Tulane coach Bob Toledo still has not announced who will start under center when his team faces LSU on Saturday night.But aside from the questions at quarterback, the Green Wave possibly face a bigger problem on offense, as they head to Tiger Stadium without the nation’s eighth leading rusher. Tulane running back Andre Anderson’s season is finished, and the junior is scheduled to have surgery on his right shoulder, which he injured against Rice last week.”He gave us a playmaker at that position,” Toledo said. “We don’t have a playmaker there right now.”  Toledo said he felt sick upon receiving the news that Anderson was lost for the season. “He’s worked so hard, and he was having such a good year,” Toledo said. “For it to occur early in that game was tough enough, and then to find out he was lost for the season was devastating.”Anderson’s injury also postponed a meeting between former high school teammates.LSU junior linebacker Perry Riley played with Anderson at Stephenson High School  in Stone Mountain, Ga. He said he’d heard about how well Anderson was doing and was shocked to hear he was injured.”I was looking forward to playing against him,” Riley said.Anderson left the Rice game after four carries and 12 yards, and Tulane went on to fall to the Owls, 42-17.Now the Green Wave must face the remainder of their schedule without the backbone of their offense.   Inexperienced players like freshmen Nathan Austin and Albert Williams are now faced with trying to plug the hole left by Anderson and must do it against a team that earned a 34-9 victory the last time they met. The two true freshmen backs combined for 33 yards against Rice, but Toledo said he is confident in their ability. “They both did some nice things, but they make some mistakes,” Toledo said. “They are just not used to playing. I think one of the things is that it is going to be a hostile environment. Andre gives you a settling force.”LSU senior linebacker Darry Beckwith said the Tigers have focused on other aspects of the Green Wave’s offense, which could create a big play at any moment.”They’re probably one of the best play-action teams we are going to play all year,” Beckwith said.But that was with Anderson in the lineup, before the results of a Tuesday MRI confirmed Anderson’s shoulder was separated. Toledo said the play action was probably more effective because of Anderson.”A guy who’s fourth in the nation in rushing — they’ve got to respect that run,” Toledo said. “Whereas with the younger guys they don’t have to respect it probably as much.”   Anderson rushed for 864 yards and seven touchdowns before his injury, Tulane also faces trouble with its passing game — one which Anderson helped make threatening. Tulane senior wide receiver Brian King said Anderson’s 25 catches allowed receivers to make plays.”It kind of draws a lot of attention to him, and it kind of opens up the passing game to the receivers a lot more,” King said.Toledo said Anderson was a great leader for the team, and his presence will be missed.”He practices so hard,” Toledo said. “He’s got such great character. He’s a super, super kid. I just feel horrible for him because of who he is and what he is.”—-Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]