In his weekly Subway Fresh Take luncheon, LSU coach Les Miles spoke with the media after then-No. 8 LSU’s 34-24 win against Syracuse University on Saturday.
Saturday’s win brought the Tigers (3-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) to 50 consecutive nonconference regular season wins. Miles has yet to lose a game against a nonconference opponent during the regular season throughout his LSU career.
“All-in-all I’m very glad to be in the position that we are in right now,” Miles said. “I like the way the schedule sets up for us going forward.”
But, the 50th-straight win wasn’t easy. LSU accumulated 14 penalties for 120 yards, keeping Syracuse in the game.
“Offensively, the penalties costed [cost] us 14 points and a 92-yard [sophomore running back] Leonard Fournette run,” Miles said. “Defensively, we had penalties that costed [cost] us three touchdowns. No matter what, we are in pursuit of a penalty-free game.
“First, we have to bring awareness to the penalties. They have ambitions and goals for this season. Some of this is going to be technique work, but some of the penalties came from the environment because it was so loud we couldn’t hear.”
Eastern Michigan
The Tigers are preparing for their first-ever meeting against the University of Eastern Michigan at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
“They are going to come here and play hard,” Miles said. “We are very excited to be back in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. That is just what we need.”
Eastern Michigan (1-3, 0-1 Mid-American Conference) lost its last game to Army West Point, 58-36. The Eagles are ranked last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in run defense, allowing nearly 223.9 yards a game, which could be troubling when facing Fournette and the LSU offensive line.
“Eastern Michigan can really move the ball offensively,” Miles said. “The have size and are strong defensively. It is going to be about our goals and our path. It’s going to be about what we want to accomplish as a team.”
Leonard Fournette
To complete the three-peat, Fournette earned his third-consecutive SEC Offensive Player of the Week title this season, the league office announced on Monday.
Fournette revived the LSU offense from last season, giving LSU its first true Heisman Trophy candidate since Tyrann Mathieu. Through the opening three games, Fournette ranks third nationally in total yards at 631, No. 2 in touchdowns with eight on the season — all of which he has done in three games, one less than the rest of the FBS.
“He has the strength and size to use contact to his advantage,” Miles said. “When you combine that with his speed, he’s special. What he has been doing naturally with his eyes has been awfully successful to this point.”
Fournette’s name was written in pen in the LSU history books after Saturday’s win when he became the only Tiger to ever rush for more than 200 yards in two consecutive games.
Injury Update
Senior safety Jalen Mills and senior tight end Dillon Gordon traveled to Syracuse with the rest of the team, but neither dressed out.
On Monday, Miles said Gordon and Mills are both on their way back to suiting up for the purple and gold with a clean bill of health.
“Dillon Gordon is probably a week away from giving us a full game,” Miles said. “He’s really improved. As for Jalen Mills, I’d like to say he’s about two weeks. He’s running and cutting, but we’re going to have to see where his comfort is.”
On Saturday, junior defensive end Tashawn Bower went down in the first quarter with a left ankle injury and underwent X-rays. Bower went back into the game but was removed again after he was noticeably favoring his left leg.
The injury is not considered serious, and he should be back on the field Saturday against Eastern Michigan.
“Bower had a lower leg injury, and in my opinion, he could’ve finished the game,” Miles said. “He played in the game and then we took him out. We will give him a couple days off, but he should be good enough to play on Saturday.”