First, let me say that this is my first post here, and in no way do I intend to come here and gloat. I enjoyed hosting several visiting Vol fans at our tailgate before the game and stopped to speak with several more on my return from Tiger Stadium.
I wear my colors proudly, but I have never been more embarrassed after a win than I was on Saturday. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have a "W", but one of our commentators made a very valid observation after the game. LSU is the Forrest Gump of college football this year. We have simply shown up and let other teams lose, we have yet to win a game.
I understand that as a Tiger fan, I watch games through Purple and Gold colored glasses, but I have gone back to watch the replay and must say that the officiating was atrocious on both sides of the ball. There were many horribly obvious calls that were missed, including the helmet rip on Simms, some hits out of bounds, holding (both sides), etc. LSU may be the laughing stock of NCAA football offensively, but the SEC officiating at the least equals, if not surpasses us in ineptitude.
All that said, my take on this topic is as follows:
1) This has been discussed in detail across all of the boards that I have visited. The LSU player should not have taken off his helmet, no question. At the same time, the Tennessee sideline should not have rushed the field at the exact same moment he is removing his helmet. I call this one a push, both teams being wrong.
2) As to the conversion attempt, we actually sent the personnel out to take a knee (it was our jumbo package). From the stands, I watched one of the Vol coaches go to an official and wave off the attempt, at which point they announced the game officially over across the PA system. I think this was a mistake by the Vol coaching staff, because, as many people have pointed out, anything can happen on that play which could have tied the game.
All in all, it was without doubt the strangest thing I've ever witnessed at a football game. Despite the outcome, I truly did enjoy getting to meet some great members of the Volunteer nation. I hope to see them again when I get the opportunity to visit Knoxville.
Best of luck throughout the rest of the season (I'd say we've used all of our luck up, but Les Miles must have a leprechaun in his pocket, because he keeps coming up with new and exciting ways to exhibit his incompetence while still winning games).