A new Bud Light promotion is producing cans with 27 different color combinations and selling them in areas that maybe, coincidentally have a local university that uses the same hues. (Purple and gold in Baton Rouge, yellow and blue in Ann Arbor, etc.) But that doesn't mean they expect college kids to drink the stuff.

"Show your true colors with Bud Light," the company says, according to copies of internal marketing materials obtained by colleges. "This year, only Bud Light is delivering superior drinkability in 12-ounce cans that were made for gameday.

Ok, maybe a little. But just the 25% of college students who are actually old enough to do so! For serious, guys. After all, most college football stadiums don't even sell beer so how else are you supposed to show your school pride?

Most of the schools affected have complained about the cans, but LSU has wisely decided to "keep a close eye" instead. And Texas doesn't mind because the cans aren't exactly "burnt" orange. Just orange-y. So drink up, junior! Unless you're some kind of bandwagon Coors fan.

Team-Color Bud Cans Leave Colleges Flat [Wall Street Journal]

(NCAA buckets. Duh.)

Today has pretty much been a snoozer as far as basketball action is concerned. That may all change tonight during the NCAA's evening sessions.

Purdue vs. Washington, 5:40 PM, Portland. You gotta fight! For the right! To get demolished by UConn next week!

North Carolina vs. LSU, 5:45 PM, Greensboro, NC. The North Carolina schools' annual NCAA tournament tour of North Carolina's arenas continue. Will Hansbrough ever close his mouth and/or get a rebound? Tune in to find out!

Oklahoma vs. Michigan, 5:50 PM, Kansas City. Will Michigan avenge their 1976 Orange Bowl loss to Oklahoma? Tune in to find out!.

Gonzaga vs. Western Kentucky, 8:10 PM, Portland. Chicago sports radio host Dan Bernstein has a theory that every year in the NCAA tournament, one of the Cinderella teams has red jerseys. Is Western Kentucky this year's Crazy Red Team? Tune in to find out!

Duke vs. Texas, 8:15 PM, Greensboro. Tonight, we are all Texans. Hook 'em, Horns!

*****

Total Deadspin meltdown in 5, 4, 3, 2 ...

Well, here we go. A.J. and Suss will no doubt be spending the next two days having heart palpitations as we, the unwashed masses who live blog, have been given the keys to the site. But don't worry guys, you're in good hands. I've learned much about this basket-ball and the NCCA Marching Dance Madness since emigrating from a small Estonian yak-herding village two weeks ago. Plus my yak is a surprisingly good typist.

So we have a pretty classic NCAA Tournament storyline coming into this one. Big-conference school with ax to grind over seeding goes up against an undersized small-conference team that even goes so far as to play in the same building where "Hoosiers" took place. Butler, though, despite its slightly inferior seeding, isn't much of an underdog considering it's been to the tournament each of the past two seasons, winning at least once both times, while LSU has sat out since 2006. Of course, that was the year Big Baby, Tyrus Thomas, and other players with aspirations of becoming backup power forwards in the NBA made it all the way to the Final Four. Garrett Temple and Tasmin Mitchell are still around from that team, while Butler relies on youth, starting three freshmen and a sophomore. That sophomore is Matt Howard, Horizon Conference Player of the Year. LSU has its own conference Player of the Year, SEC honoree Marcus Thornton. Each team has the conference coach of the year, too.

So who does it come down to? Maybe Xavier knows. The Tigers fell to the visiting Musketeers in Baton Rouge this season, but Butler went to Xavier and won.

On to the starting lineups! (Cue flashing lights and laser display)

No.9 seed BUTLER BULLDOGS
Coach Brad Stevens
G Ronald Nored
G Shelvin Mack
G/F Gordan Hayward
F Willie Veasley
F Matt Howard

No. 8 seed LSU TIGERS
Coach Trent Johnson
G Garrett Temple
G Bo Spencer
G Marcus Thornton
F Tasmin Mitchell
C Chris Johnson

2:33 p.m., LSU 75, Butler 71 (Final)
Well, that was deflating. A tie game with five minutes to play turns into a free-throw shooting contest. Same thing in that Memphis game, it looks like, as the Tigers survive 81-70. And with Texas A&M closing out their win, there are only 60 more chances for that One Shining Moment. Which, by the way, I've never brought myself to listen to all the way through. And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this.

2:30 p.m., LSU 75, Butler 71 (Final)
Johnson misses the first, eliciting oohs and aahs from the crowd and pained gamblers alike. But he makes the second. Spencer steals the in-bounds pass, and it's done!

2:28 p.m., LSU 74, Butler 71
Both free throws are made, and Hayward misses a three. Veasley follows with a tip with 5.4 seconds to play. Johnson to shoot 2 with 4.5 seconds to go.

2:26 p.m., LSU 72, Butler 69
Mack brings' em back to within three with 11.6 to play.

2:24 p.m., LSU 70, Butler 66
Mitchell hits them both, and Hayward nails a 3-pointer. Butler commits the foul with 19.3 remaining. Oh, come on, Kellogg, give up the ship. It's as good as o-vah! (Famous last words!)

2:23 p.m., LSU 68, Butler 63
Hayward blocked by Johnson, Howard commits his fifth foul, and with 35.7, it looks like it's all over. For the game, and the Kellogg-Howard bromance, too.

2:21 p.m., LSU 68, Butler 63
Thornton with the miss, Howard with the make, and it's a four-point game with one minute to go. Howard "clobbers" Chris Johnson, as Nantz says, and Johnson is to shoot two. 46 seconds to go. Makes one of two.

2:19 p.m. LSU 67, Butler 61
Mitchell with a wide-open jumper. It's a long two, though, because of a foot on the line. And Howard to the line where he hits one of two. Howard leads all scorers with 20. Thornton drives on Howard on the other end, though, and makes the layup, and Thornton picks his fourth steal as LSU takes control with under two to play.

2:15 p.m., LSU 63, Butler 60
McDonald's is picky about its ingredients? Look, the only thing that ever gets picked out of McDonald's ingredients is a chinch bug. And that, my friends, is your requisite Caddyshack reference! And Memphis trails 64-63, by the way. Mack to go to the line after a foul on Thornton, his third. He hits both, and Hayward boards a miss. Butler can tie it as we're under three and a half.

2:12 p.m., LSU 63, Butler 58
Thornton and Howard are back in the game as Ronald Nored goes to the bench with four fouls for Butler. Thornton nails a long 3! Howard gets locked in a tie-up and the possession arrow gives it to LSU. Cue Dickie V possession arrow rage now!

2:08 p.m., LSU 60, Butler 58
Howard's bloody knee gets him sent to the bench, and we get treated to some gross-out footage as Zach Hahn comes in cold off the bench to take Howard's 1-and-1. He hits 'em both. This is a good one! LSU gets a quick bucket and it's a two-point game with under five minutes to play.

2:06 p.m. LSU 58, Butler 54
Howard misses the front end of a 1-and-1. We find out that Howard was bleeding from his right knee, but someone, maybe Kellogg, put a makeshift bandage on it. Spencer gets a transition lay-in off a steal by Brandon Bass's brother. Howard makes another, then gets thrown to the floor on the other end. Kellogg is not amused!

2:04 p.m., LSU 56, Butler 54
Thornton collided with Howard on the play, which is of course rich with symbolic possibility should Butler win this one. No foul on Howard, by the way. Thornton sitting on bench tying his shoes as CBS returns.

2 p.m., LSU 56, Butler 54.
We're at the 8:01 mark, two shots for Thornton after a foul by Nored that might well have been called on Howard instead. He makes one of two. Marcus Thornton with the putback now for LSU and he goes down. And the arena becomes even more silent. 7:15 to go, and everyone holds their breath while they watch a Hershey's commercial.

1:58 p.m., Butler 54, LSU 53
Hayward nails a 3, followed by a little scrum for a rebound between Howard, who is back in the game obviously, and Johnson that results in a jump-ball and Kellogg nearly having to get up and intervene. Nored tips it in to give Butler the lead.

1:55 p.m., LSU 53, Butler 49
Star watch: Kellogg's girlfriend Howard has 17 for Butler, while Thornton has 15 for LSU. And in Philly, CBS dutifully shows us the blowout that Texas A&M-BYU is becoming. But it's a one-point lead for Northridge! My bracket is about to go straight to hell! Yay!

1:52 p.m., LSU 53, Butler 49
Thornton prompts Nantz to say "dipsy-doo for two." Yech. And then Johnson slams it home for LSU, and it's back out to a four-point bulge. Huh-huh, I said bulge, huh-huh.

1:50 p.m., LSU 49, Butler 47
Tas Mitchell draws the third foul on Howard, now. Nantz wonders aloud about whether Howard should sit. Kellogg doesn't think he should, but Matt Stevens calls him to the bench anyway. "How dare he!" Kellogg says under his breath. Mitchell misses both free throws. 12:07 left.

1:48 p.m., LSU 49, Butler 47
Howard makes one of two at the Thornton nails a fade-away 3 to put LSU up by 4. Thornton has 18 now. Veasley, Temple, and Johnson all have three fouls, fyi. Howard draws the foul and Kellogg is in full-scale bromance mode. He hits 'em both.

1:45 p.m., LSU 46, Butler 44
Butler rebounds a miss, and it's an alley-oop to Veasley and the Bulldogs have their first lead! It's a short-lived one, as Thornton sticks one to put LSU back in front. Howard feeds Nored and Butler leads again! 3-pointer for LSU! They're in front! Good lord! This got interesting in a hurry!

1:42 p.m., LSU 41, Butler 40
Kellogg just called Howard "a dominant low-post presence." The kid is 6-foot-8, 230 pounds. As an NBA fan, this disturbs me to no end. Almost the same way Kellogg's NBA career itself disturbed me.

1:40 p.m., LSU 41, Butler 40
Alert Bill Simmons! It's a "This is Your Country" Chevy ad! And from now on, I'm not calling this a blowout in the making, even when it is a blowout in the making. Butler knows how to make a run. They're on a 7-0 push right now, and Chris Johnson is on the bench with three fouls for LSU.

1:38 p.m. LSU 41, Butler 40
But wait! Butler gets a shot inside by Howard, an offensive foul on the other end, and Mack hits another three. Boy, that small school from Indiana sure is scrappy. Howard makes a transition (!) basket and it's a one-point game!

1:36 p.m., LSU 41, Butler 33
Mitchell drains a J, and Butler can't hit on the other end. A silly foul on Ronald Nored, and LSU has an opportunity to start breaking it open. Johnson drains one from about 12 feet.

1:33 p.m., LSU 37, Butler 31
Howard gets a bucket inside to make it a four-point game as we begin the second half. He has a look at another and .. rolls off the rim. But he's got 10 points in eight minutes. And, as a shaggy-haired white guy, the affection of many, many women.

1:31 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
A little local flavor: The loudmouth, obese white guy in the car dealership commercial that just ran felt obligated, this being South Florida, to shout "Se Habla Espanol" in a terrible gringo accent at the end of the ad. Just another perk of living in "paradise."

1:27 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
See how I deftly avoided making a crack about that guy who heckled him in the press conference a few weeks ago? See how tasteful I can be? Not everyone in the blogosphere is smug and snarky! Just most of us.

1:26 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
Breaking news: Jim Calhoun will miss the UConn game today with some kind of illness. We're not sure exactly what it is. George Blaney will coach in his stead.

1:22 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
The crowd at Kansas City for the Memphis game doesn't look too strong, either. What do you mean, no one wants to blow $100 just to knock off work and watch guys you've never heard of play for a school you don't care about? What, is there some kind of recession going on, or something?

1:19 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
A check of the stats shows Thornton has 13, Mitchell 10 for LSU, which is shooting 50 percent. Howard and Mack both have eight to lead Butler. The Bulldogs are shooting only 34 percent, but 36 percent from behind the arc. Memphis leads 34-31 at the half in their game, btw. By the way, those KFC Famous Bowls look like the only thing they are famous for is making you visit the other famous bowl. Yikes!

1:14 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
So how 'bout that? A six-point game at the half was not what we were expecting soon after tip-off. Advantage Butler. Except, of course, that they trail by six, which is not much of an advantage. We're getting treated to some coverage of CS-Northridge vs. Memphis, which is a two-point game. Go, Whatever Nickname Northridge Has!

1:11 p.m., LSU 35, Butler 29 (Halftime)
An airball for Howard, but he boards a miss on the other end. Then does "a textbook job" of setting up in the post to draw the foul. It's another 1-and-1. I wish the NBA would add these 1-and-1's. Shaq would have averaged five less points a game every night. Howard nails 'em both again. Tas Mitchell hits one with about 17 seconds to go. Hayward puts up a 3 at the buzzer and its ... good!

1:08 p.m., LSU 33, Butler 24
Mitchell assists Thornton, who sinks one to end a 6-0 Butler run and improve his game-high point total to 13. Another quick timeout. Under a minute and a half to play before the break.

1:05 p.m., LSU 31, Butler 24
Kellogg points out (see, he can play this game, too) that LSU is unbeaten when they score 70 or more. Howard puts up two more. Traveling on LSU, again. Mack gets to the rack and his layup prompts an LSU timeout. 2:05 to play first half.

1:03 p.m., LSU 31, Butler 20
By the way, have you noticed how many times I've used the phrase "Nantz points out" in this blog? He should, like, call the Final Four or something. Howard re-enters as LSU hits a pair. Thornton with another steal and a bucket. And now Howard at the line for a 1-and-1. Makes 'em both.

1:01 p.m., LSU 27, Butler 18
Nantz points out that Butler is one of only three schools to have the same starting lineup all season. Mt. St. Mary's and North Dakota St. are the others. None of this helps the team hit its free throws. Avery Jukes misses a pair. Timeout with 3:58 to play in the first half.

12:58 p.m., LSU 27, Butler 18
Mack with a 3, and Thornton answers. Thornton picks off a pass and is fouled as he goes in for the lay-up. He hits both. Somewhere the Van Gundys are watching and lamenting this offense that has ruined what had been a tidy clankfest.

12:55 p.m., LSU 20, Butler 15
Terry Martin, LSU's sixth man, hits a 3. I designate him the sixth man because he's the only LSU player off the bench to average more than 2.7 points a game. Center Chris Johnson hits a J and it's a 7-point bulge for LSU. Jukes hits one for Butler to make it a five-point game. Where did all these points come from?

12:51 p.m., LSU 15, Butler 13
Let's not forget the cast of CBS sitcoms sitting around and pretending to watch the games. Those are classics! But it's a putback and Butler's within two!

12:50 p.m., LSU 15, Butler 11
Butler's currently on an 8-2 run. TV Timeout with 7:57 to go in the first half. Just so CBS can show the Taco Bell cross-dressing nacho commercial. Ah, capitalism and sports!

12:47 p.m., LSU 15, Butler 11
Butler is just 1-for-9, as Nantz points out. Kellogg says it's because they're pressing, but I think it might just be because they suck. Nantz points out it's a 4-minute stretch without a field goal for either team. Everybody sucks! But Hayward nails a 3 and suddenly it's a close game.

12:44 p.m. LSU 15, Butler 8
Attn Big Jim Slade: The yak is especially friendly, but only when you're around, if you know what I mean. And CBS gives us our first whiparound! Looks like BYU is having the same problem Butler is against Texas A&M. And go CS-Northridge, with an early 17-16 lead on Memphis!

12:42 p.m., LSU 15, Butler 8
Two free throws for Butler, then a steal, and Wayward Hayward (sorry kid, but you know I could have gone a step farther, too) clanks another three-pointer. But he blocks a shot on the other end, which leads to a traveling call on LSU. Butler ball.

12:38 p.m., LSU 15, Butler 6
Howard sits down again with two fouls at the 13:34 mark in the first half. Spencer has three free throws. OK, Suss, what happens if my affiliate switches away from this one to a game that isn't a 30-point blowout? Two of three for Spencer.

12:36 p.m., LSU 13, Butler 6
Tasmin Mitchell hits a shot inside, and this one is in blowout watch already. But Willie Veasley hits a 3-pointer, thank goodness, and Butler has its first field goal with under 14 minutes to play in the first half.

12:34 p.m., LSU 11, Butler 3
It's been pointed out several times in the lead-up to this one that LSU has lost 3 out of 4 coming in, but Butler hasn't exactly been playing great, either. Besides their 3-point shooting woes, their second-leading scorer, Gordon Hayward, has averaged only six points per game in his last three games.

12:28 p.m., LSU 11, Butler 3
Matt Howard, Butler's top scorer, hits two free throws, and promptly Butler takes him out of the game. Curious. 15:54 to go, 1st half.

12:28 p.m., LSU 9, Butler 1
Shawn Van Zant into the game for Butler. Cue bad Skynard jokes! (I think. I don't know all these classic rock names.) By the way, Butler relies heavily on 3-pointers, but has shot only 23 percent since a two-game losing streak in February.

12:26 p.m., LSU 9, Butler 1
Three possessions, three turnovers for Butler. Shelvin Mack draws a foul and Butler will not be shut out. One out of two free throws for Mack.

12:22 p.m., LSU 9, Butler 0
Bo Spencer with the first five points. Now Mitchell with a jumper that goes. Quickly those with Butler on their brackets turn as green as the empty seats. Thornton with a lay-in and its 9-0! Timeout!

12:20 p.m., pregame
Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg are your announcers, folks. It appears most will be relying on their call, because Greensboro is not exactly riveted for this one. Lots of empty seats for the tip.

12:19 p.m., pregame
So I wonder what commercial will emerge as the most annoying of the tournament? My money is on an old standby ... the CBS Masters promos. Did anyone ever realize the golf demographic is just a little bit different from the basketball one?

12:13 p.m., pregame
Seth Davis tells us that "sometime in our lifetime," a 16 will defeat a 1. What happens if I get hit by a bus moments before my alma mater, East Tennessee State, pulls off a miracle against Pitt tomorrow? Does my family get to file some kind of grievance against Davis? My fiancee wants the proceeds from your book, Seth. Fork it over!

12:10 p.m., pregame
And ... we have Gumbel! Who knew the sight of either Greg or Bryant would be a reason for excitement?

12:06 p.m., pregame
So my local CBS affiliate here in Fort Myers, WINK (yes, really), is doing a live report from the arena at Florida Gulf Coast University, where the women's team is practicing for its NIT game. This is of course justification for the 10-minute local news window before the games start.

2) Awards, our cup runneth over0. LSU's senior guard, Marcus Thornton, was named SEC Player of the Year, while guiding his team to a 26-7 overall record (13-3 in the SEC) and finishing second in the league in scoring at 20.7 ppg. His coach, Trent Johnson, in his first year after taking over for the fired John Brady (who has since been banished to Siberia, or Jonesboro, Arkansas...either one), was named SEC Coach of the Year. Johnson came to LSU from Stanford (clearly leaving Palo Alto for the boost in academic prestige that the Bayou has to offer) where he led the Cardinal to the NCAA tournament in 3 out of his 4 years as head coach.

3) LSU, scourge of the SWAC and other lesser conferences. LSU's NCAA Tournament hopes and dreams are built on the sacrificial and questionably talented corpses of its less than stellar non-conference opponents. LSU's non-conference strength of schedule was ranked 288th overall (RPI of 125) and featured such daunting publicly funded institutions as Grambling State, Nicholls State, Jackson State, Alcorn State and Centenary...um State. They are a healthy 1-3 against the Top 50 (including double digit loses to Xavier, Utah, and Texas A&M) and didn't win a non-conference game away from the Maravich Assembly Center all season. But hey, they won the SEC regular season title, a conference so recognized for its stellar achievement this year that the Selection Committee saw fit to bestow upon it 3 whole bids to the Dance. — Bunkie Perkins (Friends of the Program)

BUTLER BULLDOGS

1) Freshman, Freshman, Do Something Crazy, Do Something Crazy. Unlike the previous veteran laden Butler squads of the past, the 2008-2009 version starts three true freshmen. Leading the group is point guard Ronald Nored (6'0", 180). Nored is the definition of a pass first point guard with a passion for defense. Shooting guard Shelvin Mack (6'3", 215) hails from Lexington, Kentucky and is the Bulldog's best creator. Shelvin fills up the stat sheet wherever he's needed; on any given night he can score 20, dish off 8, or grab 9 off the boards. Finally, Gordon Hayward (6'8", 200) is a matchup problem in every context. Gordon was undersized until his junior year of high school and is still adjusting to his new found height, truly a guard playing in a forward's body. He was a two sport athlete in high school and almost won a state championship in tennis his senior year. Gordon won the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year and was in the top ten in ten different league statistics.

2) Smart Pups Butler has always strived for excellence on and off the court. Leading scorer Matt Howard was recently named to the 2008-09 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America University Division Men's Basketball Team. Howard boasts a 3.7 GPA with a major in Finance. Freshman Gordon Hayward is striving for a double major and currently has a 4.0 GPA. Not to mention Ronald Nored ran for and was elected freshman class president.

3) Don't drop the ball. Butler's success is dependent on their ability to handle the rock. Butler is 14-0 this year when committing less turnovers than their opponent. — fired up karen

Join the Deadspin Pants Party Group Pool [ESPN]
Download the Deadspin Bracket [PDF or JPG]

Yeah, it's about time I cleaned all of my old Christmas cards off of the mantle. Here's a particular favorite. I bet that it took these Mississippi fans all of, oh, three seconds to find an LSU fan drunk enough to pose with.

Lest we think that LSU fans were totally focused on hating Nick Saban and Alabama this past Saturday, please remember that The Pelican State is also very red. Can a lone fan cry out in the middle of Tiger Stadium against the looming return of big government under the Democrats? Yes he can.

Hmm, should we tell this guy that both James Carville and Hubert H. Humphrey were LSU graduates? Naw, he's suffering enough this week.

Dennis Smith, an LSU fan living in the heart of Alabama, called Michael Williams, an acquaintance Crimson Tide fan, for what we assume was a courtesy post-game concession phone call. Words were exchanged, Smith and wife decided to pay a visit and well ...

Soon, the Smiths arrived at Williams' home and the men wound up in a physical altercation, officers said.

Smith retrieved a pistol from his vehicle, and threatened Williams, who armed himself with a shotgun and fired two blasts, striking and killing Dennis Smith, officers said.

Donna Smith then threatened Williams, who shot and killed the woman, they said.

Say it with me now: "Alcohol was believed to have been a factor." Couldn't they have all just burned some dolls and let the rest slide?

Football dispute leaves 2 dead [Press-Register]

The info is kind of buried in this Tuscaloosa News article:

The billboards went up all around town last weekend, making them all but impossible to miss even though not one LSU player admitted to seeing them. “Welcome back Nick,” they stated, though the effigy and flames were more than a tip-off to the intended meaning.

The eight to 10 signs were an advertisement/public relations stunt for the “Burn Bama” bonfire at Tiger Manor condominiums near campus, which had been held before but failed to draw much attention. This week, the office phones hardly stopping ringing.

Tiger Manor is a luxury condo gated community (among the amenities are cherry cabinets, slab granite, breakfast bar) to which the typical LSU student would not even be admitted on a day pass, no doubt. It's actually partnered with the university through LSU Sports Properties, with signage in and around campus calling itself "The Official Condominium Complex of LSU."

Not mentioned in its list of amenities, however, is the occasional parking lot hate barbeque in which students are encouraged to roast brats, chicken and former coaches. As we know from Lord of the Flies, such unbridled revelry around the bonfire usually ends with Simon getting speared to death on the beach. Thanks for working up the natives, Tiger Manor. In the future, however, be aware that college kids don't need your help in acting like douchefucks.

Saban's Return Might Be A Hostile One [Tuscaloosa News]
Tiger Manor Condominiums [Official Site]

The game, which originally was scheduled to be on ESPN, now will be aired on ESPN Classic and also shown on ESPN360.com.

Spokesman Charles Zewe said the switch was required because of concerns over traffic, as evacuees are expected to be heading north through Baton Rouge.

All pregame activities already have been canceled, including those at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, which is being readied as a possible evacuation site.

This is pretty unfortunate for an area still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. But for the rest of us, this 11 AM kick is just license to start drinking immediately.

Hurricane Gustav Intensifies On Its Path To Cuba [CNN.com]

LSU-Appalachian St. game time moved up 6 hours because of Gustav [ESPN.com]

Yesterday during the NCAA Super Regional, UC Irvine got out of a base loaded jam in the 7th inning against LSU by pulling the Hidden Ball Trick, which is best known to people of my generation from the movie Rookie of the Year, which also taught us that pitchers got big butts. Except UC Irvine didn't really pull it off, because the runner was clearly safe.

Fark calls it one of the worst calls ever in college baseball and though I'm not qualified to make that determination, that seems a bit much. It's a bad one, all right, but worst ever? Sounds iffy.

LSU coach Paul Manieri doesn't think the umpire was watching the action, and though LSU ended up losing by six runs, it shouldn't be said the play didn't affect the outcome, especially considering the bases were loaded with a .300 hitter at the plate (at that point, LSU was down four).

• We Are The Sort Of Champions. Consider: A few hours before LSU beat Ohio State 38-24, the guys who run the BCS talked openly about turning the system into a de facto four-team playoff. In any other sport, that would be considered gauche—after all, it's essentially an admission that this year's champion isn't deserving. In college football, though, tradition holds that championships are won on the field so they can be denigrated off it. LSU is your national champion. It's all over but the shouting. [Slate]

• wOOt! This is a big win for the program, which will benefit from the exposure and the love from the media. I bet the town of Gonzales, hometown of me and Glenn Dorsey, and the home of the annual Jambalaya Festival and Confidence Man Convention, will regret no longer getting mentioned on national television every week. We really are living in the golden age of LSU football. [Geaux Tuscaloosa]

• LS-Who Cares? Crow all you want LSU fans, very few people outside of Louisiana think you won an actual national title. Sure you got your crystal ball by beating a vastly overrated Ohio State team (they lost to Illinois at home for Christ's sake) 38-24 in the Superdome last night, and hey, maybe you guys would have won a legit title if you had faced one of the other best teams in the country. But you didn't. [Rumors And Rants]

• Here's An Idea. Ohio State should clam up about being disrespected. Looks like that DVD Jim Tressel made for his players that featured snippets of media members ripping OSU this year didn't work. That's two years in a row the Buckeyes have been smoked in this game. In the future, just focus on yourself and what you have to do to improve. Don't worry about what others think. It's a waste of time. [The Sporting Blog]

• Our Predictions. (Published Monday) When I watched LSU play earlier in the year I thought to myself, "we are two touchdowns better than that team." I am not going to stray away from what I thought then. There is no better game strategist in college football than Jim Tressel. Prediction: Buckeyes, 31-14. [Buckeye Commentary]

• LSU Tigers: 2007 National Champs!!!!! Clearly, the SEC Speed thing was overblown. Best I can tell, no one saw it coming (with the exception of SMQ and possibly Pete Fiutak at CFN): the SEC isn't a bunch of Nancy Boys who can only outrun other teams to victory; LSU, at least, can win - and has won - by simply being more physical. We pointed it here three days ago. So congratulations, Les Miles. You're 34-6 in three years, with an SEC Title and a National Title — whether or not it required some divine intervention — and three rather dominating bowl performances in a row. We're glad you stayed. [And The Valley Shook]

• Retraction. I made a post earlier calling out Les Miles and LSU for acting classless during the game. Looking back, those comments were uncalled for and irresponsible on my part, and I apologize for that. As a result, I have deleted that post. I apologize to those two who made comments in there, but I felt it was necessary that the post be removed to help maintain this blog's credibility. [Around The Oval]

• Ohio State Loses, Tedd Ginn Jr. Emerges Unscathed. The next tactic to jump from the college game to the NFL is going to be Les Miles' lead blockers on quarterback sneaks. On QB sneaks LSU lines up a player in tight with the line on each side of the quarterback. When the ball is snapped they lurch forward and effectively function as lead blockers. It's ingenious, it almost never fails, and it's going to be used by every team in football very soon. [Shakedown Sports]

The game looks and plays just like the popular Madden NFL and NCAA football games, though all the goofy stuff such as player celebrations, cheering crowds, mascots and bands have been removed. LSU and Tennessee were the first schools to use it this season and it went well enough that XOS expects to make it available to all its clients this year. The company provides technology to most Division I schools. "The video game is an excellent resource we have," Perrilloux said. "Whenever we hit a play, that play would automatically match up with the defense that we would see or blitz we would see. If you make the wrong decision it's an automatic interception or it's an automatic incompletion."

How did Bowling Green prepare for the GMAC Bowl, we wonder? Pong? Asteroids? This?

(Kudos to Every Day Should Be Saturday for the enhancement of our original Normandy Ned graphic).

LSU Players Use Video Games To Prepare [MSNBC]
NCAA 2008: A Better Cover By Far [Every Day Should Be Saturday]

• LSU Loses! BCS Mayhem! Doesn't anyone want to play in the BCS title game? LSU is d-o-n-e, and the Missouri-Kansas winner still has to get past Oklahoma. West Virginia seems to be on deck, but still has to win twice. Ohio State suddenly might not have to back their way in. Les Miles Watch: I'd say this loss means he's as good as gone to Michigan (since he won't have a national title to play for). LSU fans are left wondering if their team was either distracted - or just plain caught looking ahead. Neither is good. [Dan Shanoff]

• Did We Have A Game Today? My family is in town for the Thanksgiving holiday, and my dad and I watched the game in my parents' hotel room. During the waning minutes of the ultra-tense fourth quarter, the hotel fire alarm went off, further agitating our already fried nerves. Thankfully, the room is on the first floor and has a sliding glass backdoor opening up to a courtyard; we decided that if it became apparent that we were truly in danger, we could get out easily enough. It wasn't anything close to a reckless decision, but the memory of watching those crazy final moments of regulation with that insistent, ear-shredding buzzer sound will stay with me forever. [Razorback Expats]

• No. 1 No More: Les Miles' Bag of Lucky Charms Finally Comes Up Empty. Incredible game. INCREDIBLE. Especially with so much on the line for both teams. But Arkansas came up the victor. LSU's title hopes are dead. And maybe Houston Nutt will coach again in Fayetteville. I've contended at times this year that Les Miles has been lucky rather than good, or more specifically, his talent has carried him when his coaching acumen has not. Today, he finally ran out of extra chances. LSU fans will now likely send Miles to Michigan with their compliments. [The FanHouse]

• LSU Just Lost And Armageddon At Arrowhead Just Got Bigger. Basically, LSU's second loss in 3 OT just made the biggest Kansas-Misery game in the history of the world even bigger; the biggest game of the season even bigger. The winner will become the #1 team in the country, and nobody will really complain. If the winner goes on to win in San Antonio, they will be the favorite to win the National Championship game. [Rock Chalk Talk]

• So You're Telling Me There's Still A Chance... Did Michigan do the Bucks the world's greatest favor by distracting Miles and the Tigers? At any rate, we welcome Leslie to Michigan next year. The more I see of him in action, the more reckless and out of control he appears coaching. He's just been blessed with incredible talent and insane luck. Until today. [Eleven Warriors]

• GIGGITY-GIGGITY-GIGGITY! David Lee, offensive coordinator: "Houston, man. I was thinking toss right with Jones."

Houston Nutt, head coach, Arkansas: "GIGGITY GIGGITY GIGGITY!!! WWOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! BLOTUNK BARFARKUS WOONDANGITY GIGGITY HOOOO!!!"

David Lee: "Hey, seriously. We're burning clock here. I got toss right to Jones for the win, Coach."

Nutt:"GOOD GREAT DANCING BOOGITY OOGITY! RAZORBACK FOOTBALL OHHH MAMIEEE SHANKY BACKRATTACKUS FLIRTIN' WITH DISASTERATOOOIIIEEE GIGGITY BULLFROG!!!!"

David Lee: "Toss right to Jones, then."

(They convert.)

Nutt:"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AHM GONNA BIDRIDINKUS COACH FOOTBAW JAGGETY BAGGITY BILBO BAGGINS TAINTSLAP DOOGITY DINKEE HOOOAAAAAAAOOOOOOOO!!!" [EDSBS]

(Also, this is the 40th jillionth time this year we've been told "Okay, forget about the game last week. THIS is the best game of the year." The law of averages tell us that one of these weeks, all the games will suck.)

• ♬ Winning Would Be Easy If Their Colors Were Like My Dream ♬ Red Gold and Green, Red Gold and Greeee-eeee-en ♬. A 38-0 loss to USC. All right, at this point, I genuinely feel sorry for Notre Dame, as well as somewhat responsible. Yes, we wanted them to underperform. Who didn't? But did you really want them to fall to 1-7? This is like hoping someone would kick the school bully's ass, then learning that he was beaten up by a gang member with a lead pipe, and consequently has to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair and can only speak in semi-relevant onomatopoeia.

Please, Notre Dame, help clear my conscience by winning out. Beat Navy, and such.

• California Reamin'. Despite a loss, the California Bears were still playing like the No. 2 team in the nation, which means they were bested by an unranked opponent. In this case, UCLA — a team who lost to effin Utah by 30 points at home — won 30-21.

• There Are No Good Puns That Use The Word "Tebow". The only reason I tell you now about Florida escaping Kentucky with a 45-37 win, is because Dan Shanoff's column doesn't run until Monday.

• In Michigan, Just About Everyone Wears Carr-Hart. With Michael Hart not dressing for the game, Lloyd Carr had to go to his section of the playbook that didn't include him, which was "every play in this three-inch area that includes the Chiclets but not the erasers." And they still won 27-17. So I guess we have to actually go around saying that Michigan is a good team now, despite some bad losses, and a favorite to play in the Rose Bowl but not in the national title game? Well, in a year where everything else is upside-down, at least this is the same.

• And Because I Can. Bowling Green was a 5-point underdog, but still went to Kent State and won 31-20. Freshman tailback Willie Geter: 206 rushing yards. Know him. Respect him. Rub his head for good luck.

• Kentucky Football: Believe! What a game, what a game. My wife and I were cheering and cursing and just loving it. We finally got around to dinner at about 9:30, and I had trouble sleeping last night for thinking about it. This game had much of the excitement of the 1992 Duke-UK basketball game, only with a better result. Kentucky football is truly enjoying a resurgence in the Bluegrass, and fan passion for the game is surging. [A Sea Of Blue]

• Postgame Take. No excuses here. We had all the opportunities in the world to win it. We were up 27-14 and gave it away. Flynn is at best an average passer, though he did well to convert some big third downs with his legs. The overthrows downfield have GOT to stop, though. [...] Our defense is clearly overrated. We had some injuries late but they moved it on us all day. We came up big at home last week when it mattered, but if a unit can't put it together against good offenses on the road, it's not worthy of much praise. It's still a very good defense, just not remotely comparable to the all-time great LSU defenses, or at this point even other defenses that are out there this year (Ohio State, for instance). [And The Valley Shook]

• Where Do LSU's National Title Hopes Stand? LSU's title hopes: They're not on life support. But they took a huge hit. With the wackiness of the '07 season, we're looking at some very iffy top-ranked teams who've fallen into the #1 slot, and it's not going to be easy to dislodge them. If it comes down to it, LSU will have to hope that their resume is impressive enough to be voted into the title game with one loss over an undefeated team with a questionable resume. [The FanHouse]

• Kentucky Shocks No. 1 LSU: Implications! For Kentucky, as legit a claim as anyone to "Best One-Loss Team" in the nation. Next week's game at home against Florida suddenly looms as large as this week's was against LSU. (Oh, and restore UK QB Andre Woodson as the Heisman Trophy favorite, and — while you're at it — as the top QB taken in the 2008 NFL Draft.) [Dan Shanoff]

Thanks so much for all your help these last couple days of posting — you've all adequately immersed yourselves in my low-brow Jacuzzi, and it is much appreciated . Tomorrow, Mr. Leitch returns with the family-friendly posting style we all know and love.

However, I'll be doing the first few posts in the monring as Will decompresses from his housekeeper humping vacation and reintroduces his sunburned hands to the keyboard. So, continue to send tips to aj@blacktable.com for the first portion of the day, and we'll keep the trains running until Will remembers how to type again.

Bag it. Tag it. Sell it to the butcher in the store room, etc.

College football game of the day: Sugar Bowl [Covers]

And, as pointed out by Rumors And Rants, yesterday it snapped. Babineaux posted the attached picture of himself and a a farewell message, saying that running a blog is not good for his mental health.

I have for three years thrown away my life to promote the cause of LSU being the legitimate 2003 national champion. After years of posting and campaigning I have reached the end of my line. And this will be my last post ever. ... Some people have asked me how I have so much time to devote to the LSUoverUSC cause. Well truth be told, I am unemployed, ever since Hurricane Katrina closed the catering service I once ran. But even before that, my work was severely hampered by my obsession, which has been professinally diagnosed as obsessive compulsive disorder. Feeding this disorder has caused me to spiral into a deep depression. My therapist says that the only way I can recover is through putting an end to writing messages on forums and on this blog.

May the lessons of a life wasted be learned by all of you who read this. The world is a big and marvelous place. Get out there and enjoy it. Don't let life pass you by.

You know, it's a shame, too, because we were this close to being convinced that LSU deserved the national title in 2003. Hell, another two or three posts might have done it, Fraser! Well, we're sure your health is worth it, just as sure as we are that USC was the 2003 national champion. Oh, is there an opposing view? If only there were some sort of Internet database out there with evidence for LSU's claim. But, sigh, there isn't anymore. Darn. Go Trojans!

Farewell [LSUOverUSC] (via Rumors And Rants)

But this has been as exciting a tournament as we can remember, pretty much every round, every day, every timeslot, every game. But both GMU-Florida and LSU-UCLA were bland, depressing blowouts, difficult to watch after halftime. That we would have come so far for so little seemed wrong, incongruous, some sort of cosmic cheat. That the ratings — insert usual "Neilsen ratings are pointless and outdated" disclaimer here — for the Patriots-Gators game were down eight percent from last year's Illinois-Louisville game somehow dented the story more; maybe people weren't as caught up in this as we thought.

But at least we had a Sunday evening baseball game. Baseball! That will cheer us! Oh. A three-hour rain delay. Nevermind. At least we'll catch the score on SportsCenter in the morning. What? Is that Stuart Scott doing another poetry slam? Aw ...

It's a difficult morning to be in love with sports. We'll do our best to snap out of it by lunchtime.

Cinderella Mauled By Gator [Deadspin]