re: Has 1 loss ever destroyed a program as much as...

Yep - and then they started to let it effect them in subsequent games. That is when LSU dropped off.

Losing to Alabama is obviously incredibly frustrating for LSU fans, but you can be very good and lose to Alabama every year. Even sprinkling in losses to Auburn/Ole Miss every other year. But then LSU started losing to Arkansas/State along with the others. At that point you go from frustrating yearly loss to elite team to frustrating yearly loss to elite team plus 2 other inexcusable losses.

2012 was the last great team, there were still a lot of holdovers from the 2011 defense.

2015 was fool's gold and unfortunately many of the non-LSU posters knew it and pointed it out constantly. LSU got lucky playing a string of teams with dogshit at QB


I get what you are saying, on the surface we were undefeated and in control of our own destiny. But that team was exposed in November.

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I get what you are saying, on the surface we were undefeated and in control of our own destiny. But that team was exposed in November.

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Agreed.

The thing with the 2012 team was that if they had 2013 Mettenberger instead of 2012 Mettenberger they probably go 11-1 (2013 Mett showed up against Alabama).

Mett actually played a really good game in 2012. It was his coming out party, he was pretty meh coming into that.

Les also went back to his bag of tricks in 2012 (fake FG, onside kick) and none of it worked and in hindsight cost us points. I think that fricked with his head a lot and made him completely give up the Mad Hatter persona.

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Not even trying to troll but that program fell off a cliff after that game. Can any of you remember another team falling that far after 1 loss??

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Miami 2005 Peach Bowl.

For those not remembering it, Miami was still considered The U back then, I think they were ranked a spot ahead of LSU, and I almost think they were favored. They still had the mystique, losses were being explained away as players not being motivated (similar to the Bama and Florida losses in the Sugar), and they had the reputation of being badasses.

LSU came out and not only stomped them on the field, but whipped their asses in the post-game fight. That was something unimaginable, even to LSU fans, back then: Miami was well-known for having superior (if undisciplined) athletes, and it was a given that they would prevail over anyone when things got dirty.

LSU shattered that reputation in the Peach Bowl, and it's something they still are trying to get back.
That's one of the reasons I'm worried about next year's opener- Richt is a different coach, but he's been there long enough to understand Miami's culture. That's why the turnover chain was a big deal, and I think he's going to try to make a point in that game.
I don't know that Orgeron is ready for that, and if LSU gets pushed around, this might have the same effect on LSU- an end to relevance and national respect for individual talent, regardless of the record.

1/9/12 was a big blow to the program as far as winning it all (perception), but LSU remained a team considered full of talent.

Wow, this is a refreshing topic that has never been discussed. LSU since 1/9 still has more SEC wins than pretty much the entire SEC besides Bama. It’s pretty simple..Once Saban leaves we, along with the rest of the conference, will have a more even playing field. Who else in the SEC has been killing it since 1/9? No one...not a single damn one of us minus Bama.

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1/9/12 did LSUs football program??

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I mean you could make the case that LSU's win over Tennessee in the 2001 SEC Championship Game was just as destructive... they've never been the same since.

I think we forgot to mention Florida after the 09 SECCG.

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Richt is a different coach, but he's been there long enough to understand Miami's culture

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Well, he did play there so yeah, safe to say he knows the culture.