I love a good sandwich spot.
When I think of Baton Rouge, I think about George’s under the overpass. When I think about Ruston, I think about Brister’s. It’s a crime that both closed.
When I think about LSU and Louisiana Tech, I think about a sandwich in the college football calendar. This one meets the definition head on. ESPN’s College GameDay invaded Baton Rouge last week and will be there for the Oxford circus that’s coming in a week’s time.
LSU headlines Weeks 1 and 3 of the college football slate. Saturday night’s intrastate clash won’t be a blip on the national radar.
It’s a sandwich spot.
Often times in the sandwich spot, the prohibitive favorite relaxes like me after a Sunday roast beef po-boy. It’s hard to keep the week-to-week intensity up for 20-to-23-year-olds. The same goes for a fan base that craves the monster matchup and may sit out Saturday’s scorcher when the Sun Belt Conference is involved.
Not this weekend.
I don’t expect a replay of last year’s letdown when LSU met Louisiana Tech. The Tigers led just 10-0 at halftime, committed nine penalties and allowed eight tackles for loss and three sacks. It was a brutal offensive effort between matchups with Clemson and Florida.
Why don’t I expect the sandwich?
One, this team scored 51 straight on Clemson and didn’t just eek by with 17 offensive points. Two, head coach Lane Kiffin has created motivation beyond the scoreboard and the record. Manufactured or not, LSU believes it’s the Tigers vs. Everybody. That have cultivated a purpose beyond the red helmets on the other sideline. It’s also galvanized the fanbase which may not have shown up in droves for Louisiana Tech.
Perhaps most importantly, LSU hasn’t been a true championship contender since 2019. This team might be, but 51 unanswered gives that impression, and that’s all that matters on September 11.
Tiger fans will be there. And they’ll be loud.
A sense of motivation and the participation of lively crowd are ingredients in a recipe for something much greater than a sandwich. That’s the roux for a rout.
Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Cumbie comes to town with a solid squad destined for some Sun Belt success in Year 1 in the conference. His team will show up and represent the Bulldogs. It won’t matter on Saturday.
Last week’s atmosphere and performance will be remembered in Baton Rouge for a long time. No one will ever forget next week in Oxford.
Saturday may fade out of memory rather quickly, but that can happen to the garden variety non-conference blowout.
By the time clocks hit zero on Saturday night, focus will have completely shifted to the conference opener. That will be a business trip like no other for Kiffin and Co.
Pack a lunch.
