Now we know why LSU paid all that money to hire Brian Kelly away from Notre Dame.
Kelly had the courage to go for the knockout punch by going for a two point conversion and the win after the Tigers scored the potential tying touchdowm against Alabama in overtime.
And quarterback Jayden Daineils, a transfer from Arizona State, pulled it off, completing a pass to Mason Taylor in the flat. Taylor, the son of former NFL All Pro Jason Taylor, caught the ball on the one-yard line, then fell backwards across the goal line to give the Tigers a stunning 32-31 victory over the mighty Tide in an SEC West showdown pllayed before a crowd of close to 100,000 and a nationally televised audience.
The crowd stormed the field, vindicating AD Scott Woodwards decision to swing for the fences after firing Ed Orgeron, who won a national championship just two years early.
Ex[pectations are huge at this school. The previous three coaches– Nick Saban, Les Miles and coach O– all won national championships. But losing is not an option and Kelly had to be feeling some heat after the Tigers lost the season openeer to Florida State, then were embarrassed by Tennessee.
But the Tigers (7-2, 5-1) are now in control of their destiny in a quest to reach the SEC title game. They deserve a spot in the Top 10.
“Before the game started, had you asked me, ‘I’m going to give you one play to beat Alabama,’ I wouild have taken that 100 out of a 100,” said an uncharactertically emotional Kelly. “We had a really good play that we hadn’t used and they hadn;t seen.”
The road to the SEC title game, which once seemed unthinkable, is a trip to Arkansas next year, a 4-5 UAB team the next and 4-5 Texas A & M in College Station to end the season.
”Took big balls,” one LSU official said.
The Tigers only needed two snaps in overtime to pull off this miracle. Daniels scored on the very first play, bursting free for a 25 yard TD run. As soon as he crossed the line, Kelly made the decision to go for two. “I didn’t want to play a bunch of ovetimes,” he said.
“I had never beaten Alabama.”
Saban basically owned LSU, winning 10 of the last 11 games the two rivals ahd played, dating back to 2010.He had won five straight in Tiger Stadium. But .the greatest call in the history of Tiger Stadium changed that.
