BATON ROUGE — LSU and Tulane resume one of the South’s oldest rivalries on Saturday when the 10th-ranked Tigers entertain the Green Wave at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.
The game will serve as LSU’s annual Homecoming contest and will be televised by Tigervision. A sell out crowd of 92,000-plus is expected as LSU and Tulane meet for the first time since a 48-17 Tiger win to open the 2001 season. LSU enters the contest with a 2-1 overall mark, while Tulane stands at 1-1 overall.
LSU goes into the Tulane contest as a team looking to get back on the winning track after dropping a heartbreaking 7-3 decision to Auburn a week ago. The Tigers will also use the Tulane game as an opportunity to find a running game something that has escaped LSU through the first three games of the season.
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Tulane, on the other hand, comes into the contest riding a wave of confidence following last week’s 32-29 road win over Mississippi State. It was Tulane’s first road victory over a Southeastern Conference squad since 1989.
“Tulane had a big win last weekend on the road against Mississippi State so I can tell you that they have our attention,” Miles said. “Coach Scelfo has done a remarkable job considering the disadvantages they’ve had based on Katrina and the experiences that Tulane has had in terms of New Orleans and having to reconstruct and repair the campus after the storm. I congratulate them for what they have been able to accomplish during some very difficult and trying times.
“From our standpoint, we’ve had a good week of practice and our players understand the opportunities that are ahead of them. I think we have prepared well and we are excited to get back on the football field again on Saturday.”
Offensively, one area of focus for the Tigers will be that of establishing a running game after accounting for just 42 yards on 23 attempts a week ago. LSU’s leading rusher is that of Alley Broussard, who is averaging only 30.7 yards per game.
“I think the single facet we’d like to improve in the most would be rushing the football, but there are other places in each phase of the game that we can improve,” Miles said. “We’ll work on that but probably the most dramatic improvement needs to take place in running the football.
Weather (Forecast)
GameTime Conditions: Isolated T’Storms
GameTime Temp: 81?
High: 88?
Low: 74?
Chance of Rain: 30%
Humidity: 77%
Wind: S @ 9 mph
Sunset: 7:00 p.m. CT
LSU vs. Tulane
Event Schedule for Saturday, Sept. 23
10:30 a.m. LSU Homecoming Parade
12:30 p.m. Brooks & Dunn free concert (Parade Grounds)
2:30 p.m. Tiger One Village opens with live music: The Molly Ringwalds (south side of PMAC)
4:30 p.m. All Gates to Tiger Stadium open
4:50 p.m. LSU team walks down hill to locker room
5 p.m. LSU GameDay pregame radio show begins live at Tiger One Village
5:15 p.m. Mike the Tiger loaded and brought to Gate 11
5:30 p.m. LSU band marches down hill to Tiger Stadium
7 p.m. Kickoff: LSU vs. Tulane (TigerVision)
Pregame:
Forever LSU Cabinet recognized
The Rag is presented
1st Quarter Break:
Billy Cannon honored
Halftime:
LSU Golden Band from Tigerland performs
Homecoming Coronation
Guest Captains:
Jeff Wickersham
Herb Tyler
“We are going to challenge our backs, get them some carries and see who comes out on top. We are looking for the best back.”
Miles said that true freshman Charles Scott is expected to see extended action this weekend. Scott, who did not see any action at running back against Auburn, has rushed for 86 yards on nine carries for the Tigers this year.
While the Tiger running game may be struggling, the passing game appears to be in good hands with quarterback JaMarcus Russell and receivers Dwayne Bowe, Early Doucet and Craig Davis.
Through three games, Russell has connected on 46 of 72 passes for 718 yards and five touchdowns. His favorite target has been that of Davis, who has 13 receptions for 207 yards. Bowe follows with 209 yards on 11 receptions and Doucet 165 yards on nine catches.
Defensively, the Tigers bring arguably the nation’s top unit into the contest against the Greenies as LSU is No. 1 in the country in total defense (170.0 yards per game), No. 2 in pass defense (96.67 yards per game) and No. 3 in scoring defense (4.33 points per game).
The Tigers have also held four straight opponents to fewer than 200 yards, a first in school history. LSU’s defense has surrendered just one touchdown this year.
“I felt like our defense was superb (last week against Auburn),” Miles said. “If they continue to play like they’re playing and continue to improve, continue to listen to the coaching, this will be a very special defense.”
Glenn Dorsey, who has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week in consecutive weeks, leads the Tigers and ranks among the top 10 in the nation in tackles for losses with six. In three games, Dorsey has recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Linebacker Darry Beckwith leads the Tigers with 23 tackles, while cornerback Jonathan Zenon ranks first in the conference and fourth in the nation with three interceptions.
The Tiger defense will be challenged by a pass-happy Tulane offense led by senior quarterback Lester Ricard. Ricard, who originally signed with LSU and spent the 2002 season with the Tigers before transferring, has connected on 30 of 48 passes for 454 yards and five scores for the Greenies. A week ago, Ricard tossed for 298 yards and four touchdowns in the Green Wave’s win over Mississippi State.
When Tulane isn’t throwing the football, they turn to running back Matt Forte’, who rushed for 140 yards and a scored last week against the Bulldogs. In two games, Forte’ is has rushed for 194 yards.
“Tulane does a great job on offense,” Miles said. “They run the spread and they are very effective at it. They have a talented quarterback in Lester Ricard and a tremendous runner in Matt Forte’ so offensively, they definitely have some weapons.”
This year’s LSU-Tulane game is the first of 10 contests between the teams over the next decade as the schools will alternate hosting games in Tiger Stadium and the Louisiana Superdome. It marks the renewal of a rivalry that goes back to 1893. At one time, the teams played every year from 1919 to 1994.
LSU has won 14 straight in the series and owns an overall mark of 65-22-7 against the Greenies.
“This is the first game of a 10-game series with Tulane,” Miles said. “We are excited to renew this series and to be a part of one of the South’s oldest rivalries.”