What's in a Name?

"What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet."
Lest you think all I read or am interested in is Auburn Football (which, according to my wife, on most occasions would be correct), this is actually one of my favorite lines from one of my (and here’s the deep, dark secret that you didn’t know about me) favorite plays….Romeo and Juliet. It is found in Scene II, Act ii, Lines 1-2.

Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet meet and fall in love in Shakespeare's lyrical tale of "star-cross'd" lovers. They are doomed from the start as members of two warring families. Here Juliet tells Romeo that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention, and that she loves the person who is called "Montague", not the Montague name and not the Montague family. Romeo, out of his passion for Juliet, rejects his family name and vows, as Juliet asks, to "deny (his) father" and instead be "new baptized" as Juliet's lover. This one short line encapsulates the central struggle and tragedy of the play.

So, if that be the case, then “what’s in a name?”

It’s kind of funny what we give names to. People, pets, boats, cars, body parts. No, I won’t comment on that….

We even give names to games. In fact, no college football series has more games with a name attached to it than the Auburn – LSU game. What, you don’t remember?

1988 was the “Earthquake Game.” With 1:47 left to play, LSU Quarterback Tommy Hodson found Running Back Eddie Fuller open on a crossing pattern for a touchdown on fourth and goal. The crowd eruption was so intense that it registered as an earthquake on the seismograph located in LSU’s Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex.

1994 was the “Interception Game (Pass Jamie Pass…Disaster on the Plains…same game)”. The Bengal Tigers of LSU led 23-9 entering the fourth quarter. LSU quarterback Jaime Howard threw five fourth quarter interceptions - three returned for touchdowns - as Auburn extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 30-26 win. That game cost Curley Hallman his job as LSU’s Head Coach.

1995 was the “Bring Back the Magic…Whistle Game”. LSU donned its white jerseys for a home game for the first time in 15 years, inspiring the Bengal Tigers, behind the play of QB Jaime Howard, to a 12-6 victory over fifth-ranked Auburn. And though LSU calls this the “Bring Back the Magic” game, we Auburn Tigers refer to it as “the Whistle Game,” because Patrick Nix was sacked for a safety when he stopped play after a fan in the stands blew a whistle. The whistle could be heard over the television broadcast and was even reported on the broadcast that a whistle had been blown calling the play dead.

1996 was the “Barn Burning Game”. LSU defeated Auburn 19-15 that year while the old Auburn Sports Arena, affectionately called "the Barn", burned to the ground across the street from Jordan-Hare Stadium. The fire began when a tailgater placed a barbecue grill too close to the building. Scenes of the fire were captured by ESPN during the national broadcast as flames were seen as high as the Jordan-Hare west upper-deck. The game was never delayed, and the Auburn public address announcer continually advised fans not to worry: "the stadium is not on fire; the flames are outside the stadium."

1999 was the “Smoke ‘Em if you Got ‘Em Game.” It was Tommy Tuberville’s birthday, and as a present, Auburn handed him a 41-7 drilling of LSU in a rare day game at Baton Rouge. In celebration, the Auburn players and coaches smoked cigars on the field at Tiger Stadium, much to the chagrin of the whipped LSU players and fans. This is cited among LSU faithful as the day the rivalry between LSU and Auburn officially began.

2004 was the “Extra Point(s) Game”. Defending national champion and fourth ranked LSU visited Auburn just days after Hurricane Ivan. Under Coach Nick Saban, the Bengal Tigers took a 9-3 lead but couldn't convert the extra point. Auburn tied the game with 1:14 left to play when Jason Campbell threw a 16-yard TD pass to Courtney Taylor. Entering the game, Auburn had successfully converted on 190 PAT’s; however AU kicker John Vaughn missed the extra point. A rare personal foul penalty was called on Ronnie Prude of LSU for jumping on the back of Auburn’s Center, and Vaughn connected on the second chance. Auburn would go on to win the SEC Championship, finish 13-0, No. 2 in the final AP Poll, and No. 1 in the final Fan’s Poll.

2005 was the “Doink Game”. The hero of the 2004 game, John Vaughn quickly became the scapegoat in Baton Rouge, as the normally reliable kicker missed five field goals - his final kick bouncing off the right upright in overtime. Auburn and LSU tied for the SEC West championship, but the win allowed LSU to play in the SEC Championship Game. Kenny Irons, who was caught by ESPN cameras guaranteeing a 200-yard game, provided a dominating 218-yard performance and cemented himself as AU starter.

2006 was the “Interference Game”. The game was held at Auburn, with the highest head-to-head ranking ever between Auburn and LSU, and played what several athletes on both teams considered their most physical game of the season. Both teams were early season national title contenders. At the end of the first half, LSU managed a last second field goal to take a 3-0 halftime lead. Auburn took the lead with a third quarter touchdown, and had two fourth quarter stops to win 7-3 in the lowest scoring game since an LSU 6-0 victory in 1935. During their first stop, AU defensive back Eric Brock deflected a JaMarcus Russell fourth down pass as AU defensive back Zach Gilbert made contact with LSU WR Early Doucet. Initially calling pass interference, the officials waved off the flag because the ball was ruled uncatchable due to a tip after the interference, giving Auburn the ball. In the final moments, playing with no time outs left, JaMarcus Russell threw short of the end-zone to Craig Davis and Brock delivered a hit on the four yard-line to seal the Auburn victory.

Now that we’ve taken a little stroll down Auburn-LSU name-game history, my question for you is….what will THIS year’s name be?

After all….what’s in a name?

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR