Austin Deculus weighs in on LSU's disappointing 2020 season following 2019's title
The LSU Tigers won the 2019 national championship, going undefeated with Joe Burrow winning the Heisman Trophy.
In 2020, things didn’t go so well for coach Ed Orgeron’s program. The Tigers struggled defensively en route to a 5-5 record.
At SEC Media Days on Monday, OL Austin Deculus was asked about the team taking a big step back in 2020. He said he understands why people soured on LSU in 2020, as the product on the field wasn’t great (via 247Sports):
Q: You’re not even two years removed from winning a National Championship, but do you feel like at times that LSU now gets overlooked, and why is that dangerous for other teams as a motivator for you guys?
AUSTIN DECULUS: Any program that goes from National Championship to 5-5, they’re going to always go like, eh, they’re going to put them to the side a little bit, which is respectful. If you don’t produce and you don’t do it good within your season, you’re not going to get the love, you’re not going to get the recognition. So it’s really going to change after the season.
LSU also had a self-imposed bowl ban last season. Now that we’re entering 2021, though, expectations are higher for the Tigers. We’ll see if they can live up to those expectations.
Regardless of which side you were on, that 2020 LSU drive to the goal line, only to be stopped at the 2 yard line, on fourth down and seconds remaining was one of the classic football game endings of all time.
Give credit to Bolton & the Boys for an inspired stand. And to some very sad play calling and coaching on the purple & gold Tigers. But still don’t take anything away from the gold & black Tigers. Well played Mizzou. Good luck and kick East’s ass in 2021.
I also think the LSU win over, SEC East champ, Florida late in the season, deserves way more attention in the national press than it
received and I’m aware it received a lot. But just reconsider that again, Florida was headed for a bowl game against the big 12 winner, but LSU beat them before they could ever get on the bus to the big post season party. The shoe-up screw up was the result of a determined side refusing to yield to Mullen’s boys.
Florida was headed to the SECCG not a bowl game after LSU…