Fire on the Bayou

I got one word for you people: Vindication. Since it’s got more than two syllables, I’ll go through the bother of defining it for certain Bulldog fans. According to Webster (not Emmanuel Lewis but Merriam Webster), vindication is the act of “asserting, maintaining, or defending against opposition.” In a season of unpredictability, doubts, disappointments, and adversity, LSU found itself presented with a defining moment, the ultimate opportunity to silence critics who claimed they had no entitlement to a BCS Championship Game berth. On January 7th, 2008, the Tigers seized their opportunity to assert, maintain, and defend against their opposition. The prize for their resilience, another $30,000 Waterford crystal football to add to their trophy case…not to mention an undeniably priceless treasure: vindication.

And now, on to the trash talk!

How does it feel OSU, to have your asses handed to you two years in a row by SEC opponents in the National Championship game? Thanks to you and Michi-can’t, the “Big” Ten ain’t lookin so big and bad anymore. How does it feel USC? You probably thought we’d get beat or barely squeak by with a victory so you could make another preposterous claim of a split title. Well, since that ain’t happening, we’ve got another split for you. (Here’s a hint: it falls smack dab in the middle of our backsides.) And by the way UGA, it’s laughable to continue to assert that your win over Hawaii entitles you to anything other than what you got: A front row seat looking up some good ole Bayou Bengal Butt.

It’s unfortunate OSU had to pay the price for the sins of others, of all those who doubted. But if embarrasing the Buckeyes on National TV is what it takes for LSU to get some r-e-s-p-e-c-t, then I can live with that. Even with the rocky start, we LSU fans hung in there. You see, we’re well trained in the art of “it ain’t over until it’s over.” Les taught us that.

There were so many highlights from a very familiar cast of characters in last night’s game: Jacob Hester bursting through the line and picking up first downs when it counted, Matt Flynn lighting em up, Glenn Dorsey’s forced fumble, Ricky Jean-Francois (recipient of the best stereotypical Louisiana last name award) and his blocked field goal and beast-like behavior in the backfield. It was all just so pretty, so very, very pretty.

I remember walking Bourbon St. after LSU won it’s last championship title and thinking “does it get any better than this.” To 2004 Nola Chick I say, “Yes ma’am. It most certainly does.”

I could go on about what happened last night for days. Instead, I’ll let the Nevilles and the Meters sum it up.