The Georgia Dome has been a dome away from home in recent history for the LSU football team.
 
The No. 21 Tigers are 7-1 all time in the Georgia Dome, claiming victories against Clemson, Georgia, Miami and twice beating Tennessee and Georgia Tech.
 
History will be on LSU’s side  Saturday when the Tigers take on the No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels in the third-annual Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game.
 
The chance to open the season in the Georgia Dome is one LSU coach Les Miles relishes.
 
“We really enjoy [this opportunity to play in Atlanta],” Miles said. “A number of our guys are from Georgia. They look forward to going back there. We’ve played a bowl game there, and the [Southeastern Conference] Championship game there, and now the opportunity to start the season in Atlanta — it’s just what we want.”
 
Miles said playing in a dome is something his team will be aptly prepared for.
 
“The good news is we have a nice indoor facility,” Miles said. “The difference in lighting [between indoors and outdoors] is something we look at. It’s a very similar field to our indoor facility. We’re very comfortable in that place, and I look forward to going back.”
 
The Tigers have won their previous six games against Atlantic Coast Conference foes and have not lost to an ACC school since a 1983 loss to Florida State. Since then the Tigers have lost to both Miami and Virginia Tech, but neither team was a member of the ACC when the game was played.
 
The Tar Heels began the fall boasting one of the most intimidating defenses in the country, led by star defensive tackle Marvin Austin. But on July 15, it became public the NCAA had launched an investigation on the North Carolina football program on allegations of improper contact by a player with an agent.
 
Austin was one of the names that surfaced.
 
Soon after, news began to leak of a possible academic scandal in Chapel Hill, N.C., with football players having papers written for them by a tutor — who also happened to be a nanny for North Carolina football coach Butch Davis.
 
The NCAA had not made a ruling as of Thursday on the eligibility of any of the players in question, leading to the possibility that as many as 16 Tar Heels may be suspended for the game, according to reports.
 
Austin was suspended indefinitely Wednesday by Davis for “violation of team rules,” which Davis said had nothing to do with the investigation.
 
Despite the dark storm clouds swirling around the Carolina program, Davis is still fired up about taking on the Tigers.
 
“When the game was announced over a year ago, everybody was excited about it, and I think they still are,” Davis said in a teleconference. “It’s an opportunity to play against a program that’s had great success and has history and tradition.”
 
Davis also said the Tigers will be a stiff test for his team.
 
“They’re a very good school that’s won two national championships in the previous 10 years,” Davis said. “Watching their film, they’ve got a lot of talented, gifted athletes, some kids that are very explosive. They present a challenge to any football team, and certainly we’ve been working hard in preparation for this ball game.”
 
LSU redshirt freshman defensive end Sam Montgomery said even though the matter is out of his control, he hopes to see North Carolina at full strength.
 
“Whoever steps on the field, may the best man win,” Montgomery said. “I wish the best for North Carolina, and I hope all their players will be there to play on Saturday. But whoever steps out on the field, that’s who we have to play.”
 
Miles — who is 5-0 in season openers at LSU — knows the importance of starting a season off well.
 
“We have to start the season fast,” Miles said. “It’s going to be a great game for this team to open up in the Georgia Dome on national television. They’re a young team that has a great attitude and youthful enthusiasm. We’re coming into the season with ambition and want.”
 
 
 
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Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]