Texas A&M Football
Damn You, LSU: Aggies still seeking to overcome Tigers
Damn you, LSU.
Damn your purple. Damn your gold. Damn your French-inspired misspelling of the word “go." Damn your tiger, Mike.
Damn you … because so often you’ve damaged us.
You ripped out our hearts with an impossible three-pointer. You broke our hearts with ridiculous pitching. You had us leaving football stadiums with heavy hearts. You’ll never steal our hearts, but you did steal our home-grown running back.
Damn you, LSU.
Your food is great. Your drinks are strong. Your women are beautiful. Individually, your fans typically are fun and likeable folks.
As a group, though, they typically become a vulgar, abusive Mardi Gras of D-bags.
But that’s not the source of our damnation for Tiger nation. Hell, we shared a conference with Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor. They’re at least your equal in D-baggery.
It’s just that so often we’re on the cusp of great athletic feat, you’re there to throw our feet out from under us.
Sure, A&M can exact a measure of revenge with a football victory on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. The win could propel A&M to a bowl game in sunny Florida instead of one in chilly Nashville or Charlotte.
Even that wouldn’t even up the rivalry. But then, you won’t acknowledge A&M as a rival, especially in football.
Andrew Kilzer
The Aggies lost to the Tigers in 2012, when they were likely the better team, and the frustration has continued since.
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“A rival? I don’t know about that yet,” said Nola.com columnist Ron Higgins, who said A&M ranks behind Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss on LSU’s rival list.
He should know. Higgins grew up in Baton Rouge. He graduated from LSU. His father was an LSU Sports Information Director. He’s a historian of LSU football.
He’s the LSU version of Rusty Burson.
“I don’t know if (Texas A&M) can become a rival for LSU. LSU’s rival is Alabama. That’s who they want to beat.”
Damn you, LSU.
LSU leads the football series with A&M 30-20-2. That’s not too surprising for a couple of reasons.
No. 1, the game was played in Baton Rouge for 17 consecutive seasons from 1960 to 1975. However, after consecutive A&M victories in 1974 and ’75 — which included Bubba Bean, Bucky Sams and Skip Walker all exceeding 100 rushing yards in ’74 — LSU canceled the series.
“That does look suspicious,” Higgins said. “Three 100-yard rushers in one game … I don’t think any team since then has done that. And right after that LSU says, 'We can’t play you anymore.'”
There’s more.
The series resumed in 1986 and LSU won four of the next five games. However, A&M won the next five games by an average of 18 points.
LSU canceled the series again.
The message seemed obvious: if LSU couldn’t win, it wouldn’t play.
They’re called the Tigers, but another feline reference comes to mind.
There’s no ducking the Aggies now that they’ve joined the Southeastern Conference. Yet, whether it’s a key injury to a quarterback or referees refusing to call an obvious offsides penalty late in the game, A&M has not found a way to beat LSU again.
The most frustrating loss had to be 2012. The Aggies thoroughly dominated LSU in a one-sided first half. Seriously, the issue could have been settled by halftime.
But a missed extra point, a key penalty and an interception and a fumble kept the Tigers in the game.
In fact, despite being completely outplayed, LSU actually took a 14-12 lead when Kadron Boone caught a 29-yard touchdown pass just 11 seconds before halftime.
The Aggies lost 24-19. That defeat would eventually keep them out of the national championship discussion.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
A&M has poached difference-makers like John Chavis (pictured) and Speedy Noil from LSU, but now it must translate on the field.
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LSU has killed A&M championship aspirations in other sports, too.
Holding a 57-55 lead over LSU with time running out, the Aggies appeared destined to reach the Sweet Sixteen of the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament.
Darrell Mitchell hit a 30-foot three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left to give LSU a 58-57 victory. The Tigers eventually advanced to the Final Four.
Last basketball season A&M beat LSU twice. Guess which team played in the NCAA Tournament and which played in the NIT?
Then, there’s baseball.
A&M appeared destined for the College World Series in 1989. But LSU, with strong pitching from Ben McDonald and Curtis Leskanic, beat A&M twice on the same day to advance to Omaha. In ’93 A&M was eliminated from the College World Series by LSU. In ’04, the Aggies were swept in a Super Regional in Baton Rouge.
Damn you, LSU.
Lately, A&M has had to settle for beating LSU in recruiting for football players like Speedy Noil.
However, LSU can claim an edge there going back to 1986.
That’s when running back Harvey Williams of Hempstead was the top-rated high school prospect in the country. He committed to Texas A&M. On National Signing Day, classmates reportedly even whistled the Aggie War Hymn as he walked to the principal’s office to sign the national letter of intent.
He signed with LSU.
Sure, A&M has gotten a few shots back at the Tigers.
The Aggies lured Pat Henry, the country’s premier track and field coach, away from Baton Rouge. But if that’s a significant counterpunch, why not build a track stadium for him?
A&M’s best win over the Tigers of late was getting Defensive Coordinator John Chavis.
Without Chavis, LSU’s defense has fallen from a No. 9 national ranking in 2014 to No. 35 this season. Meanwhile, A&M has improved from 104th in 2014 to 49th this season.
But even Chavis’ return to Baton Rouge on Saturday has lost some luster because of the impending firing of LSU coach Les Miles.
“If this Les Miles stuff had not come up this week the main focus of the game would have been John Chavis because of the way he left and the lawsuits back and forth,” Higgins said. “Until two weeks ago John Chavis would have been the focal point of this week’s game. He’s almost like an afterthought now.”
Even when floundering, LSU seems to find a way to upstage A&M.
Damn you, LSU.
Damn your purple. Damn your gold. Damn your French-inspired misspelling of the word “go." Damn your tiger, Mike.
Damn you … because so often you’ve damaged us.
You ripped out our hearts with an impossible three-pointer. You broke our hearts with ridiculous pitching. You had us leaving football stadiums with heavy hearts. You’ll never steal our hearts, but you did steal our home-grown running back.
Damn you, LSU.
Your food is great. Your drinks are strong. Your women are beautiful. Individually, your fans typically are fun and likeable folks.
As a group, though, they typically become a vulgar, abusive Mardi Gras of D-bags.
But that’s not the source of our damnation for Tiger nation. Hell, we shared a conference with Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor. They’re at least your equal in D-baggery.
It’s just that so often we’re on the cusp of great athletic feat, you’re there to throw our feet out from under us.
Sure, A&M can exact a measure of revenge with a football victory on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. The win could propel A&M to a bowl game in sunny Florida instead of one in chilly Nashville or Charlotte.
Even that wouldn’t even up the rivalry. But then, you won’t acknowledge A&M as a rival, especially in football.
Andrew Kilzer
The Aggies lost to the Tigers in 2012, when they were likely the better team, and the frustration has continued since.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"The Aggies lost to the Tigers in 2012, when they were likely the better team, and the frustration has continued since.","MediaItemID":23113}
He should know. Higgins grew up in Baton Rouge. He graduated from LSU. His father was an LSU Sports Information Director. He’s a historian of LSU football.
He’s the LSU version of Rusty Burson.
“I don’t know if (Texas A&M) can become a rival for LSU. LSU’s rival is Alabama. That’s who they want to beat.”
Damn you, LSU.
LSU leads the football series with A&M 30-20-2. That’s not too surprising for a couple of reasons.
No. 1, the game was played in Baton Rouge for 17 consecutive seasons from 1960 to 1975. However, after consecutive A&M victories in 1974 and ’75 — which included Bubba Bean, Bucky Sams and Skip Walker all exceeding 100 rushing yards in ’74 — LSU canceled the series.
“That does look suspicious,” Higgins said. “Three 100-yard rushers in one game … I don’t think any team since then has done that. And right after that LSU says, 'We can’t play you anymore.'”
There’s more.
The series resumed in 1986 and LSU won four of the next five games. However, A&M won the next five games by an average of 18 points.
LSU canceled the series again.
The message seemed obvious: if LSU couldn’t win, it wouldn’t play.
They’re called the Tigers, but another feline reference comes to mind.
There’s no ducking the Aggies now that they’ve joined the Southeastern Conference. Yet, whether it’s a key injury to a quarterback or referees refusing to call an obvious offsides penalty late in the game, A&M has not found a way to beat LSU again.
The most frustrating loss had to be 2012. The Aggies thoroughly dominated LSU in a one-sided first half. Seriously, the issue could have been settled by halftime.
But a missed extra point, a key penalty and an interception and a fumble kept the Tigers in the game.
In fact, despite being completely outplayed, LSU actually took a 14-12 lead when Kadron Boone caught a 29-yard touchdown pass just 11 seconds before halftime.
The Aggies lost 24-19. That defeat would eventually keep them out of the national championship discussion.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
A&M has poached difference-makers like John Chavis (pictured) and Speedy Noil from LSU, but now it must translate on the field.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"A\u0026M has poached difference-makers like John Chavis (pictured) and Speedy Noil from LSU, but now it must translate on the field.","MediaItemID":62202}
Holding a 57-55 lead over LSU with time running out, the Aggies appeared destined to reach the Sweet Sixteen of the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament.
Darrell Mitchell hit a 30-foot three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left to give LSU a 58-57 victory. The Tigers eventually advanced to the Final Four.
Last basketball season A&M beat LSU twice. Guess which team played in the NCAA Tournament and which played in the NIT?
Then, there’s baseball.
A&M appeared destined for the College World Series in 1989. But LSU, with strong pitching from Ben McDonald and Curtis Leskanic, beat A&M twice on the same day to advance to Omaha. In ’93 A&M was eliminated from the College World Series by LSU. In ’04, the Aggies were swept in a Super Regional in Baton Rouge.
Damn you, LSU.
Lately, A&M has had to settle for beating LSU in recruiting for football players like Speedy Noil.
However, LSU can claim an edge there going back to 1986.
That’s when running back Harvey Williams of Hempstead was the top-rated high school prospect in the country. He committed to Texas A&M. On National Signing Day, classmates reportedly even whistled the Aggie War Hymn as he walked to the principal’s office to sign the national letter of intent.
He signed with LSU.
Sure, A&M has gotten a few shots back at the Tigers.
The Aggies lured Pat Henry, the country’s premier track and field coach, away from Baton Rouge. But if that’s a significant counterpunch, why not build a track stadium for him?
A&M’s best win over the Tigers of late was getting Defensive Coordinator John Chavis.
Without Chavis, LSU’s defense has fallen from a No. 9 national ranking in 2014 to No. 35 this season. Meanwhile, A&M has improved from 104th in 2014 to 49th this season.
But even Chavis’ return to Baton Rouge on Saturday has lost some luster because of the impending firing of LSU coach Les Miles.
“If this Les Miles stuff had not come up this week the main focus of the game would have been John Chavis because of the way he left and the lawsuits back and forth,” Higgins said. “Until two weeks ago John Chavis would have been the focal point of this week’s game. He’s almost like an afterthought now.”
Even when floundering, LSU seems to find a way to upstage A&M.
Damn you, LSU.
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