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Home , Bradley Sylve, Denzel Devall, Julio Jones, Les Miles, Nick Saban

NOV. 9, 2013 LSU

LSU’s is the only coach that’s been able to consistently take on Saban since he came to TheCrimsonWhite Friend us November 8, 2013 @thecrimsonwhite Tug-of-War FOLLOW US EDITORIAL Alabama and Louisiana are editor-in-chief Mazie Bryant both breeding grounds for future [email protected] 04 NFL prospects, but home state magazine editor Matt Ford loyalty only goes so far in the magazine creative director David Walton recruiting game managing editor Lauren Ferguson production editor Katherine Owen visuals editor Anna Waters online editor Mackenzie Brown news editor Mark Hammontree Android Apple culture editor Abbey Crain Get our APP sports editor Marc Torrence opinion editor John Brinkerhoff Toe to Toe chief copy editor Larsen Lien LSU’s Les Miles is the only coach video editor Daniel Roth who’s been able to consistently photo editor Austin Bigoney 06 take on Saban since he came to community managers Brielle Appelbaum Alabama Lauren Robertson

ADVERTISING advertising manager Tori Hall 251.751.1781 [email protected] territory manager Chloe Ledet 205.886.3512 [email protected] special projects manager Taylor Shutt Behind Enemy Lines 904.504.3306 [email protected] A look at the Tiger Nation from creative services manager Hillary McDaniel its own sports editor 334.315.6068 11 account executives Ali Lemmond William Whitlock Kathryn Tanner PICK US UP ON CAMPUS MONDAY-THURSDAY Camille Dishongh Kennan Madden Julia Kate Mace Katie Schlumper 1 Alabama Virginia Tech Nebraska Houston 19 UCLA 9 Auburn BYU vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. 13 LSU 11 Miami Michigan 21 UCF Arizona Tennessee 24 Wisonsin Marc Torrence sports editor 65.3% (32/49) Charlie Potter assistant sports editor 67.3% (33/49) Kevin Virginia Tech at No. 11 Nebraska at Michigan Connell Miami (Fla.) Michigan Stadium – Ann Arbor, Mich., 2:30 p.m. CST, ABC/ sports reporter Sun Life Stadium – Miami Gardens, Fla., 6 p.m. CST, ABC/ESPN ESPN 69.4% (34/49) Miami was handed its first loss of the season Nebraska is coming off a last-second victory Billy last week to Florida State but is still in good over Northwestern last week, while Michi- Whyte shape to face the Seminoles in a rematch in the ACC title gan is reeling after dropping two of its last three games. The sports reporter game, having already played the tougher part of its schedule. Cornhuskers have one of the best-kept secrets in college foot- 76.6% (39/49) However, the Hurricanes still face at least one potential ball in junior running back Ameer Abdullah, who currently Nick roadblock with a game against Virginia Tech. Though the ranks fifth in the nation in rushing with 1,108 yards on the Sellers Hokies are coming off two straight bad losses, with quarterback year, but the Wolverines coincidentally have a top-15 rush sports reporter Logan Thomas and the offense continuing to struggle as they defense nationally. Nebraska still has a shot at the Big Ten 73.5% (36/49) have for much of the season, the defense remains as good as Legends title but must win out in order to do so. Last week’s perfect picks: any in the country, which is enough to give them a chance. None Pick against our sports experts at: cw.ua.edu/pickem The Hokies will also benefit from one of the nation’s leading rushers in Duke Johnson, being out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle. Houston at No. 21 UCF AP Poll Look your Bright House Networks Stadium – Orlando, Fla., 6 p.m. CST, 1. Alabama (52) 1. Alabama ESPN2 2. Oregon (2) 2. Florida State Gameday best Any talk that the American Athletic 3. Florida State (6) 3. Oregon No. 19 UCLA at Arizona Conference is a one-team league should be this Fall put to rest by now. Both Houston and UCF have just one loss Arizona Stadium – Tucson, Ariz., 9 p.m. CST, ESPN 4. Ohio State 4. Ohio State each, entering this must-win showdown that has BCS bowl 5. Baylor 5. Stanford Despite having two losses already, both teams implications on the line. Statistically speaking, Houston 6. Stanford 6. Baylor The Elephant still have a chance at reaching the Pac-12 Cham- freshman John O’Korn and UCF junior Blake Bortles match 7. Auburn 7. Clemson 1/4 Zip Sweater pionship game with a win. Arizona will rely heavily on argu- up fairly evenly at quarterback, though with a higher-rated ably the nation’s best running back this season in Ka’Deem 8. Clemson 8. Missouri $75 defense, the Knights may hold the edge. A UCF victory can Carey against a UCLA defense that allows 168 rushing yards essentially wrap up the conference title, with the team hav- 9. Missouri 9. Auburn per game. The Wildcats also have one of the few defenses on ing already defeated Louisville this season. 10. LSU 10. Oklahoma the Bruins’ schedule with the potential to slow down dual- 11. Texas A&M 11. Miami (FL) threat quarterback Brett Hundley. 12. Oklahoma 12. South Carolina 13. South Carolina 13. LSU No. 9 Auburn at 14. Miami 14. Oklahoma State Tennessee BYU at No. 24 Wisconsin 15. Oklahoma State 15. Texas A&M – Knoxville, Tenn., 11 a.m. CST, ESPN Camp Randall Stadium – Madison, Wis., 2:30 p.m. CST, ABC/ESPN 16. UCLA 16. Fresno State With a record of 8-1, Auburn has proved that it is a completely differ- Wisconsin and BYU are both on a roll entering 17. Fresno State 17. Michigan State The Elephant ent team from last season’s dismal 3-9 mark. The Tigers still have an this contest, with both teams bouncing back 18. Michigan State 18. Northern Illinois Sweater Vest outside chance at an SEC West title but must fi rst avoid a potential from two early season losses to stand at 6-2 on the year. Both 19. UCF 19. UCLA $65 trap game against Tennessee. The Volunteers are just 4-5 on the teams are run-first teams, with the Badgers relying heav- year but have been tough at home this season against ranked oppo- ily on running backs Melvin Gordon and James White and 20. Louisville 20. Louisville Available in crimson, black, or charcoal nents, with a narrow loss to in overtime followed by a last- the Cougars with running back Jamaal Williams and quar- 21. Wisconsin 21. UCF second win over South Carolina. The key for the Vols will be fi nding terback Taysom Hill, who is also the team’s leading rusher. 22. Northern Illinois 22. Arizona State locker-room.biz a way to slow down Auburn’s high-powered rushing attack led by Wisconsin, however, has the fifth-rated rush defense in the 23. Arizona State 23. Notre Dame running back Tre Mason, who had 168 yards and four country, which may be the difference maker if it can hold its 205.752.2990 last week against Arkansas. own against BYU’s ground game. 24. Notre Dame 24. Wisconsin 1218 University Blvd. 25. Texas Tech 25. Texas Tech

02 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 03 dollars school districts will pour into it.” It makes sense, then, that two South- eastern Conference powerhouses turn their attention there. “When you’re at the top you’re going to be battling for the top players, and that just happens to be in the state of Alabama and Louisiana are both breeding grounds for future NFL prospects, Louisiana,” Futrell said. For Devall, who was also recruited but home state loyalty only goes so far in the college football recruiting game by LSU as a four-star prospect coming out of Bastrop High School, the tug-of- By Nick Sellers | Staff Reporter war between the Tide and the Tigers is something special. t’s a commonly held notion that of course, and his recruitment refl ects their teeth playing football in the humid “It’s a great feeling, but it’s your de- football programs have an advantage the rivalry-behind-the-rivalry for these Louisiana fall weather include linebackers cision where you want to play,” Devall Iover recruits in their respective two schools, which occurs on the and Tim Williams, wide said. states, and that’s certainly held true in recruiting trail. receivers Kenny Bell and Raheem Saban admitted it can be an intense Alabama’s case. The Crimson Tide has “It’s kind of an interesting situation Falkins, cornerback and a recruiting battle when attempting to successfully recruited the top high school and kind of a tough one for LSU,” said few others. pluck players from LSU’s backyard, player in the state of Alabama every year Scott Rabalais, sports columnist for The It’s not uncommon for elite recruits which manifested itself in the commit- since 2008, including T.J. Yeldon and Advocate in Baton Rouge. “But [LSU is] to be playing in ment of to the Tigers. , not to mention current still going to get most of the top players Louisiana, as the state is a breeding “We obviously thought he was an out- Falcon . from the state of Louisiana.” ground for future NFL talent along with standing player in high school,” Saban The same rule of thumb is true for LSU, In 2013, and the Crimson the likes of Miami-Dade County in Florida said. “We recruited him very, very hard. with many top recruits from Louisiana Tide already have a commitment and East Texas. Things just didn’t work out for us.” going on to don the purple and gold in from the No. 1 prospect in the state of Cody Futrell, sports reporter for The Hill is second in the SEC with 922 their college career. Louisiana, offensive lineman Cameron News-Star in Monroe, La., asserts the yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. That wasn’t the case in January 2012, Robinson. Robinson is considered by strength of recruiting in the state. Home state and family ties are strong however, as the nation’s No. 1 safety from many recruiting services, including “I think what sets it apart, and Texas is with high school football recruits, but as Dutchtown High School in Geismar, La., Scout and Yahoo!, to be the top lineman the same way, is just the amount of money long as Alabama and LSU are battling announced his decision to attend Alabama in the country. and passion they pour into it,” Futrell for the SEC West title, the battle will over LSU. His name was , Current Alabama players who cut said. “Just thousands and thousands of CW File continue to trickle down to recruiting. National Championships

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04 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 05 CW FILE Saban and Miles have met seven blow,” Alabama quarterback AJ Mc- So what has Miles done to be able to this rivalry in the last few years has al- times in the last six years, with the ex- Carron said. “It’s always like that no stand with Saban and compete with ways meant a lot, whether it’s national tra meeting coming in the 2011 BCS Na- matter what the record is. It is a great him year in and year out? Jim Klein- Nick Saban has built Alabama into a machine of rankings, SEC West. A very meaning- tional Championship Game, a re-match rivalry in a way, and it’s always two peter, a journalist who has covered ful game.” of their game two months earlier. great teams going against each other. LSU since 1995, says it’s their similar destruction in college football. Saban coached at LSU from 2001- It was a 21-0 blowout, but the Saban- Every play does really count.” backgrounds. 2004, bringing its program back to Miles regular season games have all dominance and winning a national been decided by nine points or less. Everyone knows the stats: title. He left for the NFL’s Miami Dol- “This is an exciting game,” Alabama phins before coming back to college said. “If three of the last four BCS National Championships. football to coach the Tigers’ SEC West nobody’s excited about this game, they rivals, the Crimson Tide. do not need to be here. It’s just the tra- And the games since then have been dition around here, man. It’s just awe- Two SEC Championships. anything but boring. some, especially playing against these Alabama and LSU have consistently guys.” A 67-7 record since 2008. been in the SEC and national title pic- The games are often decided by one tures most years and have featured or two plays, and there are a handful immense talent, with most games act- of them that stand out. He raised the Crimson Tide out of a dark ing as future NFL showcases of sorts. Trailing 15-13 in the middle of the “I look forward to preparing against fourth quarter in 2009, Julio Jones took period during the 2000s and brought it back to them,” Miles said on Monday. “I can a screen pass 73 yards for a tell you that our guys are in college that put Alabama up for good. football for these kind of games. We In 2010, LSU ran a double reverse to its former glory. look forward to playing in them. It’s a tight end DeAngelo Peterson late in great opportunity for all. Any time you the fourth quarter on fourth down to But for all of his accomplishments, Alabama twice in a row under Saban. line up against Alabama, there’s a ri- keep a crucial drive alive. one team has been able to gain success He has the best record of any coach valry. There’s national prestige. And T.J. Yeldon announced himself despite him. Well, relative success. against Saban who has played him “And the want to make plays against to the college football world in 2012, But success nonetheless. more than twice. a very quality opponent is there. I think taking a screen pass 28 yards for a Les Miles and LSU are 3-4 against “This is not the kind of game that the greatest compliment that we can touchdown in the waning seconds of Alabama since Saban came to Tusca- anybody could not get excited about pay an opponent is our best efforts, and the game. loosa. Miles is the only coach to beat playing in,” Saban said. “Obviously certainly Alabama will get that.” “We know it’s going to be blow for CW File

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08 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 09 BCS Championship Game. “They used A.J. McCarron to start that game out offensively in a series of throws,” Miles said. “We don’t see that necessarily being their tack, but then again it could be. It’s kind of what they did at their place several years before. “So we’ve watched it. We’re prepar- ing for their best. And whatever order they call it, I think we’ll be ready for. Every time you play an opponent, it’s a different year. Same opponent, even same guys, but rightfully a different year.” This year’s game doesn’t have quite A LOOK AT THE TIGER NATION FROM ITS OWN SPORTS EDITOR the same hype behind it as it has in past years, because LSU’s two losses have put it out of the national championship CW File and SEC West races. Miles spent his playing career at of that, they match up pretty well.” But LSU will be gunning to spoil Ala- Michigan and largely grew up coach- The only time one really got the best bama’s dream season. And if the last ing in the Midwest. Saban did the same of the other was in the championship six years are any indication, neither thing at Kent State and later Michigan game. LSU had beaten Alabama in a team will go down lightly. State. 9-6 defensive slugfest that featured “I can tell you that this team does “They’re both kind of Big Ten orient- a series of missed field goals and no not take on an underdog’s mentality,” ed,” Kleinpeter said. “They both believe scores. Miles said. “It’s a team that really feels in a strong running game and defense, But Alabama came out passing on like it can play with anyone. And so I and that’s how they like to start. What- first down and passing often in New don’t know that we use it as motiva- ever else they may do to their offenses, Orleans. It caught the Tigers off guard, tion. It’s certainly not been any rally- they always come back to the running and LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson ing cry that we wanted to make. I can game. They always want to be able to was thrown off rhythm. The result was just tell you that we look forward to The Crimson White spoke with The Daily control the game. And I think because a 21-0 shutout, the only shutout in a playing.” Reveille Sports Editor Chandler Rome in Baton Rouge, La., to get his take on LSU’s slow starts, quarterback Zach Mettenberger

Photo courtesy of The Daily Reveille and who the X-factor for the Tigers will be

The Tigers have been notori- it boasts on both sides of the ball, so I can’t The Crimson White: ously slow starters for much see a motivationally based slow start in The Crimson White: With two losses this of this season, with Les Miles the cards for Saturday. season, this game doesn’t have nearly as even questioning his team’s big of implications for LSU as it has in first-half desire in LSU’s last game against After a great start to the sea- years past. Has that changed the team’s Furman. In your opinion, what do they son, Zach Mettenberger has hit mood at all heading into this year’s game? need to do to avoid falling behind early a bit of a rough patch in his last against Alabama? three outings for LSU. Which Chandler Rome: Mettenberger should we expect to see It’s been tough to tell since the Tigers had The common denominator against Alabama? an open date this past week and were not in the Tigers’ last two slow made available to the media as often as starts was interceptions. Zach Well, if it’s anything like last usual. But judging from their body lan- Mettenberger threw three ugly year’s contest and the first six guage and quotes from the few opportuni- picks in the first half against Ole Miss, games of this season, we’ll see ties we did have to speak with them, the then followed suit with a pick-six against a refined pocket passer who team sees the trip to Tuscaloosa as a gold- Furman to give the Paladins an early 7-0 uses the two NFL-caliber receivers he has en opportunity to right some wrongs. The lead. Plain and simple, the Tigers can’t in his arsenal to his advantage. However, players have been blunt in their assess- turn the football over, especially against a in the last two games, it’s been evident ment and disappointment in the Ole Miss dynamic offense like Alabama. Motivation that Mettenberger has been too reliant on debacle and subsequent lackadaisical first has also been a concern of late. The Tigers both and Odell Beckham half against Furman. I think they’ll use the looked largely lifeless and apathetic Jr. For example, all three interceptions game to showcase on a national stage that against both Ole Miss and Furman, I think against Ole Miss were thrown toward they’re still playing for something, even because of a perceived inferiority of both Beckham, who was covered very well all though it’s not what the ultimate goal was opponents. I know the team recognizes evening. Mettenberger handled a raucous to begin the season. Alabama’s firepower and the playmakers Athens, Ga., crowd very well earlier this

10 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 11/08/2013 GAMEDAY 11 season, even in a loss, so I season, even in a starting position earlier this season and on the field on Saturday. He’s had an up-and- a loss, so I don’t see the road environment has shown flashes of brilliance mixed with down season, starting it off on the bench being too daunting. But if he stakes his rookie mishaps. I’ll be interested to see how as he was suspended for his second arrest entire passing attack on forcing balls in to White keeps his head trying to cover all of after an off-campus bar fight, then returned Beckham and Landry in coverage, he could AJ McCarron’s potential targets. to form by spouting off five 100-yard rush- be in for another difficult night. ing games in his last six appearances. But a first-quarter fumble against Ole Miss land- This year’s LSU defense doesn’t ed him back in Les Miles’ bad graces, and have nearly as many recogniz- he sparingly saw the field in the first half as able names as what we’ve grown Jeremy Hill “has the talent things spiraled out of reach. Hill has the tal- accustomed to seeing. Who are ent and ability to break off a 30-yard run on some players Alabama fans should familiar- and ability to break off a command and can put games out of reach ize themselves with prior to this game? with his bruising style. If the Tigers can get 30-yard run on command him going and keep him churning for 18-23 There aren’t many, honestly. The carries, they shouldn’t have a problem mov- LSU defense has had flashes of and can put games out of ing the football. decency littered throughout its Prediction: LSU has given me no reason to season, but I’d characterize the believe it can stop Alabama. I have every rea- majority of its play as Dumpster fire-esque. reach with his bruising style. son to believe the tandem of AJ McCarron The two interior linemen, Anthony “Freak” and T.J. Yeldon will shred a young, depleted Johnson and Ego Ferguson, both came Tiger defense to the tune of 400 total yards. into the season with unreal expectations And, as of late, Zach Mettenberger hasn’t that they have not lived up to. An intrigu- It seems“ like every year, this given me much optimism about his ability ing name at defensive end is Jermauria game is ultimately decided by to lead a once potent offense. I think LSU Rasco, who has been a nice spark plug to one big play from a playmaker. keeps this close, mostly by virtue of Jeremy the defense and is quietly replacing Sam In your opinion, who will be the X-factor for Hill’s running. And, of course, it is Alabama, Montgomery and very LSU in this game, if the Tigers are to win? so the Tigers will have some pep in their well. Other than Rasco, fans should look step, which has been largely absent of late. for Lamin Barrow in the middle, who is the The X-factor in my mind has to Still, Nick Saban and the Tide get it done, Tigers’ leading tackler, and freshman cor- be Jeremy Hill, who I think will pulling away for a comfortable 34-21 win. nerback Tre’Davious White, who usurped be the best pure football player

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