Not since that fateful week in January 2012 has the football faithful had such a gut-wrenching weekend.
Saturday night.
With another chance to further enhance the mystique of Saturday night at Death Valley, LSU was lining up to kick-off to the University of Alabama. Having just knocked down the field goal that put them up by three with roughly :50 seconds remaining. Sweet victory over the biggest nemesis in my history of watching LSU football was dancing on my taste buds.
Then I can hear myself thinking.
Way way WAIT?! Did I just hear what I thought I heard?!
A voice. In the background. It's not CBS game announcers Vern Lundquist or Gary Danielson. It's LSU PA announcer Bill Frakes. His voice, that bland, monotone, nondescript voice through all the hysteria in the stadium is bleeding through my TV. Burning my ears."Attention Tiger fans, during your celebration please do not rush the field after the game".
HUH?! Did he just say that?!
That's like bagging the bats in the top of the 9th! You just don't do it!
Before I could get the thought of how much bad luck it is to make such an announcement, ball is kicked out of bounds! Bama's drives for a FG. Game goes to overtime. Fourth and ten pass falls incomplete. Game. Over.
Every LSU fan is left with that "WTF just happened" feeling.
Sunday afternoon.
After overcoming a 14 point deficit, the Saints home winning streak was a forth and ten from remaining intact.
The 49ers convert. Kick a field goal. Game goes in to overtime.
It's ok. The Saints win the toss. They cross mid-field inside the 40 yard line. It's third and one. Mark Ingram time.
Nope. It's Drew Brees time.
A play-action fake to Ingram fools no one. Three Frisco defenders are standing near Brees target. Brees, with more time than he thinks he has, rushes his throw into triple coverage anyway. A choice he has made way to often this season.
Incomplete.
Saints choose to punt on 4th and 1. Thomas Morestead chips a beauty that bounces and dangles tantalizingly at the one. However, Nick Toon, barreling uncontrolled toward the ball, slides into it and carries it into the endzone for a touchback. Killing twenty yards of field position.
Saints hold. 49ers punt. Down the ball near the Saints seven. Brees fumbles. 49ers kick game winning field goal.
Saints fans meander about stadium in a daze, forgetting how to exit as losers.
While LSU's season is all but finished. Les Miles is left to consider whether to play promising young QB Brandon Harris. Word is that Harris doesn't put enough time in the film room while Jennings is a film room junkie. If this is true, one can't blame Miles for hesitating to insert him as the starter. If it's true than LSU's future at QB is in trouble.
The Saints, by the grace of the NFC South, are still in the thick of the playoff race. So last week's loss was not as devastating. But a win this Sunday against Cincinnati is a must. I think they will. But though the Bengals are reeling now, the Saints have a bad habit of playing down to their competition. And the way the ball has been bouncing for them this season, it's no gimme.
