The numbers add up for LSU at Florida

The numbers game can be fun to play.

When it comes to LSU’s stunning 37-34 upset victory Saturday night at No. 6 Florida, the numbers tell an interesting story.

On the surface, the numbers did not add up—at all.

LSU was a 23.5 point underdog, the third largest underdog in SEC history to win a game.

LSU had just 54 scholarship athletes dress, one above the prescribed limit for the conference to enable a team to play a game.

It was an LSU team who had nine players enter the transfer portal.

It was an LSU team without seven players who opted out.

LSU was without its top three receivers – Ja’Marr Chase, who opted out before the season, and Terrace Marshall and Arik Gilbert, who have opted out in the last two weeks.

The Tigers were utilizing a third starting quarterback this season, true freshman Max Johnson.

LSU lost its top two running backs – Ty Davis-Price and John Emery – during the course of the game.

The maligned Tigers defense was without its top player, cornerback Derek Stingley.

LSU was also without linebacker Micah Baskerville.

LSU was soon without its top two corners as Cordale Flott was ejected for targeting in the first quarter.

The recipe for disaster was a seasoned mix.

Florida hates LSU.

The Gators wanted nothing more than to rub salt in the wound of a wounded Tiger, say by 40 points or more.

After all, Florida was still in the mix to make the national playoff.

All the Gators had to do was to dismiss an LSU team that had mailed it in, that had quit on its coach, that was just playing out the string.

Someone forgot to tell the LSU coaches.

Someone forgot to tell the LSU players on the field.

In this tumultuous, turmoil-filled terrible time in the midst of a pandemic and in the midst of a terrible season, LSU gave its short-suffering fans an early Christmas present.

Appropriately, it came as the fog rolled in in a season that has been consumed by the fog of uncertainty on all levels.

Truth be told, Florida showed up in a fog.

Despite having so much to play for, the Gators did not show up.

Florida took LSU for granted, perhaps looking ahead to next Saturday’s SEC Championship game against top-ranked Alabama.

The Gators took the cheese, believing LSU had quit and would be a pushover.

Instead, the Tigers pushed the Gators around and pushed them right out of the playoff picture, leaving Dan Mullen to complain about playing too many games while another (see Ohio State) is rewarded for not playing.

While that sentiment has merit, it certainly came across as sour grapes.

There is no way Florida should have lost to this LSU team.

There is no way LSU should have beaten this Florida team.

It happened.

That is the beauty of college football, on any given Saturday.

For Ed Orgeron, it is much needed relief from a season on the brink, one that did stink, one that did sink, one that got away in the blink of an eye. With one wink, LSU shocked the college football world, I think.

The narrative was prevalent.

LSU had quit on Orgeron.

The preseason social justice issues and the off-the-field issues surrounding former athletes and abuse were becoming an albatross on Orgeron and the program.

The former has never been proven and no one has said anything publicly concerning it, while the latter will play itself out properly and the appropriate action must be taken against those complicit in what appears to be inexcusable, serious, heinous accusations.

Perhaps a few players had thrown in the towel on the 2020 season for LSU.

Obviously, a couple have quit in the middle of the season.

Of course, others opted out prior to the season, at least giving the team to adjust without them.

Perhaps LSU needs to be more focused on hyper-local talent in recruiting, to bring more players in who are invested in wearing the white, purple and gold, more players that see the letters LSU and attach deep meaning and purpose to them as Ed Daniels suggested in his op-ed.

Back to the numbers.

LSU won with a 57-yard field goal by Cade York, who may well have an NFL future. It came with 23 seconds remaining.

LSU won despite allowing a whopping 609 yards of offense to the Gators – the third time this season, and the second Saturday night in a row, Bo Pelini’s defense has allowed 600 or more yards.

LSU won by committing no turnovers and forcing three.

LSU won by winning time of possession, dominating in the second half and finishing with 31:54 to 28:06 for Florida.

LSU won by finally running the football well against a good opponent, to the tune of 179 yards.

LSU won by having a talented young quarterback with a very good future displaying poise, escapeability, mobility, largely making good decisions and being accurate, including throwing three touchdown passes.

Max Johnson has the look of a potential star.

The number was three, as in three touchdowns and zero, as in no turnovers.

He has the qualities of a young Joe Burrow.

He has the pedigree, as the son of a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Brad Johnson.

Let us not get ahead of ourselves.

It is just one game and things could change quickly.

Still, Johnson, like Burrow, does not have a big arm but a good enough arm. He has great touch.

He can run as well, if not better than Burrow, though he was injured late in the game and limped noticeably.

With an offensive line that struggles, having a mobile quarterback is a real plus.

Freshman Kayshon Boutte caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman Eli Ricks returned an interception 68 yards for a touchdown.

Freshman Tre Bradford caught a touchdown pass from Johnson.

Freshman Jacquelin Roy had his first career sack.

Freshman offensive lineman Marlon Martinez was pressed into action due to injuries to Chasen Hines and Austin Deculus.

Sophomore Jay Ward had an interception on a ball that was tipped twice. Ward made the interception on his knees and just stayed inside the line to make it a good catch.

That was symbolic of LSU’s season and the season we are currently immersed in.

The LSU football program has been brought to its knees in 2020, with setback after setback.

LSU fans have been on their knees, praying for absolution from possible impending sanctions while praying for an escape from a nightmarish season.

LSU coaches have been reduced to praying, hoping that more players don’t opt out or quit, depending on your choice of words.

A neighborhood, a city, a parish, a state, a country, a world has been reduced to being on its knees, forced to the position by a paralyzing pandemic.

A host of believers are on their knees praying as the special, holy day of Christmas approaches, proving hope for many.

Continuing the numbers, it was one night. It was one game. It was one gigantic upset.

Prior to the start of this season, with LSU as high as No. 6 in national polls, who would have thought that the number four would be such a welcome digit, in terms of victories.

Saturday night was a win for Orgeron. It was a win for LSU fans.

Most of all, it was a win for a group of determined, outmanned, out-talented players who refused to surrender and accept what everyone believed would be an impending humiliating defeat.

To summarize the numbers game, on this night, the LSU program was one, together in harmony, committed to playing for the name on the helmet, not the name on the back of the jersey.

That was a welcome sight, refreshing.

This was all about the we, not the I, me way of thinking and living.

We equals one.

LSU was the one Saturday night, not Florida.