Obviously narrowing down a list of 10 games during the greatest 10 year stretch in LSU football history is a tough task.  Furthermore, because LSU’s golden era has arguably coincided with the greatest 10 year stretch in SEC history, there were so many memorable moments and heavy-weight clashes that I could easily have made a top 25 list.  For our purposes, I tried to place an emphasis on significance.  Often games seem extremely significant immediately after the fact (2007 Kentucky, the entire 2004 season) but are mere footnotes as time passes.  These games had lasting impact in either changing the national perception of LSU football or acting as a cornerstone of a championship season.

1) LSU vs. UGA 2003 (Round 1)

As a freshman at LSU in 2003, in many ways I may have a bias in selecting this game.  But looking back on it, this game was truly the turning point for LSU’s football fortunes.  Saban had stressed that superstitions about day games had no merit if LSU truly wanted to become an elite program.  With a 2:30 start time on CBS and ESPN’s Game Day crew on hand, this was truly the biggest build up (and quite honestly the most packed I ever saw the student section) since only Jackson Carney remembers when.  The game itself was outstanding.  For most of the 2^nd half the score remained 7-3 but the fireworks were saved for the end.  UGA tied it up 10-10 on a 93 yard screen pass that absolutely stunned the crowd.  With just over 4 minutes remaining, LSU’s shot at solidifying a spot in the top 10 and grabbing the nation’s attention again seemed out of grasp.  Though Dash Right 93 Berlin (aka the Bluegrass Miracle) and the Demetrius Byrd TD at the end of the ’07 Auburn game may have been more gripping, Matt Mauck to Skyler Green on 3^rd down in the North end-zone will forever capture the spirit of the decade that was.  A  little luck (Green broke loose in the backfield on this broken play) and magic occurred on a Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

2) LSU vs. UF 2007

This was one of the most intensely-played and satisfying games I have ever experienced first-hand.   It was all that college football can be.  The inter-play between Tim Tebow and the student section, (in case somehow ESPN has allowed you to forget, LSU students got a hold of Tebow’s cell phone number and left thousands of messages for him…Tebow responded after a TD w/ a gesture to the student section in their end zone), Les Miles going 5/5 on 4^th down attempts, and Jacob Hester’s display of pure will and determination made this the game of the year in the SEC, and probably all of college football.

3) LSU vs. OU 2003 BCS National Championship

Most LSU fans either weren’t alive or can hardly recall the feeling of winning a national championship in football.  Hell, from 1958 to 1991 the only national titles LSU won were in track and field.  The sheer magnitude of this game, played in front of a mostly partisan crowd at the Superdome, made for some memories LSU fans will never forget.  The 1^st play from scrimmage really became symbolic for how the game as a whole went.  Justin Vincent broke on a 64 yard run play that came up just short of the end zone.  Four plays later, Matt Mauck fumbled on the 1.  LSU was in most respects dominant, but seemed to get in their own way of shutting the door on the Sooners.  After Marcus Spears’ pick 6, most felt the celebration on Bourbon Street was about to get revved up.  OU hung around to make a game out of it while LSU’s offense became completely inept.  Thankfully, LSU’s D stepped up to make 2 major stops late in the 4^th to secure the BCS title.  As the Hibernia Bank tower loomed over Bourbon lit up in purple and gold, all was right with the world of LSU.

4) LSU vs. Ole Miss 2003

This was certainly one of the most memorable games in a long-standing rivalry.  This edition was perfect Southern theatre.  The son of the South, Eli Manning, was attempting to lead his Rebels against #3 LSU in his last game at Oxford.  With a win, Ole Miss would lock a spot in Atlanta.  A loss would put the Rebels’ last SEC championship (1963) further in the rear view mirror (no matter though, as Ole Miss commemorates their “shared” ’03 Western Division Championship.)  Ole Miss capitalized on an electric atmosphere early though with a Pick-6 on LSU’s opening drive.  LSU managed to survive the emotional storm and led 17-14 as Ole Miss got one more chance for victory in the last drive of the game.  Alas, on 4^th down on the biggest play of his college career, Eli fell.  The South did not rise again.

5) LSU vs. Tennessee 2001 SEC Championship

LSU caught fire during the 2^nd half of the 2001 season and played themselves into the SEC Championship game, becoming the first 3 loss team to make an appearance.  It was the most unlikely of seasons (after the Tigers started 3-3) and it proved to be the most unlikely of games.  The Volunteers were ranked #2 in the nation and their fan base had booked their tickets to Pasadena.  After LSU QB and emotional leader Rohan Davey went down in the first quarter, followed by the exit of leading rusher LaBrandon Toefield in the 2^nd, it was time to start singing Rocky-Top and break out the roses.  As little known back-up freshman Matt Mauck took the field, LSU quickly found itself down 17-7 going into halftime.  Although he couldn’t beat the Vols through the air, he ran up and down the field in an amazing come-from-behind upset.  It was LSU’s first SEC title since 1988, and set up the first of 4 BCS appearances in the Superdome over the next 7 years.

6) LSU vs. Ohio St. 2007 BCS National Championship

After a scary start that saw the Tigers quickly find themselves down 10-0, LSU recovered to win in blow-out fashion for the 2^nd straight year at the Dome.  The game turned on a Ricky Jean-Francois blocked field goal attempt.  LSU’s offense rolled as TE Richard Dickson racked up 2 TD’s.  It seemed a like a validation for Les Miles and a fitting end to a roller coaster of a season.   A mere month prior, LSU’s chances at a national championship had vanished in a 3 OT loss to Arkansas and according to the reports on ESPN; its coach would soon be disappearing as well.  2 1/2 years later I’d be highly interested to find out what percentage of fans would trade it all for Miles to have packed his bags to Michigan.  That national championship though truly belonged to a class of seniors (Doucet, Hester, Dorsey, Steltz) who came in 2004 with the expectation of winning a title.  Throw in 5^th year senior QB Matt Flynn and the ingredients of determination, talent, and leadership culminated in a 2^nd BCS title for LSU.

On a personal note, this game occurred less than a month after the unexpected death of my mother.  I watched the game at the House of Blues with my brother, and it was truly one of those it’s okay to be happy moments.  Needless to say, I got really tanked during the 2^nd half and stayed out on Bourbon celebrating.  Somehow I was only 30 minutes late to work.

7) LSU vs. Auburn 2006

This is a loss that many LSU fans will never get over.  “Ref Gate” may have cost LSU a chance for redemption against Florida and a shot at the national title.  I personally consider the 2006 Tigers to be the most talented group in LSU history.  As you may recall, 4 of these guys were selected in the 1^st round of the 2007 NFL draft (including overall #1, JaMarcus Russell.)  The fact that this defensive battle of a game came down to a couple of highly questionable calls is frustrating in itself.  Jimbo and Les never let JR and the offense get in a rhythm, as they preferred to get into a methodical chess war with Tommy Tuberville for field position.  LSU won that battle, outgaining Auburn 311-182.  Unfortunately, nearly every big play for LSU was negated by the officials.  Nonetheless the game was an instant classic and was probably the best in a group of 5 LSU-Auburn contests spanning from 2004 through 2008.

8 LSU vs. Virginia Tech 2007

For such a lopsided game, you may be surprised that this game made this list.  However, this highly touted match-up between ACC powerhouse VT and national champion hopeful LSU played a major role in how the country began to view the SEC as the best conference in the land, bar-none.  LSU came out and absolutely destroyed a top 10 opponent the way it usually annihilates in-state teams.  Although LSU came into the game already #2 in polls, this game probably played a big role in the decisions of many pollsters to leap-frog LSU back to the #2 spot after Championship Saturday left the BCS in chaos.  As one caller to the Paul Finebaum show so eloquently put it “LSU is an 800 pound gorilla with a chainsaw for a penis.”   I think that summarized the thoughts of many after this blow-out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VWvhegN3mo

9) LSU vs. Ole Miss 2009

If Les Miles ends up being fired, this will be the game that most refer back to as the beginning of the end.  A November day in Oxford is where Miles may have forever truly lost the mainstream LSU fan.  Questions of competence had dogged Miles ever since taking the LSU job, but they reached critical mass after a couple of inexplicable calls late in the 4^th quarter against the Rebels.  The wounds are simply still too fresh and painful to rehash right now.  I’ve never in my entire life felt more that coaching lost LSU a game…in anything.

10) LSU vs. Alabama 2008

The much anticipated return of Nick Saban in 2008 to Death Valley saw the Tide roll in undefeated against a struggling 6-2 LSU squad.  For LSU fans, a W here would have easily wiped away the frustrations of failing miserably to defend a national championship.  Despite another Pic 6, much maligned QB Jarrett Lee played well enough to bring the contest into OT.  The magic and electricity evaporated though on a Julio Jones  TD followed by a Lee INT to end the game.  Games like this one and the ’07 and ’09 versions have made the Saban/Miles match-up grab the nation’s attention.