Since LSU’s last game at Tiger Stadium two weeks ago, the Tigers had an unscripted bye week, a starting defensive back broke his leg and the campus community mourned the death of its sixth live Tiger mascot.
Few things, if any, have been normal. 
LSU coach Ed Orgeron said the Tigers (3-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) plan to remember Mike with a decal on their helmets Saturday during their 6:30 p.m. meeting with Southern Miss (4-2, 2-1 Conference USA) at Tiger Stadium.
But LSU, who won its previous game against Missouri, 42-7, returns to a sort of normalcy Saturday, but is expected to be without starters Leonard Fournette, Rickey Jefferson, Will Clapp and Toby Weathersby.
“You always want to play games because you put in all that hard work all week long,” junior quarterback Danny Etling said. “We just have to focus on Southern Miss and try to win every game from here on out.”
Fournette is expected to miss his second-straight game with a lingering ankle injury. Jefferson may miss the remainder of the season with a broken ankle and Clapp (shoulder) and Weathersby’s (ankle) injuries are the reasons LSU retooled its offensive line.
Orgeron confirmed senior Ethan Pocic will start at right tackle, Andy Dodd will fill Pocic’s former role at center and Maea Teuhema bumps to left guard. Right guard Josh Boutte and left tackle K.J. Malone are presumed to man their standard positions.
“We’re going to try that combination, in fact, I know we are,” Orgeron said. “We’re going to do that and if it doesn’t work, we can always go back to the other way. We have several options, but we’re going to start that way.”
Orgeron added he expects junior safety John Battle, who nearly claimed the starting role from Jefferson when healthy, to make his first career start Saturday.
Will Jefferson, a St. Rose native and Destrehan alumnus, miss the rest of the season?
“I don’t know,” Orgeron said. “They’re working on some things and stuff like that. He just got a leg whip and broke his leg yesterday. He was doing good for us and it’s unfortunate … He’s going to try to be back. I know that.
“It’s John Battle’s turn.”
From injuries to energy, Orgeron, even during his introductory press conference, promised shortened practices, resulting in healthier, more energy-infused Tiger players.
Jefferson, though, is the only starter to go down in an LSU practice since Orgeron’s interim regime began.
But, the Tigers have had two weeks to prep a revamped lineup after their impromptu bye week as LSU’s scheduled game against Florida on Oct. 8 was postponed because of Hurricane Matthew.
The Tigers and Gators have rescheduled to play on Nov. 19 and will kickoff no later than 2:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium, the SEC announced Thursday.
Now, Orgeron is pleased and relieved.
“A cloud has been lifted, obviously,” Orgeron said. “There’s some closure to it and now we can move on.”
Orgeron, though, did not inform the team about the rescheduled game in an effort to keep the Tigers’ focus from veering away from Saturday: Southern Miss.
“They’re going to hear about it, but our focus is Southern Miss,” the coach said. “Focus on the focus. You’re going to hear a lot of things, but our focus is on Southern Miss.
“Our focus is on Southern Miss, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

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Zoe Geauthreaux

LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron looks back towards the sidelines on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, during the Tigers' 42-7 victory against Missouri in Tiger Stadium.