Oddsmakers generally calculate a homefield advantage to be three points, and that advantage might swing to Arizona State as there appears to be a possibility the Sept. 10 Arizona State-Louisiana State game could be moved from Baton Rouge to Tempe. Details in comments.
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Miles said LSU will do the right thing
By Jim Kleinpeter
Times-Picayune
BATON ROUGE - The LSU football season opener has already been pushed back and the possibility of another postponement next week looms in the wake of the catastrophic results of Hurricane Katrina.
As much as he'd like to get his inaugural season under way, Tigers coach Les Miles said the school will do the right thing.
No. 5 LSU is scheduled to play No. 20 Arizona State Sept. 10 in Tiger Stadium, one week after the Tigers were scheduled to open the season against North Texas, a game that will be rescheduled for later in the season.
But with the aftermath of the hurricane and subsequent use of the LSU campus as a refugee port, playing a football game wanes in significance.
"We are going to do what is right for the state, what is right for the school," Miles said after Thursday's practice. "We are very much tied to the people of Louisiana.
"It was right to postpone the first game. It was right for the pain, destruction and the loss of life and to assist in the supporting efforts. To help those people who need help most. Certainly we feel that it would be important for us to serve our state, and we will do so in any way directed."
There is also a possibility the game could be moved to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The game is scheduled to be televised by ESPN beginning at 7:45 p.m.
Miles said the conditions in southeast Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast have weighed heavily on the minds of his players, but that players have still been able to practice hard.
"I think they are pensive," he said. "They want to play a game. They're frustrated because of the inability to help. They're sad when they see how much difficulty the state is going through. I think they are sensitive to that. They know people that are in real difficult times and it is not normal. It's not business as usual, and it's tough to go beyond, yet they step out on the field and take a break for two hours and practice hard."
Miles dodged the issue of who would start at quarterback. Previously, he said he might name a starting quarterback Thursday before the game, but was not forthcoming with that information. Sophomore JaMarcus Russell has the edge in experience but is competing with sophomore Matt Flynn and incoming freshman Ryan Perrilloux.
Sun Devils’ fans nix LSU travel plans
By Mike Tulumello
Mesa East Valley Tribune
Louisiana State officials have no current plans to change next week’s home game vs. Arizona State, but at least 1,200 Sun Devil fans who had planned to travel to Louisiana will stay home.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, LSU postponed its Saturday game vs. North Texas. But the ASU game, set for 5:45 p.m. Sept. 10, remains a go for now.
"We’d like to play it here if at all possible," said Kent Lowe, the school’s senior associate sports information director.
Classes were canceled this week as portions of the campus are being used to house people in need.
The current plan is for students, faculty and staff to return on Tuesday.
Most of the damage in the Baton Rouge area — 80 miles north of New Orleans — is confined to downed trees and power lines along with roof damage, Lowe said.
"We’re very lucky compared to those south of us," Lowe said.
The Sun Angel Foundation had organized a trip for about 340 ASU fans. They were going to stay in New Orleans Friday night, take a bus up to the game in Baton Rouge, then return to spend Saturday night in New Orleans.
Beyond this, many fans were going to spend extra time in New Orleans. But hotels are not expected to be available now in New Orleans and many others around the state are booked up.
The Sun Angels, an ASU athletic support organization, canceled the trip Tuesday after learning the downtown hotel they booked — though free from flooding — has no power or water and isn’t expected to be fully operational for a month.
Bridget Arenson had worked on arranging the trip for nine months but kept the matter in perspective.
"People lost their lives," she said. "We’re missing a football game."
Another 870 fans had planned to travel through the ASU Alumni Association, but the group also has canceled. The association is trying to stage a send-off rally for the team on Thursday.
Other fans had planned to travel on their own.
Mark Allen, a Phoenix tax attorney, had planned to be part of a group of eight people who were planning to stay in New Orleans while attending the game.
"It looks doubtful, but we’ll play it by ear," Allen said.
Allen purchased his plane tickets online, so he’s hoping he’ll get his money back if he can’t go.
But he’s not complaining, either.
Though he’d love to visit the Bayou State, "It doesn’t mean much compared to what those people are going through."
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