Before diving into his squad’s injuries or its upcoming game against Ole Miss, LSU coach Les Miles lightened the mood Monday and reminded the media of the federal holiday his “Lunch with Les” press conference fell on.
“Just want to remind everybody that it’s Columbus Day, that all those of you that know Italians and like Italians or that might venture onto a ship and travel to explore and find new lands, this is your day,” Miles said.
Miles quickly reverted back to the challenge at hand, as the No. 6 Tigers (6-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) will battle the Rebels (3-3, 1-3 SEC) on Saturday night in Oxford, Miss.
Miles said senior linebacker Tahj Jones had a minor setback, but he was hopeful Jones will see the field this weekend. On a similar note, junior safety Ronald Martin, who didn’t play against Florida, will be available moving forward.
Both the Tigers and Rebels are coming off of polar opposite contests from this past weekend, as LSU defeated Florida in a 17-6 defensive battle, while Ole Miss fell to Texas A&M in a 41-38 shootout.
The Rebels’ offense has scored 30 or more points in four of its six games in 2013, and it should prove to be another interesting challenge for the young LSU secondary.
Ole Miss junior quarterback Bo Wallace has been the sixth-most efficient passer in the SEC, completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 1444 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. A season ago, Wallace marched into Tiger Stadium and scored four touchdowns on 364 yards of total offense in a 41-35 loss to LSU.
Now Wallace will get his chance for redemption on his home turf in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
“Well, I think with age [Wallace is] developing very well,” Miles said. “He’s always had kind of a really live arm, and … I think he always makes really good decisions. Just with a little bit more age you make those decisions more comfortably, and it comes out of your hand in a right fashion.”
The Magnolia Bowl rivalry between LSU and Ole Miss has its share of history, dating back to former Tiger Billy Cannon’s 89-yard punt return touchdown to give LSU a 7-3 victory against the Rebels on Halloween Night 1959.
The tradition continued last season when junior receiver Odell Beckham Jr. scored on a 89-yard punt return of his own to help seal a comeback in Tiger Stadium.
Miles said the history surrounding the rivalry adds more meaning to Saturday’s contest than what’s on paper.
Going up against an offense like the Rebels’, Miles said he thinks his team can continue to play defensively like it did against Florida.
“I don’t think there’s ever been any question that we can be that kind of team,” Miles said. “For me, it just appeared that we did the things we were supposed to do in our assignments. We held up our end of the bargain in terms of each player. I think our team recognizes that they can play in that kind of game.”
“[Wallace has] always had kind of a really live arm, and… I think he always makes really good decisions. Just with a little bit more age you make those decisions more comfortably, and it comes out of your hand in a right fashion.”