After an offseason filled with a top-rated recruiting class and ticket surcharge debates, the LSU football team finally kicks off the 2003 season Saturday when it hosts University of Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m. in Tiger Stadium for the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The game originally was scheduled for the 2004 season but was moved up one year because of a cancellation by Troy State, who was slated to come to Baton Rouge this season.
After two and a half weeks of practice, the Tigers have finished their fall camp and are in preparation for the Indians.
“I think we’re tired of practicing against one another,” said LSU coach Nick Saban at Monday’s press luncheon. “They’re ready to play someone else, and I think we’re ready for that.”
Saban has been worried about the rising temperatures during the team practices.
“They used to say you’re supposed to bring the cows in when it’s 82 [degrees],” Saban said after explaining how the Tigers have been practicing in 90-degree weather. “I don’t think we should be out there, but our team has persevered well.”
Saban said there are two main questions surrounding the team as the season starts. The first question is the obvious, “What kind of football team do we really have?” The second question Saban is asking about his team is, “What is the identity of this team?”
“I don’t think it’s about talent,” Saban said. “I think it’s about character and a competitive attitude.”
Saban stressed that togetherness plays a large part on any team, and everybody on the team plays an important role.
“We spend all kinds of time decorating Christmas trees, putting the lights on it, everything you can put on it,” Saban said. “You plug it in, all the lights come on, and it looks beautiful. But if one bulb goes out, the whole string goes out. The beauty is no longer there.”
ULM returns 16 starters from a year ago when the Indians finished 3-9 (2-4 Sun Belt Conference). Linebacker Maurice Sonnier is one of the nation’s best and for the third consecutive season he is named to the Butkis Award Watch List for the nation’s best linebacker. He also is named to the Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List for the second consecutive season. The Lombardi Award usually is given to the best interior lineman in the country, but Sonnier still is up for consideration.
On offense, receiver Mack Vincent led the Sun Belt Conference a year ago with 79 catches for 1,198 yards and currently is named to the Fred Biletnikoff Award Watch List for the nation’s best receiver.
Quarterback Steven Jyles returns to lead the Indians’ offense after earning Louisiana Offensive Freshman of the Year last year, passing for 2,318 yards and 17 touchdowns.
“The impressive thing about this team is the quarterback is a very good player,” Saban said. “He threw for a lot of yards last year and lots of touchdowns. They have skilled people on offense and basically that’s how they try to beat you. They try to spread you out and use their skilled players to make plays.”
Saban said the Indians’ defense is full of experienced players who are capable of playing well and hopes the Tigers’ offense plays well in the first game.
“You’re always more worried about how you’re going to play offense in the first game,” Saban said. “You’re creating the action, and if you create it in a positive way then you have a chance to be successful. The other team is going to do a lot of things that maybe you haven’t been able to prepare for, so you’re players have to be able to adjust.”
Saban is anxious to see if the Tigers are ready for the challenge and will rise to the occasion.
“We’re not underdogs, everybody is going to expect us to win,” Saban said. “We’ve got to have that competitive nature. We’ve coined it the ‘Eye of the Tiger.'”
Injury Report
Redshirt freshman guard Terrell McGill (kidney) and freshman receivers Amp Hill (knee) and Craig Davis (elbow) are out of Saturday’s contest. Senior linebacker/safety Adrian Mayes, sophomore defensive end Melvin Oliver and senior safety Chad White will practice in red shirts.