“How the West was Won” 2008 Alabama-LSU Game

By tempadmin

For the first time in several years, the Alabama Crimson Tide would have a chance to win their first Western Division title since 1999, but they would have to go through an old foe to get there; the LSU Tigers.

Coming into this game, the Crimson Tide hired a year before head coach Nick Saban who used to coach the Tigers. This would be a highly emotional game because LSU fans were ticked that Saban went to their SEC rival after he left the NFL.

The game itself would be a back and forth contest with huge plays made by the Alabama defense who intercepted LSU quarterback Jarrett Lee four times in the game. One of the interceptions would lead to a pick six for Bama by Rashad Johnson who would tie the score 14-14 at the half.

Bama would take the lead 21-14 in the third quarter only to see LSU tie the score. The Tide would have a chance to win it in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, but a Leigh Tiffin field goal would be blocked, sending the game to overtime.

In the OT, Johnson would again pick off Lee, this time in the endzone giving Bama the ball back. Not wasting anytime, Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson threw a pass down to almost the goal line for wide receiver Julio Jones; a few plays later, Wilson would dive into the endzone for the touchdown and the Alabama victory 27-21 sealing the division and a berth in the SEC Championship Game.