Former LSU Coach Curley Hallman Details His Bama-LSU Keys to Victory

One of the most consequential games of the college football season takes place Saturday night as the top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide invades third ranked LSU for a 7 PM kick off.

From 1991-1994, Northport native Curley Hallman led the Tigers in four contests against the Tide. On an early November afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Hallman's LSU Tigers upset Gene Stallings' Alabama Crimson Tide 17-13 and snapped a streak of 31 games without a loss. That was the only game that LSU took against Alabama under Hallman.

Prior to this weekend's clash, the former LSU and Southern Miss head coach offered his thoughts on the game with Wimp and Barry Sanderson on Inside the Locker Room.

Even with Tiger Stadium's reputation as one of college football's most hostile atmospheres, Alabama has a 19-4-1 record against LSU in Baton Rouge since 1971. As a former head coach for the Tigers, Hallman described the type of atmosphere that you can expect to see Saturday night.

"It'll be electric and usually when LSU is playing at home it's always a loud, vibrant crowd, but when Alabama comes to town, it's a little bit louder, a little bit more intense yet Alabama has great success in Baton Rouge. That's hard to explain just like LSU has had success going to Alabama." Hallman said.

The former LSU and Southern Miss head coach listed a handful of keys to the game including how well the Tigers get out of the starting blocks.

"I think it's super important for LSU that they don't let Alabama come in there and do what they've been doing because all that's going to do is excite those Alabama players that much more, and on the other side, it will excite the LSU team, fans, the whole atmosphere if they can keep Alabama to a minimum early and that's going to be hard to do." Hallman said.

Hallman noted that with LSU's excellent defense, one area of that defense that doesn't have the overwhelming talent up front compared to past teams.

"Up front, I don't know if they've got a dominating player like they've had in the past. They're solid and play great technique." Hallman said.

He also sees another issue that could arise for LSU if they play Alabama's receivers man-to-man.

"If they line up and try to play man-to-man, and I know they got four excellent DB. If they line up and say, 'OK, We're going to do this.' Alabama will wear them out because they will protect (Tua Tagovailoa) and you got those speed merchants and I've said before to ya'll that I think Alabama's wide receivers are fast, explosive and they play stronger with that ball in their hand. They break tackles, and they can explode." Hallman said.

Later in the conversation, Hallman shared his opinion of Ed Orgeron's job performance in Baton Rouge, Alabama's remaining schedule, how Orgeron's analysts help him in preparing a game plan and the benefit for both teams of the open date.

Catch Inside the Locker Room every weekday from 7-9 AM on Tide 102.9/100.9 and the Tide 102.9 app.