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Forté's Outing Is Bittersweet
Sept. 30, 2007
By Andrew Lopez A week after setting a Conference USA record for rushing yards (303) and tying the conference record for touchdowns (five), Tulane running back Matt Forté did not expect he would be able to repeat his performance. But Forté did perform better than any other back, or team, that LSU has played. In the third quarter, Forté broke off a 21-yard run. That run was more yards than the Tigers had given up in three games this season (Mississippi State -- 10 yards, Middle Tennessee State -- nine yards, South Carolina -- 17 yards). His 73 yards also outdid the performance Virginia Tech had as a team against the Tigers. The Hokies only managed 71 yards against LSU; Forté had that after the third quarter. The previous individual high was by Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who had 44 yards. "We knew they were the No. 1 rushing defense in the nation, and that can't scare you," Forté said. "It can't scare your whole game plan away. You have to run the ball, you can't just pass every play. "It actually gave us a lot of motivation that we could run the ball on these guys." However, it was after that 21-yard run that Forté's lowest point of the game came. On the ensuing play, with Tulane driving and trailing 13-9, Forté was stripped of the ball by LSU's Luke Sanders on a pitch, and it was recovered by the Tigers' Al Woods at the Tulane 48-yard line. After the fumble recovery, it took LSU just five plays to extend the lead to 20-9. Forté has had fumbling problems this season, including one in his record-breaking performance last week against Southeastern. He also lost two fumbles against Mississippi State. "It's a mistake and you let your team down, but you can't get too down and curl up into a ball," Forté said. "It was disappointing." As a team, the Green Wave finished with 88 yards rushing. Forté's 16 carries also were a season-high by a back against LSU.
NEW LOOKS: LSU and Tulane donned special uniforms designed by Nike that bore a phoenix-inspired pelican design meant to symbolize that New Orleans is rising from the ashes and rebuilding itself. A special line of products also was designed for the game and will be sold to benefit the Greater New Orleans Foundation to support Nike's Let Me Play initiative and help rebuild New Orleans through sport. LSU wore white helmets for the first time since 1997 against Notre Dame in the Independence Bowl, which the Tigers won 27-9. It also is the first time LSU wore white helmets with purple jerseys; it wore gold jerseys against the Irish. The purple jerseys are different from the Tigers' normal purple as the white and gold stripes that adorn the shoulders have been cut and replaced with the pelican design. Tulane wore its green helmets with white pants and white jerseys worn for the first time this season. The Green Wave will wear the jerseys in every road game this season and will auction them off at the end of the season to raise money for the program. INJURY REPORT: LSU wide receiver Early Doucet missed his third consecutive game with an unspecified injury. Starting defensive tackle Marlon Favorite sat out with an ankle injury. Coach Les Miles said Favorite could have played and should be ready to go next week against Florida. Sophomore Al Woods got his first career start in place of Favorite. Tulane defensive tackle Frank Morton avoided missing his third consecutive game as he returned from a sprained ankle. TV COVERAGE: The game marked Tulane's first appearance on ESPN since 2004 at Mississippi State. The Green Wave lost 28-7. LSU and Tulane will make national television appearances next week. LSU will play Florida in a primetime matchup on CBS that will start at 7 at Tiger Stadium. Tulane's game at Army will be broadcast on ESPNU at 6 p.m.. RED ZONE BLUES: Entering the game, LSU was 21-for-21 on red zone attempts. However, when kicker Colt David's 36-yard field-goal attempt hit the right upright, that streak ended. ATTENDANCE: The attendance was announced as 58,769. That is the most to see a Tulane home game since 1987, a 41-36 victory for LSU. It is also the eighth-highest attendance for Tulane since it moved to the Superdome. SACK ATTACK: Tulane's six sacks were the most the Green Wave has posted since 2005 and the most sacks LSU had allowed since 2001. |
 
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