LSU’s problems in Oxford got a lot bigger in the second quarter.
Already chasing Ole Miss after a fast start by the Rebels, the Tigers lost defensive back Dashawn Spears to an apparent left leg injury. The play came on a case of friendly fire, with PJ Woodland landing on Spears’ left ankle. Spears stayed down and eventually had to be helped off the field after he could not put any weight on his left foot.
The injury added another layer of trouble for an LSU defense that was already getting pushed hard. Ole Miss had jumped out to a 17-0 lead, Trinidad Chambliss was rolling, and the Tigers were trying to find answers while the crowd in Oxford kept the pressure on. Even without Charlie Weis Jr and Lane Kiffin, the Rebels were proving difficult to slow down, and LSU’s offense had not done much to ease the burden on Blake Baker’s defense.
Spears’ exit is a significant one because he handles the STAR position in Baker’s scheme, a spot that is tough to replace. If Spears can’t return, CJ Jimcoily would likely be the next man up, though LSU would clearly prefer to have its veteran option back on the field.
LSU brought Spears in as a 4-star recruit, hoping to keep the Denham Springs native close to home. With Tamarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy arriving in recent seasons, Spears never got the larger role some expected, but he came into this season viewed as a potential breakout player for the Tigers.
In Other News...
LSU Fans Have One More Reason To Hate This Ole Miss Loss
Ole Miss left Baton Rouge with a 32-24 win over LSU, and Trinidad Chambliss had plenty to do with it. The Rebels quarterback piled up 363 passing yards, threw two touchdown passes and one interception, and also added a rushing score, turning in the kind of all-around performance that made LSU fans swallow a frustrating home loss.
As if the result itself were not enough, Chambliss gave Tigers fans one more annoyance after the final whistle. In a postgame interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe, he let an expletive slip while saying Ole Miss's "Hotty Toddy" cheer, a small moment that only added another layer to an already aggravating night for LSU supporters. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Now Has Two Injury Worries Fans Can't Ignore
LSUs 32-24 loss to Ole Miss was already a frustrating night, and the injury list only added to the concern. Safety Dashawn Spears went down early in the second quarter and was later seen on crutches, while tight end TreyDez Green left in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury after being unable to put weight on his leg.
The Tigers did get a small bit of good news from linebacker TJ Dottery, who was questionable before kickoff but still played and made an impact with five tackles and a pass breakup. Even so, losing two key starters in the same game leaves LSU waiting on answers it could hardly afford to need right now. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Family Is Forcing Ole Miss Fans To Confront Something Ugly
The buildup to LSU and Ole Miss has brought the usual noise, but some of it has gone well past football. Lane Kiffins family, including his daughter Landry, has been targeted with inappropriate jokes on social media, a reminder of how quickly rivalry banter can turn ugly when the game is this big. Ahead of a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on ABC, the conversation around this matchup has been complicated by a very different kind of attention.
Layla Kiffin, Lanes ex-wife, posted a message urging kindness, and Landry publicly addressed the offensive comments herself. It is the kind of episode that forces a fan base to confront where the line is, especially when the spotlight on a high-profile coach bleeds into his familys life. The football part of the night still matters, but so does the reminder that not everything attached to a rivalry belongs in the stands or online. [Read more 🡒]