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LSU, Miles End All Doubts

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By BEN WALKER, The Associated Press

Published: December 2, 2007

ATLANTA - Now, Les Miles and LSU can go home together, regardless.

Next stop, New Orleans. Only one thing remained uncertain about their future: What game awaited them in the Superdome?

Assured by Miles he would stay as their coach, backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux and the fifth-ranked Tigers shifted their attention to No. 14 Tennessee. The result was a 21-14 victory Saturday in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game.

"I'd line up against anybody and look forward to the opportunity," Miles said. "Anybody that saw this game tonight would certainly understand that this team is arguably the finest team in the country."

Jonathan Zenon scored on an 18-yard interception return with 9:54 left to put LSU (11-2) ahead, then Darry Beckwith picked off another pass by Erik Ainge deep in Tigers territory to seal it.

Perrilloux was the MVP of the game, though Ainge certainly played an equally significant role with his ill-timed tosses. The win sent LSU home with a spot in the Sugar Bowl at worst.

Miles often mouthed the word "poise" to his players during the game. After LSU won its first SEC title since 2003, he let his emotions show as he hugged senior Jacob Hester, who barreled for 120 yards.

"I'm just really happy for our seniors, our leadership," Miles said.

Miles had to be proud of his defense, too, for the way it stopped the Vols at the end.

Still no word, though, on whether defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will soon leave to become head coach at Nebraska, as has been rumored.

"I'm not really talking about that right now," Pelini said.

Ainge played like a composed senior until his final few throws, when he tossed the ball to the wrong team. Zenon stepped in front of a receiver making a square-in and had an easy romp to the end zone.

"I shouldn't have thrown it," Ainge said.

Said Zenon: "We had prepared for that situation, and we knew they would run that play. That's exactly what they did."

Tennessee (9-4) had its five-game win streak stopped. Asked whether he had a bowl preference for his team, Coach Phillip Fulmer drew a laugh.

"We'd like to go to the Rose Bowl, how about that?" he said.

Instead, the Volunteers might wind up in the Outback Bowl.

The Vols sported all-orange uniforms for the first time since 1999 and led 7-6 at halftime. The game shaded toward the Tigers' side in the second half, with Perrilloux starring in place of injured Matt Flynn.

Perrilloux did it all for LSU, a week after sitting out a 50-48 triple-overtime loss to Arkansas that cost LSU a No. 1 ranking for the second time this season.

Throwing his first passes in three weeks, he completed 20 of 30 for 243 yards. He opened LSU's option attack, ran for a 2-point conversion after Zenon's touchdown and threw a crunching block that drew gasps from fans on both sides when the replay was shown on the video board.

"I thought I played OK," Perrilloux said.

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