The 5 LSU fourth downs vs. Florida that set the tone for the Les Miles era

BATON ROUGE, La. — In the process of explaining the inexplicable, CBS analyst Gary Danielson said something to keep in mind today as we talk about 2007.

LSU had just called a fake field goal against South Carolina that included starting quarterback Matt Flynn no-look flipping the ball over his shoulder to kicker Colt David for an easy touchdown. Steve Spurrier shook his head. Les Miles grinned watching the replay. But this was only the beginning.

“Sometimes play calls just don’t make sense,” Danielson said on the broadcast.

He was talking about the play before, the play to set up the field goal and how obvious it should have been, but Danielson missed the challenge of coaching against Les Miles. If one Miles call doesn’t make sense, and the next call doesn’t make sense, then how exactly can an opponent try to make sense of it all?

As The Athletic sought to recall a pivotal series of plays in LSU history, the selection could only return to one person: The Mad Hatter. It had to revolve around the risky moves of LSU’s bold former coach. And if it had to involve Miles, then of course it would have to center around the most inexplicable season in college football history: 2007. And if 2007 is the focus, then where else but the chaotic night in Tiger Stadium in which Miles went for it five times on fourth down to come back from behind and seal the No. 1 ranking on the way to an eventual national title?

Yes, we’re talking about LSU vs. Florida.

It’s the night Miles went for it once with his backup quarterback, once with a fake field goal power, once with a drawn-up-in-the-dirt style pass and twice on the final drive with his 224-pound fullback. It was the night that best summarized the absurd 2007 season, one with Tiger Stadium roaring as a shocking USC upset loss was announced, fans calling eventual Heisman winner Tim Tebow the night before and a game-winning touchdown where the play call wasn’t even spoken.

With the help of the star of that game, Jacob Hester, let’s go through that legendary game, those fourth-down calls and the legacy Miles boosted that humid Louisiana evening as the Mad Hatter.

“I think that game really started it,” Hester said.

LSU wasn’t exactly built for a comeback in those days. The 2007 offense was better than history remembers — with Matt Flynn, Hester, Brandon LaFell, Early Doucet, Demetrius Byrd, Trindon Holliday, Keiland Williams and Charles Scott breaking many school records — but it wasn’t the quick-scoring juggernaut of the 2019 Tigers. It was power football. That part you remember correctly.

In fact, then-No. 1 LSU’s game plan against No. 9 Florida on Oct. 6, 2007, was partially centered around long drives. Miles and company were dedicated to keeping Tim Tebow and the Florida offense off the field, which went well with LSU’s physical power run game. Three of LSU’s four touchdown drives that night lasted 15 plays or more.

Spending much of the game trailing by 10 points wasn’t ideal. But at least LSU could stick with its brand football in the first half. Trailing 10-0 in the second quarter, LSU pounded the ball with five different players, going 79 yards on 15 plays until it got stopped at the 1-yard line for fourth down. It was early, so a field goal would be understandable, but this was also a Miles team that prided itself on grit. Did you ever think Miles would cower away from gaining a few inches?

With dual-threat backup Ryan Perrilloux in for the goal-line package, LSU ran a fourth-and-1 option left.

“I got a little nervous there, because I was like, ‘Pitch it. Pitch it. Pitch it,’” Hester said, “And then he doesn’t pitch it.”

(Watch at the 3:58 mark)

Perrilloux followed fullback Quinn Johnson, took the block he needed and cut inside for the score. LSU was back in it, down 10-7, until Florida quickly scored again and LSU missed a field goal before halftime. The Gators led, 17-7.

The trick plays weren’t sudden ideas thrown into the game plan days before a game. They weren’t “Eureka!” moments of Miles waking up in the middle of the night and reaching for a pen the day of a game. No, they were planned. They were practiced. Practiced almost too much, some wondered.

LSU spent quite a large amount of time in the 2005 and 2006 season practicing fake field goals and fake punts and all the things we’d come to know Miles for. While some teams were using time for 7-on-7 sessions, LSU mastered the trick play. Flynn probably practiced the fake field goal toss back 150 times. But LSU ran none of them those first two years.

“We used to joke about how big of a period it was wasted, because we did all these things and never actually used them in a game,” Hester said.

Then, in 2007, Miles thought LSU was ready.

It was a veteran team, one almost entirely built on senior stars. Hester suggests maybe Miles knew this team could accept the pressure of these plays and, maybe more importantly, could handle the failure of one, too.

He finally broke out the fake field goal flip in that South Carolina game two weeks before playing Florida. Miles’ eyes were opened. From that moment on, the Miles pulled every trick out of the bag.

“That year, I guess he just had the ultimate confidence because he didn’t take any time,” Hester said.

There was never a break to think. He never stopped to ask, “What do you think here?” Fourth down would arrive, and Miles was ready with the call.

So, when fourth-and-5 arrived against Florida, the Tigers trailing 17-7 shortly after a missed field goal, Miles didn’t think. He sent the field goal unit out with a different plan. Except this trick play wasn’t a backward flip or a sneaky pass to open field. It was maybe the most Miles call of any Miles call. It was, essentially, a fake field goal power. The margins were small. And five yards wasn’t exactly a short distance.

Hester, sitting on the left wing, pulled like a guard to the right side. Flynn took the snap as holder, had to stand back up and then took off for the gap. Hester led the way and Flynn gained the first down with eight yards.

(Watch at the 6:19 mark)

Hester spent his entire career lining up on the right wing, but Miles wanted him on the left to be the puller. That made Hester nervous. He felt like the giveaway. If Florida’s field goal unit paid attention at all, it would see him on the other side and think something was up.

“I’m sitting there and my head’s like steel,” Hester said. “I’m trying not to look anywhere to find out who I’m blocking. So I’m trying to wait until the last second to look over to see exactly what the end of the formation looks like.”

As soon as LSU got the snap off without anyone noticing, Hester knew it would be OK. Flynn kept the drive alive. Florida’s Joe Haden got called for pass interference. Williams took a toss four yards for a score, cutting Florida’s lead to 17-14.

As already stated, this offense wasn’t built for quick comebacks. So as the game went on and Florida took a 24-14 lead (after a brutal coverage break for a 37-yard touchdown from Tebow to Cornelius Ingram), LSU knew it would need some help. It wouldn’t come back without a defensive turnover or two.

It got two.

Ali Highsmith forced a third-quarter fumble, but Colt David missed a field goal for the second time.

The next drive, Glenn Dorsey tipped a Tebow pass at the line and LSU intercepted it at the Florida 27. This was its chance. Holliday then took a reverse 16 yards. Soon LSU was at the 4-yard line for fourth-and-3. A field goal would make it a one-touchdown game.

This time, Miles went for it through the air. Flynn dropped back, set for a moment and immediately had to roll out right. Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes had a choice: stick with Byrd or stop Flynn from running into the end zone. He chose Flynn, and Flynn quickly dumped it to Byrd for the score to make it 24-21.

(Watch at the 9:07 mark)

“Those two had a connection, man,” Hester said. “Those two just had a feel for each other. That was one of those plays where you felt like it was drawn up in the dirt.”

Two weeks later, when trailing Auburn 24-23, instead of killing the clock and trying a 40-yard field goal to win, Miles inexplicably called a deep shot. Flynn found Byrd down in the corner of the end zone.

History doesn’t remember the conversation surrounding Hester in fall 2007. As Billy Gomila of And The Valley Shook points out here, Hester wasn’t a beloved hero entering this game. If anything, the big, bruising fullback out of Shreveport was “a source of annoyance” for fans. People wanted flashier backs like Williams or Scott getting the ball. Not this three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust throwback. He’d never run for 100 yards in a game.

Not until that hot, humid night in Baton Rouge. Not until that final drive trailing 24-21. Hester entered the drive with 64 yards on 15 carries. His career high was 17 touches.

But he went to Miles during the drive. He said, “They’re tired. We got ’em.”

“Their hands were on their knees, hands were on their hips,” Hester says now. “You could tell they were just sucking air.”

Miles has admitted in recent interviews that Hester’s words led to him continuously attacking when fourth downs arose.

The drive began with 9:20 on the clock. Hester ran for seven. Jared Mitchell was called for offensive pass interference. Soon LSU was stuck in third-and-16. This was how it would get away from them. But Flynn dropped back, saw pressure and took off running to the right. This time, there was no Spikes to force a throw. He had open field and took it 15 yards.

Fourth-and-1. At their own 49-yard line. No doubt about it. Like Hester said, “We got ’em.”

“Not many plays I can remember like I remember this one,” Hester said. “That one kinda sticks out to me.”

LSU called a handoff to Hester, and the second the ball touched his hands, a defender cut into the backfield.

Normally, Hester says, a running back is looking downfield in these moments, trying to identify the Mike linebacker or see how the hole would develop. But this time he needed just one yard. So at the very last second, in the corner of his eye, he noticed the defender cutting in about to dive for his thigh pad.

He lowered his body just enough to get a shot on the defender and not allow him to take his legs out. Hester bounced off the hit to his left, pushed his momentum just enough forward and stumbled into a hole, stretching out for the first down.

(Watch at the 10:06 mark)

As the drive wore on from five plays to 10, from midfield to the red zone, Flynn spoke to his huddle.

“Our coach is putting his faith in us,” he told his team. “This is his job. This is what he feeds his family with. The last thing we’re gonna do is let him down.”

On third-and-1 from the 7, LSU tried to get cute, though. With Perrilloux in, LSU had several option plays for him and Williams that defenses were ready for. It had never run one for Perrilloux and Hester. The thought was this would shock the defense and at least get the first down, if not the score.

Instead, a defender sat waiting for Hester on the pitch and stuffed him at the line. No gain. Fourth down at the 7. A field goal would tie it with two minutes to go.

“There was no shot (Miles) was gonna kick the field goal,” Hester said. “He had told us well before that, really when the drive started. Once he went for it at midfield, we’re like, ‘OK, this is a drive that’s either ending with us in the end zone or Florida getting the ball back.’”

This time, the Tigers subscribed to the old KISS principle: Keep it Simple, Stupid. They were going go with what got them there. They ran a load power. That’s who this team was.

Hester actually has a hard time rewatching this play. The result was so close it still makes him cringe. Florida’s Ryan Stamper came untouched off the edge and took out Hester’s legs. Both went moving forward and to the ground in an instant, the kind of play that lasts just a second.

Florida started celebrating. LSU wasn’t so sure. Hester looked out to the sideline to see where he was with the marker. His eyes bulged. Much to maybe even his own surprise, first down LSU.

(Watch at the 11:08 mark)

Three plays later, with third down at the Florida 2, Flynn again went into the huddle with a statement.

“You know what the play is,” Flynn told his team. “Line up and go score.”

“It’s the only time I’ve ever in my football history been in a huddle where the quarterback didn’t call a play,” Hester said.

So without it even being called, LSU ran load power, again.

Ryan Miller, the backup center filling in at right guard, got knocked down to his knees. He army crawled up another few feet. He lunged what was left of his body and threw his arms at Spikes coming up for the tackle. It opened the “A” gap up for just a moment. Hester scored.

“That may be Les’ favorite play of all time, and his favorite part is Ryan Miller and what he was able to do and not quit,” Hester said. “He’s literally crawling to the linebacker and gets enough.”

Hester laid in the end zone in exhaustion. Well, he faked an injury because his chinstrap was broken and he didn’t want to force LSU to use an extra timeout. But he was also exhausted.

He took the ball eight times on that drive for 42 yards. His 23 carries for 106 yards were the most of his career. He also wanted to make sure the fullbacks got some love for this game. Quinn Johnson and Shawn Jordan led the way for LSU’s running game all night, and Hester believes it’s one of the best fullback performances of all time.

LSU took down Florida that night with all the hallmarks of the Les Miles era in Baton Rouge. It won with physicality. It won in dramatic fashion. It won with some guts.

And those fourth-down calls don’t even match some of the crazier calls of the Miles era, but they feel like the most important. LSU went on to win the national championship (despite losing to Arkansas and Kentucky, both in triple overtime). Miles made many more shocking decisions, like the deep shot against Auburn. It was a season that was defined by the suspension of normalcy, and Miles was the man built for that time.

Suddenly Miles was a national title winner, a mark that follows a man for both good and bad. It carries a greater prestige. It boosts recruiting. It lengthens a coach’s leash.

But after LSU lost that 2011 national championship against Alabama, and after the program stagnated into SEC mediocrity, the things that can make a coach beloved suddenly became the sources of frustration. What’s that line about love and hate? His risks didn’t always work. The clock management mistakes weren’t as fun when they didn’t work. A power-run offense that once represented pure football soon became outdated.

Miles was out by fall 2016. LSU won another national title just three years and four months later. The things that won Miles and LSU a national championship are now viewed as the exact obstacles LSU had to overcome to win another.

So maybe no five plays were more pivotal in LSU history than those five fourth downs and that game against Florida. They represent a national championship run. They represent the steward of a program for 11 years. And as time and history do what time and history do, they represent what LSU has departed from.

(Photo: Doug Benc / Getty Images)