LSU vs Bama 2007

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TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (Ticker) -- Nick Saban guided Louisiana State to a championship four years ago. The gritty Tigers kept alive their current title hopes by beating their former coach in dramatic fashion Saturday.

Jacob Hester scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:26 remaining to lead third-ranked LSU to a 41-34 victory over No. 17 Alabama in a Southeastern Conference thriller.

The highly anticipated matchup pitted Saban's Crimson Tide against the Tigers, who won the 2003 BCS championship - the school's first national title since 1958 - under Saban.

After spending the last two seasons as the coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins, Saban returned to the college game amidst much fanfare January 3, signing an eight-year deal reportedly worth $32 million to coach Alabama.

"It's like playing against someone who is in your family," Saban said. "I wish (LSU's players) well and like to see them doing well. I am proud to see how some of them developed into successful young men, and I want to watch them continue to be successful in their lives."

By beating their former mentor, the Tigers (8-1, 5-1 SEC West) remained a serious title contender while emerging as the outright leader in the SEC West division.

But it was far from a picturesque performance for LSU, which committed three turnovers and 14 penalties.

"I don't know if I have been around a game where we have played this poorly, made mistake after mistake and, yet, come out with a victory," Tigers coach Les Miles said.

Alabama (6-3, 4-2 West) fell one game behind LSU and dropped its fifth consecutive contest in this rivalry.

"If anyone is going to have success in the SEC, I wish it for (LSU), and I want to see them do well," Saban said. "If it's not going to be us, it might as well be them."

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