To see a video on coach Les Miles’ Press Conference, click here.
It’s déjà vu for coach Les Miles as a potential hurricane, now Tropical Storm Gustav, could once again disrupt the Tigers’ season opener.Miles has weathered more than his fair share of hurricanes since arriving at LSU in 2005. Hurricane Katrina forced the postponement of the Tigers’ 2005 opener against North Texas and moved the subsequent Arizona State game to Tempe, Ariz. Just weeks later, LSU’s home game against Tennessee was moved to a Monday night because of Hurricane Rita’s projected path.Three years later, the Athletic Department is cautiously moving forward with plans for Saturday’s 4 p.m. game against Appalachian State. Forecasters project Gustav will be upgraded to a hurricane and make landfall Monday along the Gulf coast.The main potential to disrupt LSU football plans would not be the weather, but rather an influx of evacuation traffic from New Orleans. Gov. Bobby Jindal told the media Wednesday that contraflow, a one-way traffic plan directing travelers inland, could begin as early as Saturday.LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva met Wednesday afternoon to discuss game preparations with Jindal and his Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.”The possibility of the upcoming storm… I don’t quite know how to deal with it,” Miles said Wednesday after practice. “The only thing my experience tells me is that I don’t know, and I will take the governor’s lead and the chancellor’s lead and the system president’s lead and then the athletic director’s lead. In the meantime, we’re preparing to play the Appalachian State Mountaineers as scheduled.”Herb Vincent senior associate athletic director said athletic officials are working closely with multiple parties, including Southeastern Conference officials, state police and the governor’s office. Vincent said it’s too early to set any definitive plans because of the storm’s “unpredictable” path.”It’s a Wednesday before a Monday hurricane … knowing this thing could change directions 26 times before now and then,” he said. “If you speculate at all, it causes alarm among the fans.”Vincent said LSU decided to postpone the 2005 Tennessee game after a “group discussion.” Vincent said a similar collaborative decision would be made if Gustav continues in the direction of Louisiana.”[In 2005], that was a conference call that involved Tennessee officials, SEC officials and us,” he said. “All parties are involved when something like that happens.”Meanwhile, Miles is hoping for the best. He said he plans to further discuss Gustav with his players on Thursday.”Tomorrow, we’ll have that conversation in earnest,” he said. “It’s really just kind of gotten on my radar screen to be honest. I certainly hope, like the rest of the country, that it stays out in the gulf and something happens. We have a contingency plan, and we’re ready as best as we can.”—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]