First of all kudo's to a very capable and deserving LSU team for a hard fought win as visitors. Nothing regarding this post takes that away from them for if Alabama had of been able to convert one of the three first half field goals everything ease would be a moot point. IF Alabama had not of blocked in the back on the third quarter interception and Alabama could have handled the ball from within the five it also could be a vastly different outcome so regardless of the point of this post/subject LSU won the game with some awesome playing.
Why then consider an investigation? First off I knew things were looking bad when I heard mentioned that odds makers (big time gamblers) out west had their money on LSU to win. There is never any guarantee that an official will be in the place to sway a game or any guarantee that with all the media coverage today that they could. The one play however where LSU was ruled to intercept the ball, at our goal line, was a crucial call in the game and one which, despite reply cameras I still felt that Alabama had the ball. They say the ground cannot cause a fumble and although I do not believe this was a fumble as much as a "take away" after the catch the Alabama player appeared to come down with the ball in secure grasp and having possession. The LSU player was right there on top of him and the Alabama player should have been ruled down with his back on the ground and touched by the LSU Player which happened before the ball was ever wrestled out of the receiver's hand.
Should there be an investigation whether or not either the official on the field, that made the call, or the reply official, was found to have any ties to gambling or odds makers out west? It's no secret that millions of dollars hang on every play of a game so it's natural to assume that the temptation is there to try and get an official, or two, in your pocket. Yeah I'm biased in that I wanted Alabama to win as much as I wanted to see Trent Richardson have a great game but video is video and after seeing it over and over I feel Alabama was robbed of the ball on that one play. Granted one play doesn't make a game and had Alabama done things right in many other places it wouldn't have been an issue but for those others that viewed the same game and play do you think that the officials made a correct call? If not is it reasonable to wonder why or if there might be some external forces seeking to influence close calls?
Aside from that issue I can also say I hope that a #7 for LSU has no chance in the Heisman Trophy consideration. Even if the drug suspension is not grounds enough to remove him from consideration his blatant cheap shot on Kirpacktrick is surely lgrounds for dismissing him from the consideration. As I said I'm biased as an Alabama fan but it sure seemed to me that Gary Danielson, CBS Broadcaster, has some kind of thing going against Alabama for his game calling and comments, at least to me, appeared to favor or be far more favorable toward LSU but again that has no effect on the game.
LSU wone with great defense and playing as much as Alabama lost the game. To hear CBS call the game and comment LSU was clearly the best team all through the game but it was interesting that you never heard about how many shots Alabama had at scoring verses how many LSU had. LSU capitalized as they had to on every opportunity presented them but Alabama's defense only allowed them three whereas LSU's defense allowed Alabama at least six opportunities to put points on the board. I still, regardless of outcome, believe Alabama to be the better defense. LSU undoubtable though has the best all round team, at least last night and their special teams, especially kicking, put them where they needed to be. A National Champion should perform in all aspects of the game and in the kicking game we (Alabama) didn't. Everything else being equal though was Alabama robbed of the ball and should an investigation into why be started by the NCAA?
