NEW ORLEANS — LSU practiced at the site of this week’s national championship game as the Tigers went through a two-hour session at the Louisiana Superdome here on Monday.
The Tigers, who were scheduled to start practice at 1:40 p.m., were delayed 40 minutes due to Oklahoma’s practice session running long. The Sooners practice ran from 11:30 a.m. to just after 2 p.m. in the Superdome. Both teams are going to share the facility for the remainder of the week.
Despite the delay, the Tigers still had a good workout as LSU went in full pads for the first time since before the Christmas break.
“We had a good workout,” LSU wide receiver Michael Clayton said. “We know the harder we work, the beater our chances are of having success in this game. It’s a great feeling being inside at the Superdome, especially since its only about 60 minutes from Baton Rouge.”
The Tigers continued to install the game plan for Sunday’s national title game against the Sooners. LSU also spent a portion of Monday’s workout focusing on all areas of special teams as well as a period of 9-on-7 drills.
Monday’s workout also marked the first time that LSU has practiced on the new surface in the Superdome. The surface, which was installed earlier this season, is similar to that of the turf that the Tigers played on against Ole Miss in Oxford back in November.
“This turf is great,” LSU cornerback Travis Daniels said. “We didn’t have any problems out there on the new surface. It’s nice to be able to workout on the actual surface that we will be playing on.
“We had a good workout today. We are still looking at several different things on Oklahoma. We know this is a special opportunity and we are going to make the best of it.”
The Tigers are playing for a national title in football for the first time since 1958 when LSU posted an 11-0 overall mark to claim the school’s only national football championship.
After Monday’s workout the Tigers went to a team function called “Party at the Dock”. LSU will practice again on Tuesday afternoon. LSU coach Nick Saban will meet with the media at a formal press conference at the Hyatt following Tuesday’s workout.