NEW ORLEANS — The LSU football team arrived in New Orleans on Wednesday and began preparations for its first Sugar Bowl appearance in 15 years.
The Tigers arrived at Le Meridien Hotel shortly before noon to a host of anxious LSU fans, eagerly awaiting LSU’s showdown with Big Ten champion Illinois in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. After a personal greeting from members of the Sugar Bowl Organizing Committee, head coach Nick Saban and several members of the squad then gathered with the media for a short session.
After settling in, the Tigers broke down for team meetings before taking the short bus ride to the Superdome for the first of six workouts at the dome leading up to the Sugar Bowl.
The Tigers worked out for just over two hours with only the first portion of practice open to the media, while the remainder was closed as the Tigers began to work on their game plan for Illinois. The highlight of practice was a tribute by running back Domanick Davis, who practiced in a No. 22 jersey in honor of teammate LaBrandon Toefield. Toefield suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the SEC Championship game and will miss the Sugar Bowl.
The Tigers will continue preparations tomorrow with an 11:45 a.m. practice.
Saban and Illinois head coach Ron Turner will then meet with the media for the first coaches’ press conference at the media hotel at 2:30 p.m.
After several team functions, the Tigers will end their second night in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl Classic basketball tournament where the LSU men’s basketball team will take on Miami (Fla.). The Tigers will be introduced in following the first game of the double header between Alabama and Notre Dame, prior to the start of the LSU game.