LSU Pivotal Football Moments
pivotal college football moment: A decision by a coach or athletic director that changes the momentum of a program or an action by a player that changes the momentum of a game.
pivotal college football moment: A decision by a coach or athletic director that changes the momentum of a program or an action by a player that changes the momentum of a game.
Coach Branch Bocock's "Louisiana Tigers" played their eighth and final game of the 1921 season against the Mississippi A&M Maroons in a contest that was "filled to overflowing with spectacular plays" before the largest crowd ever to see a game in Starkville - 4,000 fans. Tiger halfback-punter Clarence "Fatty" Ives, playing his last game for the Old Gold and Purple, was the star of LSU's 17-14 victory, which broke a three-game losing streak to the Maroons. The senior from Baton Rouge had a hand in every Tiger point.
Tigers Take Advantage of Turnover
The Tigers broke the scoring ice last in the first quarter after recovering a fumble. Ives broke loose around left end for 40y to the 15. Three plays later, he threw a pass to Fritz Spencer to the three. HB Reggie McFarland plunged over from there on the first play of the second period.
L-R: Coach Branch Bocock, Clarence "Fatty" Ives, Fritz Spencer, Reggie McFarland
(LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1922)
Field Goal Puts LSU Ahead
The Maroons tied the score on their next possession. But Ivy returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield and followed with a 30y end sweep to the 20. But the A&M defense stiffened. So Ives booted a field goal from the 20 to put the Tigers back on top 10-7, and they stayed there for the rest of the half.
LSU-Mississippi A&M action 1921 (LSU Gumbo Yearbook Class of 1922)
Tigers Take Advantage of Bad Snap
A&M started the second half by moving to the LSU 20. But a bad pass from center sailed all the way to the Maroon 35 where a Tiger fell on it. An end sweep preceded a pass from Ives to Spencer, who caught the ball on the 10 and ran into the end zone. McFarland kicked goal to make it 17-7.
The Maroons dominated the rest of the quarter. First they drove to the LSU 20 before four incompletions turned the ball over. But bad snaps doomed the Tigers, and A&M was soon back in business at midfield. This time the Maroons were not to be denied, cutting the deficit to 17-14.
Penalty Cancels Maroon Score
Neither team scored in the final period although LSU once had the ball within A&M's five. After the Maroons took over on downs, W. G. McGowan passed 40y to J. A. Taylor who caught the ball at the 50 and raced to the end zone. Enthusiasm over what had seemed the most thrilling play of the game gave way to gloom when the linesman called the play back because an Aggie had been offside.
A constant throughout the contest was Ives' punting, which averaged an incredible 55y per boot to keep A&M at bay.
FINAL SCORE: LSU 17 MISSISSIPPI A&M 14