LSU vs. Alabama: Five memorable games

You can already see the size and the athleticism in the LSU and Alabama players for the next couple of years. It’s pretty evident that these two schools aren’t going away any time soon.” Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com analyst

Sept. 27, 1958 — LSU 13, Alabama 3: The Tigers and Crimson Tide meet in Mobile, Ala., in Paul “Bear” Bryant’s second game at Alabama. The underdog Tide leads 3-0 at halftime but falls victim in the second half to touchdowns by Johnny Robinson and Billy Cannon.

Nov. 8, 1969 — LSU 20, Alabama 15: Allen Shorey scores a pair of touchdowns and converts a crucial fourth down in the final minute to make Charles McClendon the first former Bryant player to beat him in a regular season game. “Coach,” McClendon said, “this has been a long time coming.” ... “I know it, Mac,” Bryant replied, “but don’t ever think I like it.”

Nov. 6, 1982 — LSU 20, Alabama 10: The Tigers hadn’t beaten the Tide since 1970, but that streak comes to an end on a magical Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. LSU builds a 17-0 first-half lead and makes it stand up by holding the ball for 23 minutes in the second half. Bryant would retire by season’s end and die the following January.

Nov. 6, 1993 — LSU 17, Alabama 13: “Tide could lose, pigs might fly” reads a headline in that day’s Mobile Register. LSU (3-5) is a 25-point underdog in Tuscaloosa to an Alabama team ranked fifth in the nation and riding a 31-game unbeaten streak. After a scoreless first half, Jay Johnson and Robert Toomer score on a pair of 2-yard runs and the Tigers defense holds Bama in check long enough for LSU to record what may rank as its biggest upset ever.

Nov. 4, 2000 — LSU 30, Alabama 28: “We’ve got a saying,” receiver Quincy Jackson said after a 1998 Tide win in Tiger Stadium, “the Tide don’t lose in Baton Rouge.” A 14-0-1 unbeaten streak at LSU is snapped thanks in part to a replay on the Tiger Stadium scoreboard showing Erin Damond recovering a bobbled punt by Domanick Davis at the LSU 14 with the Tigers clinging to a 23-21 fourth-quarter lead.

Scott Rabalais