The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina left recovery units for sick and injured set up on campus as the LSU football team postponed its opener against North Texas last weekend.
The team returned to practice Sept. 1, trying to regain a sense of normalcy and prepare for offensive-minded Arizona State.
“It was right to postpone that first game,” LSU head coach Les Miles said. “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.”
Arizona State, ranked 15th in the Associated Press Poll, is likely to give fifth-ranked LSU a quality challenge today at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. The game, scheduled for 5:15 (PST), was originally supposed to be played at LSU, but with relief efforts for the hurricane continuing on campus, officials at both schools decided to move the game.
All proceeds from the game will be donated to help with the hurricane relief effort.
Playing away from home will not be a reason to not perform, Miles said.
“I can tell you there is no excuse. At the end of the year there will be a ledger. The ledger will read wins and losses,” Miles said. “There’s no asterisks. Our kids are looking forward to playing and aren’t looking for any excuses.”
Arizona State trumped visiting Temple 63-16, to open its season Sept. 1 as new Sun Devil quarterback Sam Keller threw for 208 yards and four touchdowns. Keller, who replaces NFL draftee Andrew Walters, had help from freshman running back Keegan Herring, who ran for 134 yards on 12 carries.
By the fourth quarter, Arizona State utilized its reserves, scoring three more times, and the players admitted later to thinking of LSU.
“It’s in the back of everyone’s mind no matter what they tell you,” linebacker Dale Robinson said. “It’s good to get this (first) game out of the way, but we had to play Temple first before thinking about LSU.”
It was a sentiment seconded by wide receiver Derek Hagan, who had three catches for 53 yards and caught two touchdowns.
“We need to continue to work hard and get ready … they (LSU) are a
top-ranked team, and we are looking forward to playing them,” Hagan said.
Offensively, Arizona State has confidence, with a veteran-filled offense.
“We have nine returning starters that all played last year,” Hagan said. “Every returning guy knows the offense, and not too much has changed. They know what they are doing, and we don’t have to tell each other too much where they have to be in each situation.”
LSU will counter defensively with middle linebacker Cameron Vaughn, a member of the watch list for the Butkus Award. He accumulated 63 tackles and a sack last
season as a junior. He’s joined by LaRon Landry and Jessie Daniels, who had 92and 64 tackles, respectively.
The offense’s strengths are at running back and wide receiver.
Quarterback is manned by returning starter JaMarcus Russell, who passed for 1,269 yards and nine touchdowns. Running back Alley Broussard rushed for 867 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Joseph Addai ran for 680 yards and three touchdowns. Receivers Craig Davis and Dwayne Bowe gained 659 and 597 yards, respectively.
The match-up will be the delayed introduction of Miles, who replaces Nick Saban, the new coach of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Only instead of facing North Texas, Miles faces an Arizona State team thinking big.
“Last year, those three losses (USC, California and Arizona) were just a matter of mental lapses or turnovers and was a result of us not playing four full quarters of football,” Hagan said. “We know if we do that, we have the possibility of having an undefeated season.”