Perhaps LSU’s 2003 BCS National Championship scared everyoneoff.
The Houston Cougars became the second team to break its datewith the LSU football team earlier this spring. Arkansas State,originally scheduled to play the University of Louisana-Monroe thisweekend and Oklahoma on Sept. 25, became a late substitute forHouston on the LSU schedule. The Indians moved the ULM game toSept. 25 and dropped Oklahoma from their schedule. Oklahoma thenadded Houston to its schedule for this weekend.
“It was kind of a four game, four team switch,” said ArkansasState Director of Athletics Dr. Dean Lee.
Lee said the Indians had no problem swapping the Sooners forLSU.
“We were trying to get out of the Oklahoma game,” Lee said.”We’ve been trying to get out of that game since I’ve beenhere.”
LSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Dan Radakovich saidHouston had been trying to get out of its commitment with LSU forsome time.
“They were looking to drop our game and we said we would letthem out if it worked out that we could find another opponent,”Radakovich said.
The game with Arkansas State, originally scheduled for 2005, wasmoved up to fill the open spot. Radakovich said the late schedulingchange made it difficult to find another team with an opendate.
“We looked around a lot,” Radakovich said. “At that late date,it was hard to find another school.”
Houston is not the first opponent to break a date with theTigers. Virginia Tech was originally scheduled to open this seasonin Baton Rouge, but opted to play USC instead. Marshall withdrewfrom its 2003 game with LSU and was replaced by WesternIllinois.
Radakovich said the number of teams opting out of games hasincreased in recent years.
“It’s happened a number of times to schools from BCS conferenceswhere one team has pulled out,” Radakovich said.
LSU must now find another opponent to replace Arkansas State onthe 2005 schedule.
“We’ve had conversations with a half-dozen schools,” Radakovichsaid. “We’re waiting to hear right now from a couple ofschools.”
Radakovich said plans for an LSU – Oklahoma series in the futureare still in the works.
“We’re talking to Oklahoma,” Radakovich said. “They’re waitingto see if a school that wants out can find another opponent.”
Radakovich said because of scheduling obligations the firstopportunity the Tigers and Sooners can play will be early nextdecade.
Calls to the Houston sports information office were not returnedby press time.