Dominant Performance

Go ahead and complain. Tell me that you were bored with the game, you thought it was awful, LSU didn't belong (which is simply not true), etc. I know I'm in the minority, but I really enjoy hard-hitting defenses. Granted, I'd like to see a couple of touchdowns mixed in here/there -- and Trent Richardson gave us a vintage Richardson run there to provide one near the end -- but if you can't watch a game like that and realize you just witnessed a special defensive performance by Alabama, I don't know what to tell you. In fact, LSU's performance on that side of the ball through three quarters was pretty damn good, too. Those teams averaged over 35 points per game in the regular season (which everyone forgets), but when they got together, their defenses took over. I don't have a problem with that. Again, I realize I'm in the minority.

My biggest takeaways from this one:

-Nick Saban is worth every penny he makes, and then some. Getting him at $4MM/season might have been a steal.

-Honey Badger was a total non-factor, and that was one of the most surprising aspects of this game for me.

-Really feel for Bobby Maze. He goes out with a ring, yes, but when the camera showed tears running down his face before the second half kick-off, knowing he wouldn't return to the field, man ... tough to watch.

-Jordan Jefferson was beyond pitiful. He looked -- and played -- hungover to me. That or he's just really dumb. Could be the latter. Once I heard Paul Finebaum's report that he was seen out late (past curfew) in the casinos of NOLA leading up to this one, I felt pretty good about Alabama's chances. No Jarrett Lee? Not even for a snap? Les Miles made some mind-boggling decisions tonight; he was completely out-coached by Saban. Jefferson just ran another option for -2 yards as Alabama's linebackers closed the gap on the outside.

-Postgame interviews can occasionally present you with hilarious moments. Courtney Upshaw, the defensive MVP, did not fail to disappoint when, mid-sentence, talking to John Saunders, he turns to a teammate and says, "hold dis thang, fool," and hands him the plaque he received (the MVP plaques were awful, weren't they?).

-People just hate kickers. How does McCarron get the MVP over Jeremy Shelley (Alabama's kicker)? The dude hit 5 in a game where Alabama led 15-0 until the final 6 minutes. I just read this post-game recap on Yahoo and it doesn't even mention the kid's name. #SMH

-Alabama held LSU to under 100 yards of total offense. Part of that is because Jefferson was terrible, yes, but good Lord, Alabama's defense was NASTY tonight. The first hit of the game set the tone. That was a big-time hit/tackle by Hightower.

-Helluva season for LSU, one that will be completely forgotten over time. They won at West Virginia and beat Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and everyone else they played ... just fell short in the one that mattered.

-Games like this are 10x as intense and exciting when you gamble. Here's my card from the BCS Championship game:



#winning