Holiday profitable for LSU football team

It was nearly déjà vu all over again for the LSU football team.

For the second-straight week, the Tigers were driving late in the game with the scoreboard not on their side.

But unlike two weekends ago, when the Tigers struggled with clock management and lost to Ole Miss, LSU managed a two-minute drill to perfection on Saturday against Arkansas and junior kicker Josh Jasper booted a last-second field goal to send the game to overtime.

Sophomore halfback Stevan Ridley was instrumental in the drive and got out of bounds on two key receptions to save time for the field goal try.

“We practiced those plays in a situation like that,” Ridley said. “We had to get out there and execute and move the ball down the field. When you put in your mind that you’re going to come out and win, it usually turns out that way.”

LSU took their momentum into overtime and secured a 33-30 victory when Razorbacks kicker Alex Tejada’s 36-yard field goal sailed wide right.

The win took the pressure of LSU coach Les Miles for one week, as Miles was the subject of negative talk throughout the week for his indecision in the team’s final drive against Ole Miss.

“I’m proud of this team. They fought like hell in an area where there is a swirling backdrop and agendas,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “It didn’t bother them. They got the distraction behind them and came out and played as a team.”

The game was the final game in Tiger Stadium for LSU’s 24 seniors.

The LSU senior class has won 51 games in the past five seasons, including the 2007 Southeastern Conference Championship and 2007 BCS National Championship.

Senior running back Trindon Holliday said playing his last game in Baton Rouge was an experience he will never forget.

The Zachary native capped off his LSU regular season career in style and had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown and 212 all-purpose yards for the game.

“Tonight was senior night, so I told myself I wanted to come out and do something to remember my last game in Tiger Stadium,” Holliday said. “That punt return is something I think I’ll definitely remember.”

LSU’s senior class also got a special gift from Mississippi State as the Bulldogs throttled Ole Miss 41-27, securing second place in the SEC West for the Tigers – a position that should guarantee LSU a spot in a New Years Day bowl.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity at the 10th victory and a bowl game of our team’s liking,” Miles said.

The Capital One Bowl and Cotton Bowl seem to be LSU’s likely bowl destinations now that the team achieved second in the SEC West.

In the Capital One Bowl, LSU would be facing the best Big 10 team not playing in a BCS game.

That would currently be either Penn State or Iowa.

The Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions each have identical 10-2 records and 6-2 conference records, but Iowa beat Penn State in the team’s head-to-head matchup.

But the Capital One representatives may select Penn State over Iowa because of the Nittany Lions’ national prestige.

In the Cotton Bowl, the Tigers would take on the best Big 12 opponent not in a BCS game, which currently is Oklahoma State.

All the games involved present intriguing story lines.

Against Iowa, LSU would have a chance to avenge the team’s 2004 last-second loss to Iowa in the Capital One Bowl.

Against Penn State, LSU would face one of the premier programs in the country and arguably the best coach of all-time – 82-year-old Joe Paterno.

And against Oklahoma State, Miles would get an opportunity to face his former team. Miles went 28-21 in four seasons coaching the Cowboys.

Regardless of how the season plays out, Miles said he is staying cool in what has been an up-and-down season that has seen him receive both the best and sometimes the worst from the LSU faithful.

“I’ve got thick skin,” Miles said. “My professional life is good and in turn my personal life is good. My wife loves me no matter what, so I think I will be OK.”