2005-06 College Bowls

Kevin Sherrington

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NEW ORLEANS – When a pregame moment of silence stretched to an awkward minute or three Monday, a chant of "U-S-A . . . U-S-A . . ." went up in the Superdome, reminding us, if ever so briefly, that we're all on the same team.

And you couldn't blame Ohio State for thinking that team must be LSU.

Situation: Fourth-and-8 at the LSU 35, Buckeyes rallying from a 14-point deficit with a little less than 11 minutes left in a great college football season, and the Tigers call on the crowd for noise.

Down the torrent washes, two-thirds of the stadium-record 79,651 fans dumping their emotions in resounding reply.

Next thing you know, LSU's Ali Highsmith swamps Todd Boeckman, the Buckeyes quarterback fumbles and the Tigers preserve a 38-24 victory and BCS national title.

On one hand, it hardly seems fair when a title game comes down to what's essentially a home game for one side.

But there was no arguing which team was better, either. And not just inside the Superdome.

"Certainly, there will be some argument as to who's the best team," LSU coach Les Miles said. "But a national champion was crowned tonight."

Period.

USC and Georgia could make a fairly good case, but it won't show up in the writers' poll. Nor should it. The Tigers certainly earned their second title in five years, both coming in the same house.

The nation's No. 1 defense? LSU handled it in the clutch, converting 11 of 18 third down situations – the "biggest down in football," as OSU defensive lineman Vernon Gholston noted – and Tyler's Matt Flynn threw for a career-high four touchdowns.

Ohio State is now 0-9 against the Southeastern Conference in bowls, and Buckeye fans can't simply blame it on John Cooper anymore.

Jim Tressel gave every indication of reversing the trend early. On the game's fourth play from scrimmage, Chris Wells went left off tackle, reversed field and galloped 65 yards. The run put OSU up almost as fast as Ted Ginn Jr. did last year, when he returned the opening kickoff 93 yards.

Of course, that pretty much did it for Buckeyes highlights in a 41-14 loss to Florida.

The Buckeyes put up a better fight this year, but it's not much consolation.

"To go to a national championship twice and lose," Wells said, shaking his head.

"Incredible."

The game certainly didn't seem headed to such a conclusion early. OSU took a 10-point lead with a game plan that befuddled the quicker, supposedly faster Tigers.

Turning point: With the score tied at 10, LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois pushed back the OSU front and blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt.

LSU rarely was challenged from that point on. Behind bullish Jacob Hester, who runs with the body lean of a rattler and the impact of a Brink's truck, and key catches by Early Doucet, the Tigers chipped away at Ohio State's defensive reputation.

Putting the game in Hester's hands, at least early, wasn't a bad idea. He's fumbled three times in his life: once in junior high, in his first start at LSU, and in his last home game at LSU.

Hester reflects the style of the Tigers, who aren't flashy. But it works. Enough to be called the best team in the country, which is saying something after a season like this one.

Or as Doucet put it last week, "This was the most craziest college football season ever."

Expecting, even hoping the title game would live up to this season was too much to ask. Never has there been as much anticipation from one week to the next.

Never have those expectations so often been met, and usually exceeded.

The fact that LSU finished on top probably was as good an ending as any, if it's a feel-good story you wanted. New Orleans is still fighting its way out from under the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and its state university gave a recovering community something to cherish.

The Tigers' effort was repaid in kind, if not more.

"We enjoy playing in front of the state of Louisiana," Miles said.

Sure seemed like the whole state was in the house, anyway. Just to get in the spirit of it, perhaps, Miles excused himself during his opening remarks at the postgame news conference.

"Wa-hooooooo," he bellowed, the sound of a winner Monday.