“Domination” is being used way too loosely

[CHorn427]

The word “domination” has been heavily abused these days. Most recent instance: LSU vs Clemson. People (including Gerry and Bobby) claimed LSU “dominated” Clemson in the second half.

LSU outgained Clemson by 50 yards and outscored them by 14 points (Clemson outscored them by 7 in the first half). Clemson was 15 yards away from tying the game with a minute left. That is NOT domination! LSU just won a hard fought game. Why can’t we just leave it at that? Swinney’s comments about 63 for LSU and 58 for Clemson was accurate. Both of them played Sloppy games and LSU came out a little ahead. Boasting about dominating a team when you won like that is just bad sportsmanship and I think breeds bd culture. What Would Saban Do? He would be on his team like they lost if they won by 35 points. 
 

Other examples of non-domination being called domination: our loss to Ohio State this year and last year (close games in position to tie late), loss to UGA in the SEC championship game, Big10 winning two natties in a row. People can’t help but exaggerate these days.

True example of domination for reference: winning a game by double digits in their house and running the last 6 minutes of game clock like we did vs Bama in 2023. 
 

A one score game is just NOT domination. 

[Hookem72]

In today’s click bait internet world, everyone talks in hyperbole.

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

9 hours ago, CHorn427 said:

The word “domination” has been heavily abused these days. Most recent instance: LSU vs Clemson. People (including Gerry and Bobby) claimed LSU “dominated” Clemson in the second half.

LSU outgained Clemson by 50 yards and outscored them by 14 points (Clemson outscored them by 7 in the first half). Clemson was 15 yards away from tying the game with a minute left. That is NOT domination! LSU just won a hard fought game. Why can’t we just leave it at that? Swinney’s comments about 63 for LSU and 58 for Clemson was accurate. Both of them played Sloppy games and LSU came out a little ahead. Boasting about dominating a team when you won like that is just bad sportsmanship and I think breeds bd culture. What Would Saban Do? He would be on his team like they lost if they won by 35 points. 
 

Other examples of non-domination being called domination: our loss to Ohio State this year and last year (close games in position to tie late), loss to UGA in the SEC championship game, Big10 winning two natties in a row. People can’t help but exaggerate these days.

True example of domination for reference: winning a game by double digits in their house and running the last 6 minutes of game clock like we did vs Bama in 2023. 
 

A one score game is just NOT domination. 

I agree with Brian Kelly on that one. LSU did dominate Clemson in the second half ... when you consider it was a talent neutralized game and LSU was on the road. They got hosed on a TD call, or it's 21-0 in the second half of the game. In a top 10 matchup, if the road team outscores you by 21 in a half, the home team got dominated in the second half IMO. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

And in no way did I watch that game and thought LSU played a sloppy game. I'm the opposite. Considering it was your first game of the season and on the road vs. a top 5 ranked team ... LSU didn't play "sloppy". They literally shut out Clemson at home in the second half. Not perfect, but not sloppy. LSU executed at a pretty high level in game one on the road in that environment against Clemson. 

If LSU had played a sloppy game on defense, they would have lost and given up 24-31 points against an offense as talented as Clemson. Instead, they executed at a pretty high clip. 

Offensively, had the two TO's, but if you watched the game, they executed a game plan really well. Had 25 first downs in the game and possessed the ball for 37 minutes . You don't do that playing "sloppy" against a quality opponent on the road.

[CHorn427]

13 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

I agree with Brian Kelly on that one. LSU did dominate Clemson in the second half ... when you consider it was a talent neutralized game and LSU was on the road. They got hosed on a TD call, or it's 21-0 in the second half of the game. In a top 10 matchup, if the road team outscores you by 21 in a half, the home team got dominated in the second half IMO. 

I just highly disagree. Do you think anyone on this site, with how highly invested and critical as we are, would be saying that we dominated a team in the second half of the team had the opportunity to tie the game from the 15 yard line win a minute left? I know I would not feel that way- I would feel that we got a good win and were lucky to get out of there. 
 

Also disagree with the “missed call”- ball was moving and got pinned. Again, “dominance” would be receivers streaking wide open and having no doubter TDs (again, see 2023 Bama game). 

[CHorn427]

21 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

I agree with Brian Kelly on that one. LSU did dominate Clemson in the second half ... when you consider it was a talent neutralized game and LSU was on the road. They got hosed on a TD call, or it's 21-0 in the second half of the game. In a top 10 matchup, if the road team outscores you by 21 in a half, the home team got dominated in the second half IMO. 

What do you think we’d be saying about Sark if he had the ball with 3 minutes left, and instead of getting one first down he went 3 and out only gaining 3 yards, then had to rely on his defense to keep the team out of the endzone from the 15 yard line. I don’t think people around here would be overly pleased with that ending.

LSU had 108 rushing yards. It wasn’t a dominant performance. And it’s not a slight by Dabo to say LSU didn’t play as good as they could of- that is actually a compliment to suggest the opposing team could have played better but still came away with the win. If Brian Kelly wasn’t a man child he could have understood that

[UkowWhatImSAYEN]

We dominated A&M last season but you wouldn’t know by looking at the final score 

[Gerry Hamilton]

We agree to disagree. I believe LSU dominated Clemson in the second half of the game because of the who and where the game was. In talent neutralized situations, being dominant is different for me. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

9 minutes ago, UkowWhatImSAYEN said:

We dominated A&M last season but you wouldn’t know by looking at the final score 

Correct

[Hashtag]

Gerry just dominated OP