LSU is one of the most tradition-rich football programs in the nation. Tiger game-day traditions stretch back into the early 1900s, and the experiences found on game day in Tigerland exceed most.
Lately the Tigers have begun a new tradition: pounding Mississippi State.
It seems as if it’s an habitual routine every time the two meet. For the sixth consecutive year, the Tigers annihilated State, embarrassing them like years prior.
“We had opportunities early in the game to keep the score close, but we just didn’t make plays,” head coach Sylvester Croom said shortly after his team was crushed by LSU 37-7.
Saturday marked the 99th meeting of the two Southeastern Conference rivals-of course I’m not sure if rivals is the most fitting term since it usually refers to competitive nature. It hasn’t been a particularly fun-filled century for the Bulldogs, who trail the Tigers in the overall series 63-33-3.
Of late, State has been utterly embarrassed by LSU, losing the last five games by a combined score of 202-26. The Tigers have won the last 13 of 14 meetings and 18 of the last 21 games with MSU.
Thankfully, the game was not televised nationally. But it was televised by Tigervision for all of those LSU fans, who were probably ecstatically celebrating together as the Tigers pummeled the Bulldogs, scoring 20 unanswered points in the third quarter to terminate any hope of an upset.
The third quarter looked as if State had turned back time to a year ago when LSU slammed them 51-0 in Baton Rouge. The Tigers stifling defense held State to -9 yards on three three-and-outs in the third stanza. State looked as if they had given up.
“No matter how much I want to believe, or believe in them (the players), if they don’t believe that they deserve to win or that Mississippi State can be better than these other teams we’re playing then there’s nothing I can do,” Croom said.
It was like a replay of all of his post-game press conference speeches after a loss. It was the same old story, the same old words rolled off his tongue like they have in the past, and the same old points were being made: stupid mistakes, costly errors, blown opportunities and, above all, the opponent was just more talented.
“They’re (LSU) better than us,” Croom said in the sternest of manners. “We’ve just got to recruit some more players and get the ones we’ve got better.”
Trying to build a program is a difficult task, and Sylvester Croom is finding out just how complicated it is to erect a football program that has been in the cellar of the Southeastern Conference for nearly half of a decade and looks to stay that way for another year or two. “There’s no question that we’re a lot better than last year. We’re not good enough, but that just shows you how bad we were last year,” Croom said, continuing his tirade. “We are not as good as these three teams we are playing right here in a row (Georgia, LSU, Florida). We are not as good as they are, bottom line.”
Mississippi State has now scored 17 total offensive points in their three SEC games this year (Auburn 28-0, Georgia 27-10 and LSU 37-7). The Bulldogs’ offense has looked miserable in all three contests. Before facing LSU, State ranked 101st in the nation in total offense, averaging 292 yards a game. They only gained 229 Saturday, including a disappointing 56 rushing yards on 28 attempts.
There wasn’t much positiveness Mississippi State could pull from the loss. State center Chris McNeil had to look to the future to do that.
“There’s going to be a debt to be paid around here in the next couple of years. We’ve got a bunch of young guys out here that are fighting their tails off right now,” McNeil said. “Here in the next year or two there’s going to be a real big turnaround and somebody’s going to get some things coming right back to them.”
But how soon? How soon will that debt be paid by Mississippi State: days … weeks … months … years? Only time will tell, but for now, LSU’s tradition lives on.