Sophomore center Brett Helms said he could not sleep this past Saturday night, but it was not because of excitement that came with the victory over the University of Arizona just hours before.
Now that the first two games were over there was nothing left to keep Helms or the rest of the Tigers from giving their complete attention to Saturday’s game against Southeastern Conference rival Auburn University.
“I was laying in bed and just thought, ‘We got a big one on our hands this week,'” Helms said. “Now that the Arizona game is over, this is what you’re thinking about. There’s something special in the air. You can feel it. Just the anticipation of two Top-10 teams going at it. There’s definitely something in the air. Everyone just seems a little antsy.”
The Tigers have a reason to be antsy as they embark on not only their first road game but first day game and first SEC opponent of the season.
Last season when the time came in week six to play Auburn, LSU already had two SEC home games against Tennessee and Florida. The Tigers came out on top 20-17 in overtime. This season the battle falls in the third week of the season.
“People are still going to question that we haven’t played a huge opponent yet,” said junior offensive guard Will Arnold. “I think that we have had a lot of practice. It’s been a long grind. We’ve had enough games. I’m not worried about that. We’re doing better. We’ll be ready for these guys.”
LSU coach Les Miles said the team will have a close to normal practice week, but he said the players will treat it differently.
“We’re not going to have to rev up this LSU football team,” Miles said. “It’s a lot of fun preparing for a traditional opponent, a key rivalry. It’s what you play football for. There will be a lot of differences in how we approach the game in terms of extra time and our players wanting extra time [to prepare].”
Preparation will include studying film and making sure they can see and read what Auburn will scheme up for Saturday.
“Our coaches are going to give us a game plan, and we just have to go out there and learn it,” Arnold said. “We studied the film. We know they’re going to be great at disguising things. When you can’t see or read what they’re going to do, that’s when you get hurt.”
In present standings, No. 4 Auburn is the highest ranked opponent LSU will face this year.
Arnold said the rankings add more motivation for LSU because a win will help gain respect from fans who might overlook them.
“Auburn and LSU – it’s definitely a rival,” Arnold said. “It’s No. 4 Auburn. We’re trying to get respect. The players are going to be ready, and it’s going to be a different feel. You always look at Auburn as a tough team. You got to be ready to play, or you’re going to get beat.”
Respect is not the only thing won in the outcome of the rivalry. Four of the past five seasons show that the winner of this game has gone on to play in the SEC Championship game.
“I think that shows what is at stake,” Miles said. “Certainly the greatest rivalry is to play with championship implications, and this certainly is.”
—–Contact Tabby Soignier at tsoignier@lsureveille.com