The 2003 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University (LSU) during the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Nick Saban, the LSU Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Tigers compiled an 11–1 regular season record, going 7–1 in SEC play to finish tied for first in the SEC West, with the lone loss coming against SEC East foe Florida. Due to defeating the other co-division champion, Ole Miss, LSU was selected to play in the SEC Championship Game, defeating no. 5 Georgia 34–13. LSU was selected to play the Oklahoma Sooners in the Sugar Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) national title. LSU won the BCS National Championship Game, the first national football championship for LSU since 1958.
The 2003 college football regular season ended with three one-loss teams in BCS contention: the LSU Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, and USC Trojans. USC ended the regular season ranked No. 1 and LSU No. 2 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. Media controversy ensued when the BCS computer-based selection system chose LSU and Oklahoma as the participants in the BCS title game, largely based on an assessment of the relative difficulty of the three teams' 2003 schedules. During the bowl games, LSU beat No. 3 Oklahoma 21–14 in the Sugar Bowl (designated as the BCS National Championship Game for the 2003–04 season), while USC defeated the No. 4 Michigan Wolverines 28–14 in the Rose Bowl. LSU was ranked No. 1 in the final Coaches' Poll (which was contractually obligated to rank the BCS champion No. 1) while USC remained No. 1 in the final AP Poll, resulting in a non-consensus national title - the last time this has happened. Several experts have viewed the 2003 Tigers as having one of the greatest defenses in college football history.
Schedule
Rankings
Roster Quarterbacks 12 Marcus Randall 15 Matt Flynn 18 Matt Mauck 4 JaMarcus Russell 8 Ty Barrett 19 Michael Harrison
Running backs 22 Torey Bennett 2 Shyrone Carey 23 Jason Spadoni 25 Justin Vincent 10 Joseph Addai 32 Barrington Edwards 22 Alley Broussard
Fullbacks 24 Tyler Olivier 49 Michael Ricks 35 Brandon Nowlin 40 Shawn Jordan 44 Kevin Steltz 11 Jason Lile
Wide receivers 86 Junior Joseph 13 Steve Mares 14 Michael Clayton 9 Devery Henderson 87 Blain Bech 4 Michael Russo 81 Dwayne Bowe 85 Craig Davis 17 Bennie Brazell 38 Gino Giambelluca 8 Terrell Clayton 80 Schirra Fields 5 Skyler Green 42 Andre Gill 1 Amp Hill Tight ends 47 Eric Edwards 82 David Jones 84 Andrew Wright 83 Kory Hebert 88 Demetri Robinson 89 Keith Zinger
Center 59 Doug Planchard 55 Ben Wilkerson 61 Jimmy Courtenay
Offensive line 65 Steve Arflin 62 Brandon Hurley 69 Garett Wibel 75 Brian Johnson 71 Nate Livings 68 Terrell McGill 72 Stephen Peterman 67 Bradley Sowa 74 Josh Dicharry 64 Rudy Niswanger 62 Harold Bicknell 73 Will Arnold 66 Jerry Sevin 76 Andrew Whitworth 63 Mac McLachlan 60 Rodney Reed 78 Paris Hodges 77 Peter Dyakowski
Defensive line 59 Leo Desselle
Defensive end 79 Sean Merrill 84 Marcus Spears 52 Ryan Willis 96 Carnell Stewart 97 Brandon Washington 94 Marquise Hill 48 Kirston Pittman 53 Tory Collins Defensive tackle 98 Torran Williams 92 Bryce Wyatt 50 Jarrod Carter 89 Timothy Binion 90 Melvin Oliver 95 Kyle Williams 93 Chad Lavalais
Linebackers 99 Jason LeDoux 45 Willie Demps 35 Mark Martin 19 Darius Ingram 63 Patrick McGibboney 57 Dave Peterson 34 Dorsett Buckels 27 Eric Alexander 40 Barrett Dupuy 52 Joey Noto 47 Dustin Adams 35 Micah Metrailer 91 Alonzo Manuel 56 Kenneth Hollis 42 Phillip Maxwell 46 Cameron Vaughn 58 Lionel Turner 51 Dominic Cooper 54 Brian West 55 Chris McCauley 7 Adrian Mayes
Defensive backs 37 Daniel Francis 38 Vernon Russell, Jr. 6 Ryan Gilbert 28 Jeff Cook 39 Troy Hankton 9 Corey Meredith 28 Greg Hercules 44 Patrick Babinecz 30 LaRon Landry 33 Jonathan Zenon 26 Nick Child 31 Jessie Daniels 41 Marcques Lewis Cornerbacks 13 Corey Webster 24 Keron Gordon 29 Travis Daniels 1 Ronnie Prude 21 Randall Gay
Safeties 8 Jack Hunt 43 Chad White
Punters 16 Ross Cockrell 80 Donnie Jones 36 Patrick Fisher
Kickers 35 Andre Boagni 6 Colt David 41 Chris Jackson 39 Ryan Gaudet
Long snappers 86 Steve Damen 70 Gant Petty
Game summaries Louisiana–Monroe
Statistics ULMLSU First downs 11 23 Total yards 240 474 Rushing yards 59 168 Passing yards 181 306 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 24:45 35:15 Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana–Monroe Passing Steven Jyles 14/30, 180 yards, INT Rushing Kevin Payne 16 rushes, 64 yards, TD Receiving Mack Vincent 2 receptions, 46 yardsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 13/28, 153 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Joseph Addai 15 rushes, 81 yards Receiving Michael Clayton 6 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TD
ESPN
At Arizona
Statistics LSUARIZ First downs 28 10 Total yards 481 182 Rushing yards 182 91 Passing yards 299 91 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 36:13 23:47 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 10/11, 150 yards, TD Rushing Joseph Addai 18 rushes, 86 yards, 2 TD Receiving Michael Clayton 6 receptions, 109 yards, TDArizona Passing Ryan O'Hara 7/20, 70 yards, INT Rushing Clarence Farmer 8 rushes, 61 yards, TD Receiving Sean Jones 3 receptions, 27 yards
ESPN
No. 1 (I-AA) Western Illinois
Statistics WIULSU First downs 12 31 Total yards 208 457 Rushing yards 13 152 Passing yards 195 305 Turnovers 3 3 Time of possession 27:59 32:01 Team Category Player StatisticsWestern Illinois Passing Russ Michna 17/39, 195 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Travis Glasford 16 rushes, 21 yards Receiving Travis Glasford 4 receptions, 43 yardsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 23/32, 305 yards, 4 TD Rushing Shyrone Carey 21 rushes, 124 yards, TD Receiving Michael Clayton 11 receptions, 162 yards, TD
ESPN Game SummarySidearm Sports - Scoring Summary
No. 7 Georgia
Statistics UGALSU First downs 23 16 Total yards 411 285 Rushing yards 97 105 Passing yards 314 180 Turnovers 3 2 Time of possession 26:43 33:17 Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing David Greene 20/44, 314 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Michael Cooper 18 rushes, 73 yards Receiving Tyson Browning 2 receptions, 104 yards, TDLSU Passing Matt Mauck 14/29, 180 yards, TD, INT Rushing Shyrone Carey 18 rushes, 73 yards, TD Receiving Skyler Green 4 receptions, 78 yards, TD
ESPN
At Mississippi State
Statistics LSUMSST First downs 17 18 Total yards 354 239 Rushing yards 163 31 Passing yards 191 208 Turnovers 2 4 Time of possession 27:06 32:54 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 12/19, 171 yards, TD, INT Rushing Justin Vincent 6 rushes, 58 yards, TD Receiving Devery Henderson 7 receptions, 114 yards, TDMississippi State Passing Kevin Fant 19/30, 191 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Fred Reid 6 rushes, 29 yards Receiving Justin Jenkins 5 receptions, 61 yards, TD
ESPN
Florida
Statistics FLALSU First downs 18 14 Total yards 310 287 Rushing yards 81 56 Passing yards 229 231 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 30:20 29:40 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida Passing Chris Leak 18/30, 229 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ciatrick Fason 7 rushes, 92 yards Receiving Carlos Perez 3 receptions, 58 yardsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 19/33, 231 yards, 2 INT Rushing Joseph Addai 10 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Devery Henderson 5 receptions, 109 yards
ESPN
At South Carolina
Statistics LSUSCAR First downs 27 11 Total yards 482 254 Rushing yards 263 0 Passing yards 219 254 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 41:43 18:17 Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Matt Mauck 24/30, 199 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Alley Broussard 19 rushes, 108 yards Receiving Justin Vincent 4 receptions, 46 yardsSouth Carolina Passing Dondrial Pinkins 15/32, 254 yards, TD Rushing Demetris Summers 8 rushes, 16 yards Receiving Matthew Thomas 4 receptions, 102 yards, TD
ESPN
No. 17 Auburn
Statistics AUBLSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsAuburn Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving
ESPN
Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTLSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving
ESPN
At Alabama
Statistics LSUALA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Alabama Passing Rushing Receiving
ESPN
At No. 15 Ole Miss
Statistics LSUMISS First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Ole Miss Passing Rushing Receiving
ESPN
Arkansas
Statistics ARKLSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsArkansas Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving
ESPN
Vs. No. 5 Georgia (SEC Championship Game)
Statistics LSUUGA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsLSU Passing Rushing Receiving Arizona Passing Rushing Receiving
ESPN
Vs. No. 3 Oklahoma (Sugar Bowl – BCS NCG)
Statistics OKLALSU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsOklahoma Passing Rushing Receiving LSU Passing Rushing Receiving
LSU Tigers in the 2004 NFL draft Michael Clayton Wide receiver 1 15 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Devery Henderson Wide receiver 2 18 50 New Orleans Saints Marquise Hill Defensive end 2 31 63 New England Patriots Stephen Peterman Offensive Guard 3 20 83 Dallas Cowboys Chad Lavalais Defensive tackle 5 10 142 Atlanta Falcons Donnie Jones Punter 7 23 224 Seattle Seahawks Matt Mauck Quarterback 7 24 225 Denver Broncos https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2004.htm
References