LSU athletic director Joe Alleva cleared the air: the Tigers will not move their home game on Nov. 19 to reschedule against No. 18 Florida.
“We’ve got to put it to bed and move forward,” said LSU coach Ed Orgeron. “It’ll be good to talk about it, move forward, put it to rest and get ready for Southern Miss.”
No plans to reschedule LSU’s duel with the Gators (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) have been made, but Alleva says Dec. 3 — the day of the SEC’s Championship Game — is an option, as is LSU’s scheduled open date on Oct. 29.
“We’re going to have a home game on Nov. 19, and we’re not going to change that,” Alleva said.
A week from LSU’s impromptu bye week, the Tigers will meet Southern Miss at 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.
Southern Miss and LSU will meet for the third time in series history (1-1). The Golden Eagles won the last matchup, 20-18, in Baton Rouge in 1994.
“This is game two of our season,” Orgeron said. “Today is about forgetting about last week and getting ready for Southern Miss.”
Leonard Fournette: questionable
Junior tailback Leonard Fournette’s status remains unclear for LSU’s meeting with Southern Miss, Orgeron said.
“I don’t know if he’s going to play this week,” Orgeron said. “I would list him as questionable right now.”
Fournette has been hampered by a lingering ankle injury, which was worsened in LSU’s 14-16 loss against Wisconsin.
The junior’s recovery plan is ongoing, and Orgeron says there is still work to be done.
“I talked to [director of athletic training Jack Marucci], and he’s going to do some things this week,” Orgeron said. “He’s getting better.”
Other injuries
Redshirt sophomore guard Will Clapp is battling an injury, causing position shifts along LSU’s offensive line. Clapp, who is hampered by a shoulder injury he received against Missouri by landing on his right shoulder — which was already strapped in a bulky shoulder brace.
Clapp was seen on campus last week donning his right arm in a shoulder sling.
Clapp remains unlikely to play against Southern Miss. Orgeron said LSU’s offensive line must adjust without the former starting left guard.
“We need to be able to adjust,” he said. “We have to have some guys who are ready to play.”
Additionally, Orgeron spoke about outside linebacker Corey Thompson — who was injured in LSU’s fall camp prior to the season-opener on Sept. 3 — and hasn’t played a snap this season because of a leg injury.
Orgeron said he’s spoken with Thompson and his family and a redshirt may be possible. But he suggested Thompson will play at some point this season.
“He’s not ready to play yet,” Orgeron said. “We’re going to do more things with him right now. I spoke to him and his father last week on the phone. There’s always options and people thinking about how much you’re going to play, saying ‘use that as a redshirt year.’ I told his dad, ‘Let’s take it day by day.’ Corey wants to play. Let’s see how much we can use him and how much we’re going to play him.”