The 2015 LSU football season continues to get stranger and stranger.
Its first game against McNeese State was canceled. Now, as of Wednesday, the Tigers will be the visiting team in its 2:30 p.m. matchup in Tiger Stadium against the University of South Carolina on Saturday.
Flood waters ravaged through the original game site, Columbia, South Carolina, canceling classes and moving Saturday’s game to Tiger Stadium.
“It’s unfortunate they cannot host a home game in their own stadium,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “But this is the right thing to do. This is what we are supposed to do.”
Due to the change in location, LSU won’t travel again until Nov. 7 against Alabama, playing all four October games in Baton Rouge. LSU has also never been the away team for a game played in Tiger Stadium.
South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said the field at Williams-Brice Stadium held out the water well, but the concern was the need for law enforcement officers and gameday workers to have full accessibility to the stadium area.
LSU is the visiting team in Saturday’s matchup, so the Tigers will wear purple for the second game in a row. Traditionally worn during home nonconference games, LSU hasn’t donned its purple armor against an SEC opponent in Tiger Stadium since 1994.
Prior to the game time announcement, student tickets went on sales for $5 at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The deadline for purchasing student tickets is at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
“All of the revenue from this game, ticket sales minus our expenses, will go to South Carolina,” said LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva. “They are basically the home team for this game.”
Alleva said he doesn’t expect to make much money from the game, saying LSU is likely to aid the relief efforts in South Carolina through donation.
Alleva said LSU sold nearly 6,000 tickets to the game in Columbia. LSU, along with South Carolina, will fully refund all purchased tickets to the game previously scheduled in Columbia.
“South Carolina put out that they will be refunding all tickets,” said LSU ticket manager Brian Broussard. “We will do the same and refund all of our fans who purchased tickets to the South Carolina game.”
Season ticket holders were allowed to purchase tickets on Wednesday afternoon. Though there are no guarantees that holders will receive their normal ticket seat location, they may choose from available seating. The deadline for season-ticket holders to purchase tickets is at 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The public will have access to purchasing general admission tickets at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Ticket sales on such short notice may not reach usual Tiger Stadium numbers, so LSU plans on closing the east upper deck and south upper deck unless ticket demand requires the sections to remain opened, Alleva said.
Given rising temperatures afternoon temperatures and limited concession stands, every person will be allowed to bring in one water bottle into the stadium.
“One bottle per fan,” Alleva said. “That is because we are concerned about our ability to handle the concession stands.”
The stadium normally uses youth groups as vendors and is concerned about meeting demands during the last minute game.
“Everybody who does assist us on gameday may be busy,” said LSU senior associate athletic director Eddie Nunez. “It’s going to be hard for us. The majority of adults who work for us have been able to change plans and make the game this weekend. We have a ton of people stepping up.”
Yet, moving the game for tragedy is something LSU fans find relatable.
In Les Miles’ coaching debut in 2005, the Tigers moved a home game against Arizona State University when Hurricane Katrina barrelled into Louisiana, destroying it and most of the Gulf Coast.
As a sign of respect, the LSU band is learning the South Carolina alma mater and fight song to preform during its prestigious pregame routine.
Alleva said the Red Cross will be stationed outside Tiger Stadium on Saturday to receive donations and relief items for South Carolina’s victims.
“We are honored to help out South Carolina during this tragedy and play the game here,” Alleva said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of the injured or killed people in South Carolina. We hope for a speedy recovery.”