Tag: Tommy Hodson

Looking back at the LSU-Auburn earthquake game from 1988

With LSU and Auburn set to play tonight, let’s take a look back at one of the series’ most historic nights.

When LSU and Auburn get together, crazy things happen. From an entertainment perspective, few rivalries across the sport can compare to this one.

Six of the last seven games have been decided by one possession and the margin of victory for the winning team in those six is just 3.6 points.

But here, we’re going back a bit further. All the way to 1988 for the game that’s now known as “The Earthquake Game.”

After a one-loss season in 1987 and entering 1988 ranked, LSU lost two straight.

LSU fell from the AP Top 25, ending a streak of 65 consecutive polls that LSU found itself ranked, a stretch that began in Week 4 of 1984.

In honor of Auburn playing at LSU tonight, in what will be the last annual meeting between the two before the SEC changes its schedule format, let’s go back to one of Tiger Stadium’s most memorable nights.

Former LSU stars Tommy Hodson, Bradie James to serve as guest captains for Arkansas game

The LSU royalty will be honored before the coin flip on Saturday night.

LSU will have purple and gold royalty on hand to serve as guest captains for the coin flip against Arkansas in Death Valley on Saturday night.

A pair of former star players, quarterback [autotag]Tommy Hodson[/autotag] and linebacker [autotag]Bradie James[/autotag], will be honored before the game, LSU announced on Wednesday.

Hodson played for the Tigers from 1986-89, starting all four years. A four-time First Team All-SEC selection and the SEC Freshman of the Year during a prolific campaign in 1986, Hodson was ultimately a third-round pick in the 1990 NFL draft.

He spent six seasons in the league, most of which were with the New England Patriots.

James was a four-year starter, as well, from 1999-02. He received back-to-back First Team All-SEC honors in 2001 and 2002, being named a First Team All-American in the latter campaign.

A fourth-round pick for the Cowboys, James went on to play in the NFL for a decade, nine years of which were spent in Dallas. He’s landed on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot multiple times, as well.

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COLUMN: When LSU meets Auburn, logic doesn’t apply

This rivalry has featured some wild finishes over the years.

October 8, 1988. Auburn traveled to Baton Rouge at 4-0 as one of the best teams in the country. LSU, led by [autotag]Tommy Hodson[/autotag] and [autotag]Tony Moss[/autotag], was 2-2 coming off two consecutive losses.

Down by six in the final minutes, Hodson found [autotag]Eddie Fuller[/autotag] in the back of the endzone to tie the game. As the story goes, Tiger Stadium lost its mind. The noise was so loud, that it registered on a nearby seismograph.

LSU won 7-6, and that has since become known as the “Earthquake Game.”

Almost a decade later in Jordan-Hare Stadium, there was “The Night The Barn Burned.” As a fire raged across the street, LSU beat No. 13 Auburn, 19-15.

Then there was 2005. LSU was ranked in the top 10 and hosting an Auburn team that was undefeated in conference play. Auburn took the lead late in the fourth, only for LSU to come back and tie it with a [autotag]Colt David[/autotag] field goal. The game went to overtime, and [autotag]JaMarcus Russell[/autotag] and LSU came out on top.

What about 2007? Much like 2005, Auburn took the lead late in Baton Rouge and LSU would once again need some last second heroics.

As the clock wound down, [autotag]Matt Flynn[/autotag] found [autotag]Demetrius Byrd[/autotag] in the corner of the endzone. It would go on to be one of the most important plays on LSU’s run to a national title.

We’ve had our fare share of stunners in recent years, too.

A trip to Jordan-Hare in 2016 would be the last one [autotag]Les Miles[/autotag] would make with LSU. A last second touchdown was called off, and Miles was fired the next day.

The following year, it was Ed Orgeron’s turn to take a stab at this rivalry. Auburn rolled into Tiger Stadium on a four game win streak.

LSU stumbled out of the gates, but a comeback highlighted by D.J. Chark’s punt return for a touchdown and Connor Culp’s go-ahead field goal gave Orgeron his first signature win.

The following year, now led by [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag], LSU went into Jordan-Hare and pulled off another comeback, capped off by [autotag]Cole Tracy[/autotag] putting one through the uprights as time expired.

When these teams get together, crazy things happen. The rules of logic don’t apply. The ground shakes, buildings burn, and coaches get fired.

No lead is ever safe, and the only certainty is chaos.

LSU isn’t Auburn’s biggest rival and Auburn isn’t LSU’s, but there’s been too many good games for this to not be one of the SEC’s best rivalries. It represents why we love this sport. Whether you’re at the stadium or watching on TV, you just might see something you’ve never seen before.

For better or worse, on and off the field, LSU and Auburn both never fail to entertain. The teams are slated to meet again this weekend. Bryan Harsin is fighting for his job on the plains as [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is just getting started in Baton Rouge.

LSU looks like it’s heading in the right direction, and Auburn looks like its going all the wrong ways.

LSU should win this game. It’s almost a double-digit favorite and it’s hard to remember the last time Auburn was this bad. On Saturday, none of that matters, because nothing about this rivalry is normal.

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