LSU football, like the rest of us, wish 2020 would just end already
By Scott Rogust
2020 has been an awful year for many. When it comes to college football, the LSU Tigers just want this year to be over with.
On New Year’s Day, many around the nation were declaring that this would be their year. Unfortunately, it’s been no one’s year, as we deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has ended normalcy and is showing no signs of slowing down. The spread of COVID-19 has affected the college football world, as players have opted out of the season in fear of contracting the virus and schedules are inter-conference.
The LSU Tigers were expected to deal with a National Championship hangover, as talent either declared for the 2020 NFL Draft (i.e. Joe Burrow, Patrick Queen) or opted out of the upcoming season altogether. Even so, no one believed Ed Orgeron’s Tigers would perform this poorly. If you wanted any further evidence, look no further than LSU’s 48-11 loss to Auburn on Saturday.
Tigers fans expected nothing yet were still disappointed
LSU put themselves in a hole early in the first half due to costly turnovers. Quarterback TJ Finley threw an interception that was easily converted to a touchdown by Auburn on one play. Two drives later, Finley fumbled the ball on a sack by Derrick Hall and was returned for a touchdown by Christian Tutt. LSU entered halftime with a 21-3 deficit and wouldn’t score again until midway through the fourth quarter.
No college football fan or pundit believed LSU would repeat as National Champions due to the loss of talent this past offseason. But once the pandemic spread across the globe, some key players opted to sit out the 2020 campaign to either protect themselves and their families or prepare themselves for the 2021 draft. Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, defensive back Kary Vincent and defensive tackle Tyler Shelvin all opted out prior to the start of the season.
After this blowout loss, you can officially chalk this up as a lost season for LSU. It’s okay Tigers fans, this dreadful and horrific year is two months away from reaching its conclusion. Sure, life won’t reach some semblance of normalcy until midway through 2021 with an effective COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest, but at least 2020 will be in the rearview mirror.
When our future generations ask about 2020, we wouldn’t be able to answer without taking a swig of hard liquor to give ourselves the courage to open up about our experiences. Excuse us, it was a rough year!
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