the kickoff and again fumbled, giving the ball back to LSU and allowing them to pick up another easy touchdown. The Ducks’ four turnovers cost them the game and, most likely, a chance to return the national championship.
Both teams will move on after a shaky opener, but the road is clear for LSU until conference play begins on October first. Their toughest test will be a trip to Tuscaloosa on November 5th to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in what will most likely be a national championship deciding game. The Ducks meanwhile will look to regroup after a tough loss and gather momentum heading into their only other difficult game, a November 12th battle against future top pick Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal. LSU’s strong performance has them looking like a national contender in what is sure to be another bizarre season for college football.
