In 2002, Alabama shutout a Nick Saban coached LSU squad in Baton Rouge

Picture is so old that it needs a horse and buggy in it

Picture was taken at my alma mater, Texas State University.

I came down for this game. I believe the LSU squad just had the bluegrass miracle the week before. Anyhoo, As we were driving to BTR on Thurs night I was listening to the Coach Fran show and there was a transcript of things Saban had supposedly said and Fran played that to the hilt. He talked every minute of his show about that. After the game he wouldn't shake Saban's hand. Saban said I didn't say those things and Fran said whatever and Saban said i really didn't and Fran said f you or something to that effect.

I believe he threw like a 40 yd TD with a minute left or something. We knew what our penalties were from the NCAA earlier that year and it was bad. Fran caught the first plane out and I really don't blame him. Losing that many scholarships was gonna kill the program.

Tyler Watts just ran another draw play up the middle on us for 40 yards. SMDH.

There was an anonymous email where someone claimed to have been in LSU's locker room after the Kentucky win, and repeated things Saban supposedly said denigrating the Alabama program and its NCAA sanctions. The email was bullshite but Franchione ran with it.

After the game, when the two coaches met at midfield for a handshake, Franchione grabbed Saban's hand, put a deathgrip on it, and with his free hand started pointing in Saban's face and jabbering away about the email. Saban looked scared (don't blame him).

I remember prior to that game I was coming in town and listening to WWL and Buddy D had the guy from the Gold Sheet on to discuss the big games locally for that weekend and that guy almost nailed the score for that game and the game the next day for the Saints vs. Broncos.

IIRC that LSU team was pretty banged up with Marcus Randall at QB and a defense that was not all that good. Saban was lucky to win the games he did that year after Mauck went down in the Florida game