BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Alabama players remember Javy Arenas’ punt return — a 61-yard split-the-defense sprint that gave the Crimson Tide a seven-point lead with 7:33 left in last year’s game against LSU and sent nearly all 92,138 fans into a frenzy.

Rashad Johnson remembers the noise.

“I don’t think I’ve heard the stadium that loud since we played Florida a couple years back here and (Tyrone) Prothro’s catch for that long touchdown,” the senior free safety said. “It was definitely exciting. When you watched it on film, you could definitely see the cameras shaking. It was a lot of fun.”

Antoine Caldwell, suspended that day with four teammates for illegal receipt of textbooks, watched the heartache of the last seven minutes that produced LSU’s 41-34 victory. He remembers it, too.

“Man, I was sick. I literally threw up. Literally,” Caldwell said. “I was watching at my apartment and seeing how close we were to winning that ball game. Just one or two plays in that game swung the whole game. We’re just looking forward to putting on a good display this weekend.”

Through the pain, however, came a lesson. LSU earned a lot of respect from the Crimson Tide players that day for dealing with adversity — which is the biggest area of Alabama’s growth from last season to this. LSU will play a much more poised Alabama team when the top-ranked Crimson Tide plays in Baton Rouge Saturday afternoon.

The Bengal Tigers may have provided the blueprint last year. Johnson isn’t sure some of last year’s teammates were ready to match LSU’s determination.

“We knew those guys were going to continue to fight, but I’m pretty sure there were maybe some guys who eased up or didn’t have the mindset that we have now to finish the game and play for 60 minutes,” the senior free safety said. “If we did, the outcome of that game would have been totally different.”

Brandon Deaderick said the lesson learned was “that the game isn’t over until it’s over.”

“I’m pretty sure a lot of guys starting thinking, ‘We’ve won this game,’ and eased up,” Deaderick said. “But then they came back and started making plays, and it was a totally different game. … They kept fighting.”

That stayed with Deaderick and some other players. They’ve used that at times this season.

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“In my career since I have been here, we have lost a lot of really close games,” Deaderick said. “We haven’t really gotten blown out by anybody and we lost so many close games, games that you’re leading. You get tired of it. It’s time for a change. … To be a good team, you have to have that killer instinct and go out and do what you are supposed to do.”

Last year’s game helps fuel Alabama, but so does another recent loss to LSU — in 2005, when an undefeated Alabama team lost at home in overtime 16-13. Alabama was 9-0 going into that game. Caldwell is one of the few players still around from that game.

“I still remember that game to this day,” the senior from Montgomery said. “It was tough for everybody around here. We were pretty much in the same position we’re in now. We’ve got a totally different team now. We’ve got something special going on and we want to make sure we keep it rolling.”

Caldwell was asked what the difference is between this year and the 2005 club.

“I just think the chemistry is unbelievable. I mean, we did have great chemistry on that team, too, as well, I’m not saying that, but I just think the chemistry on this team has been great. The leadership on this team has been amazing” he said. “There are a lot of similarities between this team and the 2005 team, but hopefully not similar to what happened in that game.”

Johnson was a special teams player on that team. He didn’t want to compare them.

“I know this team that we’ve got here is definitely a mature ball club, and we’re not going to change anything that we’re doing in our preparation,” he said.

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Another Tide senior, tight end Nick Walker from Brundidge, remembers that 2005 showdown with LSU. The Crimson Tide led 10-0 at halftime. Alabama made a field goal on its overtime possession, but LSU’s JaMarcus Russell threw an 11-yard touchdown pass over then then-No. 3 Crimson Tide.

“We were 9-0. I remember the overtime when Dwayne Bowe caught that last touchdown ball and spoiled our perfect season,” Walker said. “It was real tough to get over. But you had to strap it on and fight again next week.”

Walker admitted he thought Arenas’ punt return last season was a game-winner.

“We learned what the coaches were trying to emphasize the whole time – you got to play 60 minutes,” Walker said. “It’s going to be a 60-minute, hard-fought ball game.”

Alabama has dropped five straight decisions to LSU. The Tide is eager to show what it learned last season.

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