By JAMES MORAN
Tiger Rag Associate Editor
Dwayne Thomas isn’t shy about his feelings regarding the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The veteran defensive back is part of a senior class that gets one last chance to beat its hated rival, and he told reporters Wednesday that LSU isn’t just going to win the top-20 showdown at Tiger Stadium on Nov. 5, but went so far as to declare the Tigers would “dominate” the nation’s top-ranked team.
“This is the year,” Thomas told a crowd of reporters before practice Wedneaday. “We’ve been letting them off the hook for the last couple of years. This is my senior year. We’re going out with a bang. It’s time for us to bring that win back. We’re going to be at home. I feel like we have the edge to take it to them, and we’re going to take it to them. I feel like we’re going to dominate this game.”
Ending “The Streak” has been the topic of conversation during LSU’s traditional bye week heading into the annual heavyweight showdown. The Tigers have dropped five straight to the Tide dating back to the 21-0 beat down administered in the Superdome back on Jan. 9, 2012.
Thomas, a fifth-year senior, has actually been a part of two close calls with Alabama, both in Baton Rouge. LSU blew late leads in heartbreaking loses in both 2012 and 2014. So he knows full well the Tide isn’t unbeatable.
And he’s not worried about providing the opposition with bulletin board material, either.
“We put stuff up over here, too,” Thomas said. “If that helps motivate them, so be it. We know what motivates us, and that’s we want that No. 1 that’s next to their (name). We want it. We want it next to our LSU.”
That bravado comes from confidence accumulated during a 3-0 run — each victory has been by double digits, and the latest came over Ole Miss — under interim coach Ed Orgeron.
One day earlier, Orgeron bellowed “hell yeah” when asked if LSU had enough talent to hang with Alabama while speaking at the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club.
It’ll be another 11 days before the actual game kicks off, but it seems safe to say that Alabama week has arrived in Baton Rouge.
Be the first to comment