In his weekly Subway Fresh Take luncheon, LSU coach Les Miles addressed the upcoming game against Syracuse, Leonard Fournette Heisman Trophy talk and team-wide injury updates.
LSU vs. Syracuse
The Tigers will depart for New York on Friday for their morning kickoff against Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday in the Carrier Dome.
“This will be a great opportunity for our guys to go east,” Miles said. “We will face a variety quality opponent. They are a talented, well-coached team. They have a very strong program.”
A victory against Syracuse would solidify a 50-game win streak against nonconference opponents for LSU. Under Miles, the Tigers are 39-0 against non-SEC teams.
This Saturday will be Syracuse’s fourth straight game in the Carrier Dome, which is well-known for the circus it produces during Syracuse’s basketball season. Miles fears the same rowdy crowd will be there on Saturday morning.
“We expect the crowd to be the biggest, loudest and most aggressive away stadium that benefits the home team,” Miles said. “It’s going to make us fight to play well.”
Fournette for Heisman?
Sophomore running back Leonard Fournette, the SEC Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, ran for a career-best 228 yards on 19 carries for three touchdowns against Auburn on Sept. 19.
“The thing that makes him special is that he is a very humbled man,” Miles said. “He’s a great teammate. He’s a leader. He wants to achieve great things for his team, and his teammates enjoy him.”
Fournette jumped the rest of the candidacy field after his performance against Auburn, leading the pack of Heisman candidates with odds at 11 to 2, according to the Bovada in Las Vegas.
“I’m for national awards to our players,” Miles said. “Leonard is a good person and somebody who could easily be considered for a number of national awards.”
Fournette closed in on the LSU school-record of yards rushed in one game (250), but after getting nicked when diving into the endzone for his third touchdown, Miles pulled Fournette out of the game for fear of further injury.
Miles said Fournette wasn’t hurt in Saturday’s game, which is strange to Miles.
“As hard as he runs, if he doesn’t get bruised then something is wrong,” he said.
Deion Jones — Targeting update
Senior linebacker Deion Jones was ejected from Saturday’s contest against Auburn after targeting an opposing player’s helmet.
As the NCAA mandates, Jones was removed from the game and must miss the first half of the next contest.
“It’s a pain to have a quality player standing on the sideline,“ Miles said. “But, it’s a quality rule, and I want that rule enforced as it was.”
Jones will be replaced by both junior linebacker Duke Riley and senior linebacker Lamar Louis, Miles said.
On the death of former tight end Tyler Edwards
Tyler Edwards, 26, died on Saturday, most likely due to a self-inflicted gunshot, said Monroe Police Department Detective Reggie Brown.
Miles, who was clearly distraught when asked about the death of one of his former players, was at a loss for words.
“It’s just so sad,” Miles said. “I don’t know exactly what to say. He was a fine young man who busted his tail for us. He did everything we asked him to do. I don’t know the specifics, but all I know is he is no more.”