Outgoing LSU running backs coach Larry Porter’s status for the Capital One Bowl is still uncertain, head coach Les Miles said Monday after practice.
Porter was hired as Memphis’ head coach Nov. 30. Miles said Porter was not present at Monday’s practice.
“We do not know the relationship Coach Porter will have or if we will be allowed to use him in bowl practice,” Miles said. “We’d like to have Coach Porter be with the team through bowl season and then go to Memphis. But obviously he’s recruiting for Memphis, and he’s not recruiting for LSU, so that would be an issue, if that stopped us from recruiting.”
Miles also said new assistant coaches Frank Wilson and Billy Gonzales were at practice Monday but were unable to coach or participate in meetings.
Wilson will replace Porter as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Gonzales will take over as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for D.J. McCarthy, who resigned Dec. 9.
“I’m certain our administration is handling waivers and appeals so that they can come to the field effectively,” Miles said. “The two new [coaches] watched practice from the perimeter.”
Miles said offensive coordinator Gary Crowton handled receivers and quarterbacks while graduate assistant John Dunn handled running backs during practice Monday.
Miles also said senior running back Charles Scott practiced Monday but didn’t go through contact. Scott suffered a broken collarbone against Alabama on Nov. 7, but Miles said last week that Scott may be available for the bowl game.
“I don’t know if I’m overly optimistic. There was no contact today,” Miles said Monday. “I don’t know how he felt. I think it’ll all be based on how he feels.”
Miles also said he doesn’t expect the slow movement of finalizing coaching staff changes to affect the team greatly for the Capital One Bowl because the Tigers are so early in their bowl preparation.
Monday’s practice was the first for LSU since it learned its bowl fate as well as finished up finals. Miles said the practice “looked like the first bowl practice.”
“The tempo was good, a little sloppy,” Miles said. “[The practice was] not necessarily bowl preparation, but just kind of getting our feet underneath us and getting back to the tempo of practice and the speed of the game.”
LSU has had quite a bit of bowl success under Miles. The Tigers have outscored their bowl opponents, 157-44, in four bowl games in Miles’ tenure, all wins.
Miles said the practice schedule leading up to the Capital One Bowl will be similar to how it’s been the past several seasons.
“Each team is different, but we certainly have liked how it’s finished,” Miles said.
LSU faces Penn State in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1 at noon in Orlando, Fla.
 
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