No hiding importance of game with Aggies
Numerous storylines exist for Saturday’s season finale between LSU and Texas A&M at College Station.
“A Tigers victory would give them a ten-win regular season for the first time since 2012. A Tigers victory would most certainly put them in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. LSU has not participated in an upper-tier bowl game since the 2011 national championship game.
A Tigers victory would extend their winning streak against the Aggies to eight games – including seven since Texas A&M joined the Southeastern Conference in 2012.
The Aggies have additional motivational for knocking off LSU. A Texas A&M victory would result in its first SEC winning record since 2012. A Texas A&M victory would also put it tied with the Tigers for second place in the SEC West behind Alabama.
Finally, there is the fact that Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher was a candidate to replace Les Miles as LSU head coach in both 2015 and 2016.
Tigers coach Ed Orgeron did not avoid any of these issues during his weekly media luncheon Monday.
“Obviously, this is a very big game for our program,” Orgeron said. “To get to ten wins and go to a New Year’s Day bowl would be a huge step in building a championship program and getting LSU where it needs to be. By winning this week, we would have a chance to win 11 games (in a bowl).
“This is a critical game. I don’t need to talk to the players about that. This is our final (regular-season) game and we have to finish strong. This week is about playing Texas A&M, about playing LSU football, about being physical.”
Three years ago, discussions occurred between representatives of Fisher and LSU. But, LSU officials decided to retain Miles after the 2015 regular season. Four games into the 2016 campaign, Miles was fired. Fisher’s name surfaced again, but not as seriously as that of then-Houston coach Tom Herman.”
The Tigers, under Orgeron, wrapped up the 2016 regular season by defeating Texas A&M 54-39 in College Station on Thanksgiving night. It appeared that Herman was going to be Miles’ replacement, However, Texas fired coach Charlie Strong and hired Herman. Orgeron was chosen the LSU coach.
“Two years ago when we played at Texas A&M, we didn’t know what was going to happen,” Orgeron said. “On Wednesday, it was Jimbo Fisher. On Thursday, it was Tom Herman. On Saturday, Ed Orgeron got the job.
“I see why (LSU) wanted Jimbo Fisher. He is an excellent coach. I see why (LSU) wanted Tom Herman. He is an excellent coach. I’m a defensive lineman. I know it is not always the first one to get the date. Things happen for a reason. I’m glad I’m here. I am happy I have the job.”
LSU has been a pretty good team away from Tiger Stadium this season as it has a 3-1 record. LSU defeated Miami in a neutral site game and beat both Auburn and Arkansas in true road games. The Tigers lost at Florida. The Aggies are 5-1 at home – the one defeat against No. 2 Clemson 28-26.
“We have done it on the road and we have not done it on the road,” Orgeron said. “I think we learned a lesson at Florida. We let the Florida game slip away. I did a bad job in that game. We should be 10-1 right now.”
LSU has defeated the Aggies by an average of 14 points since they entered the SEC. However, Fisher has changed Texas A&M’s mindset. The Aggies no longer are the pass-happy, up-tempo team of former coach Kevin Sumlin.
“This Texas A&M team is a completely different team,” Orgeron said. “Our players will see the film and understand they are not the team we’ve been beating the last few years. They are big and physical up front on both sides of the ball. They have a great scheme defensively.
“Whether we have beaten them or they have beaten us a few times in a row means nothing for this week’s game. We must be physical this week. We have got to play like a top-ten team.”
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