MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 15, 2000

In his talk to the media Sunday morning, LSU coach Nick Saban spoke of his team competing for 60 minutes every game this season. The Tiger playersearlier this summer wore workout shirts with basically the same message.

All of which should be welcomed news to LSU fans.

Once upon a time, LSU owned the fourth quarter. In Gerry DiNardo’s firstyear, the Tigers were as conditioned a team as perhaps any in the country.

That was evidenced in the first game of the DiNardo era at Texas A & M when the Tigers, dominated in the first half, controlled the second half. LSUmay have pulled that game out had it gone another quarter. That was prettymuch the way things went for the first three years of the DiNardo era.

During that time, the Tigers lost one game in the fourth quarter, to Auburn in 1998.

That all changed over the last two seasons. Georgia, Kentucky, Notre Dameand Alabama in 1998, Georgia, Mississippi State and Alabama last year were all decided in the final minutes. Florida rallied in the second half two yearsago.

So now we have Saban talking about conditioning. About the need for theteam to play 60 minutes. Which makes you wonder. How did a team that wasso well conditioned just a few years ago have so many questions about its conditioning now? Of course, one thing that would help the Tigers win the close games this year would be the resurgence of the running game and for it to be used effectively. Even when the Tigers had the trio of Kevin Faulk, Rondell Mealeyand Cecil Collins, they lost close games (remember Auburn 1998?) in the final minutes because they could not run out the clock.

LSU will again be well-stocked in the backfield with the likes of Dominick Davis, LaBrandon Toefield, Tommy Banks, Devery Henderson and Derron Parquet. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher also talked about throwing toBanks out of the backfield, something LSU has gotten away from in recent years.

The difference for the Tigers this season, however, will be the play of the quarterbacks. Josh Booty has got to learn he cannot win games by himself(see Alabama, 1999). And no way can he throw 19 interceptions in a seasonagain. If the Tigers are forced to play musical chairs again, no matter howgood the quarterbacks are, it will be a long season in Tiger Stadium.

The 2000 version of the LSU Tigers could finish anywhere from 4-7 to 7-4 depending on a number of factors including injuries, turnover, the effectiveness of the running game and how well the defense stops the run.

Each of the first four games (Western Carolina, Houston, Auburn and Alabama-Birmingham) are very winnable. The worst the Tigers can afford todo during that stretch is 3-1. That is because Tennessee and Florida follow,the latter on the road. Then comes two more winnable games at homeagainst Kentucky and Mississippi State (although the Tigers lost to both last season).

Alabama could be in contention for a national championship when it visits Tiger Stadium Nov. 4. And remember, when Alabama scored late twice in1998, it kept alive a stretch of victories in Tiger Stadium dating back to the 1960s. That leaves two games on the road against possible ranked teams inOle Miss and Arkansas to decide whether the Tigers will go bowling in 2000.

Because Western Carolina is a Division I-AA school, even if LSU wins that game, it would still need six more victories to qualify for a bowl game.

A bowl game at the end of the season would be nice for Tiger fans. But afterthe last two years, a few victories in the fourth quarter might go over just as well.

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