🏈 A Look Back - Fournette Chooses LSU Over Alabama

[TheChief]

Leonard Fournette on Why He Chose LSU Over Alabama [VIDEO]

 

[BamaFan334]

Can't fault him. I mean, Alabama can't take everyone or get everyone. plus, hard to turn down a home state school with better than good Championship opportunities, unlike Georgia. What's done is done, but he has had a solid career and seems like a class act.

 

[bamafan9201]

Funny, Bo Scar ran for more yards last night than LF on less carries and a lot less time in the game.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Most here probably don't remember Charles Alexander (the Great)

From Galveston Texas, Charles Alexander played football for LSU from 1975 – 1978. He was one of the greatest running backs in LSU history. A two-time All-American in 1977 and 1978, he was also a Heisman Trophy finalist in those two years. In 1977, he was the SEC Most Valuable Player as he amassed 1,686 yards on 311 carries with 17 touchdowns. When he left LSU, Alexander owned some 17 conference and school records before he left LSU, including SEC records for most yards gained in the season at 1,686 yards in 1977 and most yards gained in a career at 4,035. Alexander rushed for 40 touchdowns over his LSU career. In 2012, Alexander was inducted into the College football Hall of Fame.

Rushing stats against Bama:
Freshman Year: 7 rushes for 16 yards
Sophomore Year: 9 rushes for 43 yards
Junior Year: 22 rushes for 110 yards
Senior Year: 14 rushed for 46 yards

All to say this, very similar in national perception and accolades. Alexander was someone that made you pucker up every time we had to corral him but eerily similar to LF7. Both can be glad they won't be remembered for what they got done against the Crimson Tide.

 

[#80]

Hugh mistake he most likely would have been a Heisman Trophy winner if he had rolled with the Tide.

 

[jdpas29]

I've never seen such a great running back so consistently limited by another team.

 

[UAgrad93]

I don't fault the kid. Some kids are just meant to stay home. If he had come, chances are Henry would've looked elsewhere. Kids see their college careers as 3 years to get to the NFL.

 

[bama alum]

The Shelby County Alumni chapter as well as a chapter in a suburb of Atlanta were taking a stadium tour the day Fournette came to visit. Saban kept us all in the corridors of the stadium while he gave Fournette the red carpet treatment. He really wanted this kid. I had a great feeling we were going to get him, too. You just assume when Saban gives a kid this much one-on-one (well, his family was with him, too) attention...But, we had King Henry, we have Scarbrough, Harris, Jacobs, and Emmons. Najee Harris is on his way. Oh, and Bama's D curb stomped Fournette in his three games v. Bama. All has worked out well.

 

[JoshB]

Most here probably don't remember Charles Alexander (the Great)

From Galveston Texas, Charles Alexander played football for LSU from 1975 – 1978. He was one of the greatest running backs in LSU history. A two-time All-American in 1977 and 1978, he was also a Heisman Trophy finalist in those two years. In 1977, he was the SEC Most Valuable Player as he amassed 1,686 yards on 311 carries with 17 touchdowns. When he left LSU, Alexander owned some 17 conference and school records before he left LSU, including SEC records for most yards gained in the season at 1,686 yards in 1977 and most yards gained in a career at 4,035. Alexander rushed for 40 touchdowns over his LSU career. In 2012, Alexander was inducted into the College football Hall of Fame.

Rushing stats against Bama:
Freshman Year: 7 rushes for 16 yards
Sophomore Year: 9 rushes for 43 yards
Junior Year: 22 rushes for 110 yards
Senior Year: 14 rushed for 46 yards

All to say this, very similar in national perception and accolades. Alexander was someone that made you pucker up every time we had to corral him but eerily similar to LF7. Both can be glad they won't be remembered for what they got done against the Crimson Tide.

Is 22 carries for 110 yards supposed to be considered a bad game or something?

 

[planomateo]

Is 22 carries for 110 yards supposed to be considered a bad game or something?

I think the other 3 years were the main point...but thinking you already knew that.

 

[JoshB]

I think the other 3 years were the main point...but thinking you already knew that.

Okay? He was a freshman in one of those games, in one other he averaged nearly 5 yards per touch and the other one a little over three so you can argue he had one bad game then? How is that comparable to a Heisman trophy candidate being shut out for less than 2 yards per carry two years in a row? I just dont see it.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Is 22 carries for 110 yards supposed to be considered a bad game or something?

He was an all-time great running back from LSU who also was 0 for 4 against the Tide. As dominate as Charles was in his era, he too couldn't get it done against Bama. Get it?

 

[planomateo]

 

[94 Grad]

LSU's issues with LF7 stem from no passing game what so ever. We played 8-9 in the box and said pass as you wish both years. With our players, you're not going to get ANY yards running no matter how good you are with 8-9 guys in the box. There was no serious attempt to keep us honest on Defense from the QB in the LSU games the last two years.

They did throw deep three or four times, completed one... almost completed the second time as he stepped out of bounds and the other two were no where close (one was an INT). My thought is that both last year and this year were close games through-out the 1st half and I think the LSU coaches got really protective of the QB knowing that a turnover could mean the game. I think it was a HUGE mistake for them both years, but hey... it worked out in our favor

 

[ColAngus]

I'm more amazed at the great WRs that go there. Why any receiver would choose LSU is beyond comprehension.

 

[BamaFan334]

LSU's issues with LF7 stem from no passing game what so ever. We played 8-9 in the box and said pass as you wish both years. With our players, you're not going to get ANY yards running no matter how good you are with 8-9 guys in the box. There was no serious attempt to keep us honest on Defense from the QB in the LSU games the last two years.

They did throw deep three or four times, completed one... almost completed the second time as he stepped out of bounds and the other two were no where close (one was an INT). My thought is that both last year and this year were close games through-out the 1st half and I think the LSU coaches got really protective of the QB knowing that a turnover could mean the game. I think it was a HUGE mistake for them both years, but hey... it worked out in our favor

To be fair, would even a good quarterback stand a chance against us with no time to set up and throw? Clemson's offensive line did well against us in the Championship game, but I don't think A'Shawn or Jaren Reed have the speed or technique our boys have this year. Tim Williams looks good on run downs and he obviously gets a good rush, Anderson has been a wild man as has Jonathon Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson. I also saw where Payne showed his strength many times just slamming his guy to the ground making it easier for our guys to get through their gaps. I think a strong offensive line is needed to beat us, and then have a decent quarterback. I just don't think there are any offensive lines out there that can handle our boys, then there is no running back or tight end that can match our 'backers, so you basically just have to get lucky and hope we make mistakes, which rarely happens. LSU made what, one mistake, maybe two the entire game and we didn't. And the outcome shows how we exploit a mistake.

 

[JoshB]

To be fair, would even a good quarterback stand a chance against us with no time to set up and throw? Clemson's offensive line did well against us in the Championship game, but I don't think A'Shawn or Jaren Reed have the speed or technique our boys have this year. Tim Williams looks good on run downs and he obviously gets a good rush, Anderson has been a wild man as has Jonathon Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson. I also saw where Payne showed his strength many times just slamming his guy to the ground making it easier for our guys to get through their gaps. I think a strong offensive line is needed to beat us, and then have a decent quarterback. I just don't think there are any offensive lines out there that can handle our boys, then there is no running back or tight end that can match our 'backers, so you basically just have to get lucky and hope we make mistakes, which rarely happens. LSU made what, one mistake, maybe two the entire game and we didn't. And the outcome shows how we exploit a mistake.

^^ This... it doesn't matter how great you or your receivers are if there is a 330 lb. monster breathing down your throat within a second of the ball being snapped. I mean they had no answer for the pass rush at all. When a nose tackle, that is being double teamed most plays, is in the QB's face you know you're being whipped. What really killed them was Tim Williams was destroying them VERY early in the game in one-on-ones so they spent the rest of the game doubling him. Well, then that means either Jonathan Allen or Ryan Anderson (or both) is getting one-on-ones which spells trouble for your QB too. Its damned if you do, damned if you dont. And then after you've been fighting these starting monsters all night out trots guys like Da'Shawn Hand, Rashaan Evans and company and its demoralizing for an offense.

 

[94 Grad]

^^ This... it doesn't matter how great you or your receivers are if there is a 330 lb. monster breathing down your throat within a second of the ball being snapped. I mean they had no answer for the pass rush at all. When a nose tackle, that is being double teamed most plays, is in the QB's face you know you're being whipped. What really killed them was Tim Williams was destroying them VERY early in the game in one-on-ones so they spent the rest of the game doubling him. Well, then that means either Jonathan Allen or Ryan Anderson (or both) is getting one-on-ones which spells trouble for your QB too. Its damned if you do, damned if you dont. And then after you've been fighting these starting monsters all night out trots guys like Da'Shawn Hand, Rashaan Evans and company and its demoralizing for an offense.

I agree in concept, but not in practice... see Ole Miss game and Arky game. Now, I think we controlled both of those teams well enough, but look at how quickly we got to the Arky QB and pounded him... yet he was still able to throw the ball deep and burn us several times. The difference is that over the length of the game he was bound to make a mistake or two which he did and cost him several scores with turnovers to us. LSU could have too, but they seemed to play it much closer to the vest hoping we'd make a mistake (which I might say we did on the first drive with taking the ball out of the endzone on the kickoff and then throwing an INT). Having said that, the Arky and Ole Miss QB are 100% better than LSU's... but given that he was only 3" away from throwing a deep ball to our 5 yard line... and another that was completed for about 40 yards, he had some capabilities.

To be fair, it seemed we kinda played the same way. The play calling was very protective of Jalen's passing skills with little dinks and dunks... the only deep ball I remember was a perfect pass to stewart (which he seems to be able to hit over and over again, but can't hit Ridley deep??? ).