LSU pulled off perhaps the biggest upset of D1AA rugby this fall last weekend, beating Tennessee 24-22 in the first round of the SCRC playoffs.
For the Tigers, this was their first chance to play one of the more pedigreed teams in the SCRC, so while they had been kept a secret, LSU knew the secret.
Beaten down by COVID perhaps more than other teams, in part because of their geographic isolation, LSU had more work to do to return to where they used to be.
And it took time to develop the numbers and the leadership.
"This season, veteran leadership has been a game-changer, setting a strong example for the younger players," said Head Coach Chris Riedel. "They’ve created a culture of discipline and focus that has unified the team, both in our training and in competition. They have done this by watching film, running extra sessions, and bringing a different mindset to training. In addition, they also spend a lot more time together socially off the field improving morale. I think this leadership and camaraderie has resulted in much more grit during games."
The unity off the field was a huge part of it all, because it's a good rugby culture that attracts new players. With numbers hit by COVID back in 2020 and into 2021, LSU Rugby needed numbers and enthusiasm. Once they got that, the on-field unity followed.
"While previous teams have played for themselves, I think these boys truly play for each other," said Riedel. "This is evident in how they play team defense, but also in the fact they didn't quit against Tennessee despite giving up a 12-point lead. This is in significant contrast to when we played Clemson last year and the team turned on each other because of one line break after 10 minutes of great defense."
