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LSU Comfortable Playing In Superdome

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 6, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - The LSU Tigers (11-2), playing just 80 miles from their campus, should be in friendly surroundings Monday night when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes (11-1) in the BCS Championship Game at the Superdome.

"There will be some comfort for our team when we walk into this environment," LSU coach Les Miles said. "To call that a real advantage, I'm not sure about that. I think the real advantage is making the tackle, making the play on offense."

Following the 2003 season, LSU won the BCS Championship Game at New Orleans, defeating Oklahoma 21-14. The Superdome din was deafening, and LSU purple and gold severely outnumbered Oklahoma crimson and cream throughout the city.

Still, Ohio State players don't expect a decided homefield advantage.

"I can guarantee you this, our fans will show up," Buckeyes G Steve Rehring said. "That's what we do at Ohio State. I know a lot of people who are driving down, skipping class, even if they don't have a ticket.

"No doubt, we are in LSU's home state. We are in enemy territory. But Monday night, that stadium is going to more half-and-half."

SECOND CHANCE: On Nov. 17, Ohio State lost at home against Illinois, 28-21. On Nov. 23, LSU lost at home to Arkansas, 50-48 in triple overtime.

Yet, Ohio State and LSU, beneficiaries of other final-weekend losses, still made it to the BCS Championship Game.

"What are the odds?" Ohio State WR Brian Hartline said. "Thank God it worked out."

"We thought we had lost it all," LSU SS Craig Steltz said. "It says something about the character of our team, that we didn't lose focus and still won the SEC."

PARTY GUY: Ohio State coach Jim Tressel raised an eyebrow when a reporter asked if he had been to Bourbon Street.

"Can you get there on a bus Ohio State's route from the hotel to its practice site?" Tressel said. "If you can't get there on a bus, no, I haven't been. I'm not really a Bourbon Street kind of guy."

Tressel said the 2003 national coaching convention was in New Orleans. After a few days of Cajun food, he hungered for a hamburger. He was told to go north on Bourbon Street, where he would find the best hamburger ever.

"The guy was right - a great hamburger," Tressel said. "I know I was on Bourbon Street that day."

ODDS AND ENDS: Miles said he expects senior QB Matt Flynn, who missed the SEC Championship Game with an injury, to be Monday night's starter. Meanwhile, there are rumblings that Ohio State has devised some packages for mobile freshman QB Antonio Henton, who could see spot duty behind starter Todd Boeckman. ... Ohio State's 0-8 bowl-game record against SEC teams has been well-documented. LSU is 2-2 in bowl games against Big Ten teams. ... LSU freshman TE Jordon Corbin (Lakeland) will watch Monday's game with interest. He selected LSU over Ohio State in recruiting. ... Ohio State OT Kirk Barton, a media darling, was asked who will follow him as team spokesman. "I don't know, it's not like we redshirt players who practice giving out colorful quotes," Barton said. "You guys have to uncover him. The way I am, it's just me. I always wanted to be a broadcaster. In second grade, I wasn't the kid who wanted to be an astronaut. I wanted to be Marv Albert - before the sex scandal."

Joey Johnston

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