Just when you think LSU is done, Tigers prove they won’t go away

By Ben KerchevalOct 14, 2012, 12:09 AM EDT

The always quotable Les Miles said it right after the game. “This is truly a place where opponents’ dreams go to die.”

For No. 3 South Carolina, that would be the dream of an undefeated season, though we should make an amendment to Miles’ proclamation after his ninth-ranked Tigers held off the Gamecocks 23-21 Saturday night. South Carolina can still win the SEC East.It can still win the SEC championship and it can still in theory compete for a BCS championship with a little bit of help.

All of those goals are still within sight, but the path to Miami for the 2013 BCS title got a tad fuzzier for the Gamecocks. For LSU, there’s still hope after a 14-6 loss to No. 4 Florida in the Swamp in Week 6. Not much really changes for both of these teams, but yet another win in Death Valley shows that, no, you can never count out LSU no matter what happens to be ailing the team that week.

In fact, Miles has nearly a perfect record following a loss. Rebounding is as much a tradition for Miles and LSU as Mike the Tiger and tailgating. Not to mention the tradition of a great defensive line. South Carolina ran all over Georgia a week ago, but was only able to put up 34 yards on the ground against the Tigers tonight. In fact, LSU’s offense outgained South Carolina’s by almost 200 yards (406-211) on almost 20 more plays.

It was a tight game, but LSU controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides.

The Tigers’ next three games don’t provide any time to celebrate. Next up is surprising Texas A&M, which is currently taking care of business against Louisiana Tech. Then comes the Nov. 3 home game against top-ranked Alabama before another home game against Mississippi State. LSU then ends the year with two rivalry games against Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Based on all of that, nothing would seem guaranteed for LSU, but Miles’ team is nevertheless in a position to get back to Atlanta for the SEC championship; a loss to the Gamecocks would have put a major damper on those goals.

Speaking of USCe, a critical game at Florida awaits next week. Though Georgia is still in the mix for a SEC East title, Week 8’s match-up in the Swamp could prove critical for the two East division favorites.

Tonight was no doubt a huge win for LSU — it was certainly a bigger win for the Tigers than it was a loss for the Gamecocks — but with the overall level of football these two teams are playing, mainly on defense, it may not be the last time they meet this season.

Report: Season-opening starting QB Blake Barnett transferring from Alabama

Getty Images

1 Comment

By John TaylorSep 28, 2016, 5:37 PM EDT

Not surprisingly, the rise of Jalen Hurts has led to some turnover in Alabama’s quarterback room.

Citing unnamed sources, al.com is reporting that Blake Barnett has left the Tide football program and is expected to transfer. Thus far, the school has declined to address Barnett’s status with the team moving forward.

Barnett started the season opener against USC but lasted all of two series before being replaced by the true freshman Hurts. In his three starts since, all wins for the top-ranked Tide, Hurts has completed nearly 64 percent of his passes for 609 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, he hasn’t throw an interception, although he did toss one in relief of Barnett.

A five-star 2015 recruit, Barnett was rated as the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the country and the No. 21 player overall on 247sports.com’s composite board. The 6-5, 200-pounder took a redshirt as a true freshman.

Hurts also adds an extra dimension in the running game as he’s second on the team with 251 yards rushing and tied for the lead with three rushing touchdowns.

Should Barnett move on to another FBS program, he’d likely have to sit out the 2017 season. He’d then have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2018.

With Barnett presumably gone, the Tide would likely turn to Cooper Bateman, who served as Jake Coker‘s primary backup last season and started one game, as Hurts’ primary backup.

Purdue’s Martesse Patterson facing felony battery charge

Getty Images

Leave a comment

By John TaylorSep 28, 2016, 4:14 PM EDT

A rather serious-sounding situation is the latest to trigger a resetting of the “Days Without An Arrest” ticker.

According to the Lafayette Journal & Courier, Martesse Patterson was arrested Wednesday and charged with one count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury. That charge is a felony.

Even more noteworthy is the fact that the charge stems from an altercation with a former teammate, ex-Boilermaker walk-on Alex Hilger. From the Journal & Courier:

Hilger alleged that on Sept. 7, Patterson entered Hilger’s room at their residence in the 800 block of Hayes Street in West Lafayette “to borrow some property.” Hilger told Patterson he was not allowed to borrow the property, but Patterson took it anyway and returned to his room.

According to the affidavit, when Hilger approached Patterson to retrieve his possession, Patterson punched him in the face. Hilger sought treatment at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis after sustaining a broken jaw requiring a two-day hospital stay. The affidavit cites medical records showing Hilger suffered a “displaced fracture of the left mandible and a non-displaced fracture of the right mandible.

Hilger, who played in 12 games last season but is not a member of the team this year, obtained a no-contact order against Patterson, who admitted to police that he both took the property and punched Hilger.

Darrell Hazell is aware of the situation, with a statement saying that the head coach “respects that there is a legal process that he will allow to evolve before further commenting.”

Patterson started the first two games of the season before being demoted for what Hazell described as a “personal matter.” The demotion came shortly after the incident that led to the charge.

Report: Arizona lineman Zach Hemmila’s death caused by toxic mix of prescription drugs

Getty Images

LSU reinstates suspended starting D-lineman, but Leonard Fournette a game-day decision vs. Mizzou

Getty Images