HOUSTON – LSU put in a full day of work here Saturday as the 20th-ranked Tigers held their first practice of bowl week followed by the annual “Rodeo Bowl” competition, as activities for the AdvoCare Texas Bowl got off to a quick start.
LSU meets Texas Tech in the 10th-annual Texas Bowl on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT in NRG Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans. It’s the first meeting between the Tigers (8-3) and Red Raiders (7-5) since 1957. LSU leads the overall series 2-0.
LSU started the day with a 45-minute charter flight from Baton Rouge followed by a two-hour practice session indoors as the Texans Practice Bubble. The day was capped with what’s quickly becoming one of the most popular team events in all of bowl season – the Rodeo Bowl featuring the two bowl participants.
The Rodeo Bowl, held at the George Ranch Historical Park, had players from both teams taking part in seven events – touchdown dance competition, calf penning, roping, calf branding, horse barrel race, calf ribbon pull, and hay bale stacking.
LSU and Texas Tech split the first six events with the final event of hay bale stacking serving as deciding event. The Tigers claimed the hay bale stacking event and won the overall competition by a score of 4-3. The events LSU won included: touchdown dance competition, roping and horse barrel racing, while Texas Tech won calf penning, calf branding, and calf ribbon pull.
“We had a blast and the hospitality of the Texas Bowl and the George Ranch was great,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “We have some guys on our team who are real cowboys. Some of them can rope and have been around cattle their entire life. I was amazed at some of the things I saw our guys do.”
Miles said perhaps the most outstanding performer for the Tigers was defensive back Devin Voorhies, who won the calf roping event for LSU.
“The guy who came through for us is Devin Voorhies,” Miles said. “He came to me and said, ‘Coach, I’ve done this everyday growing up around my house. This is old hat for me.’ Sure enough when it was his turn, he roped the calf.
“One thing about this team is that’s it’s awfully competitive. Whether it’s rodeo events or football, these guys want win.”
Before LSU hit the rodeo arena, the Tigers spent two hours prepping for Tuesday night’s game against Texas Tech with what was a typical Wednesday-like practice session at Texans Practice Facility.
“We had a nice practice today,” Miles said. “It was important that we pick up speed and get back at it. With a new environment in a new venue, it was important that this was a fast-paced practice and it was.
“There was a lot of energy. I liked the enthusiasm of today’s practice.”
Saturday’s practice was the first for the Tigers in three days as the Tigers broke for Christmas on Dec. 23. Miles said the Tigers didn’t show any signs of being rusty.
“They go home for Christmas for a couple days and we tell them to do everything in moderation,” Miles said. “They looked like they listened.”
LSU will practice again on Sunday afternoon followed by a walk-thru in NRG Stadium on Monday afternoon.
“The week is off to a good start,” Miles said. “We have some really good practices leading up to this game. Now it’s a matter a getting some things fine-tuned and then take it to the field on Tuesday night.”