GeauxTo
09-07-2005, 07:58 AM
The attitude of Arizona State in this whole debacle is pitiful. Not only did they jump with glee to have the game in Tempe, but they also said it counted as an LSU home game and that the Tigers would still have to come to Tempe again on their home / home game agreement. Here's an update from DandyDon:
As all of you know by now, LSU will be playing Arizona State at Tempe, Arizona Saturday and the game will be televised on ESPN at 7:45 CST. LSU held a 4:30 press conference Monday to make the announcement. Bertman said that LSU wanted very much to play the game at LSU, but because of the after affects of Hurricane Katrina, is is impossible to do so. He said all the motels and hotels within 100 miles of LSU were full and there would be no place to accommodate the ASU fans, the ESPN workers and game officials. Bertman said that ASU will honor all LSU fans who bought tickets at LSU. LSU sold 82,000 tickets for the game and the Sun Devil’s stadium seats 72,000. I do not know how ASU can honor all LSU fans with tickets if 30,000 to 40,000 Tiger fans show up for the game. Bertman also said the fact that the PMAC is being used as a medical center for hurricane Katrina survivors also played a major role in the decision to play at Tempe Arizona. Bertman did not mention anything about issuing refunds to ticket holders who cannot make the trip. I suspect that LSU will be releasing information in the next few days on how to collect refunds.
I am not very happy about LSU playing ASU on the road to open the season, and I am very unhappy that the game will count as a home game for LSU and that LSU will have to honor its commitment to play a return game at ASU in 2008. According to Bertman, ASU will be playing a return game to LSU before 2008. It appears as if the two teams will be playing three games with LSU playing two of the games on the road. I believe that LSU would have been much better off by playing the game at Shreveport.
Earlier in the day, at 2:30, Coach Les Miles held his weekly press conference to talk about the upcoming game against ASU. Coach Miles had high words of praise for the ASU team. He said ASU has outstanding special teams players and a kicker who usually kicks the ball deep into the end zone preventing kick returns. Coach Miles said the Sun Devils have a great middle linebacker who is a big play maker and that their defensive line is fast and mobile. He also said ASU has a super quarterback who throws the ball very well, and he had good things to say about their wide receivers and their freshman running back.
Coach Miles said that LSU playing the game on the road would not be used as an excuse. The first year head coach at LSU said that the team has worked very hard during Fall practice and that the attitude of all the players is outstanding.
According to Coach Miles, LSU's starting quarterback will be announced Thursday. One reporter asked the coach why not make the announcement today since the room was full of reporters. Miles smiled and said he likes making announcements on Thursdays. At the 2.30 press conference, depth charts were handed out to the news media with JaMarcus Russell listed as the No.1 quarterback. There are not any major surprises on the depth chart that I can see. Brett Helms is listed as the starting left guard over Will Arnold. Joseph Addai is the starting running back with Justin Vincent and Shyrone Carey No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Jason Spadoni is listed as the starting Will linebacker over Ali Highsmith, Chris Jackson is listed as the No. 1 PAT/FG kicker and Patrick Fisher is listed as the No. 1 punter.
I have not seen the odds on the game between LSU and ASU yet, but I believe that ASU will be a two- to three-point favorite. I believe at this time that the Arizona State game is going to be the hardest game on the schedule for the Tigers to win for two reasons. First, I do not believe LSU will be 100 percent focussed on the game due to all the distractions the last week. Second, Arizona State is a very good team and the game is being played at ASU. I believe the key for LSU to win the game will be collecting first downs. I expect ASU's game plan will be to put six and eight players in the box and force LSU to throw that ball with an inexperienced quarterback. If LSU can pick up four to five yards on first downs by running the football, it will force ASU to use a standard defense. I really feel bad for Coach Les Miles that the first game of the season was postponed and the second game moved to the opposing team's home field.
As all of you know by now, LSU will be playing Arizona State at Tempe, Arizona Saturday and the game will be televised on ESPN at 7:45 CST. LSU held a 4:30 press conference Monday to make the announcement. Bertman said that LSU wanted very much to play the game at LSU, but because of the after affects of Hurricane Katrina, is is impossible to do so. He said all the motels and hotels within 100 miles of LSU were full and there would be no place to accommodate the ASU fans, the ESPN workers and game officials. Bertman said that ASU will honor all LSU fans who bought tickets at LSU. LSU sold 82,000 tickets for the game and the Sun Devil’s stadium seats 72,000. I do not know how ASU can honor all LSU fans with tickets if 30,000 to 40,000 Tiger fans show up for the game. Bertman also said the fact that the PMAC is being used as a medical center for hurricane Katrina survivors also played a major role in the decision to play at Tempe Arizona. Bertman did not mention anything about issuing refunds to ticket holders who cannot make the trip. I suspect that LSU will be releasing information in the next few days on how to collect refunds.
I am not very happy about LSU playing ASU on the road to open the season, and I am very unhappy that the game will count as a home game for LSU and that LSU will have to honor its commitment to play a return game at ASU in 2008. According to Bertman, ASU will be playing a return game to LSU before 2008. It appears as if the two teams will be playing three games with LSU playing two of the games on the road. I believe that LSU would have been much better off by playing the game at Shreveport.
Earlier in the day, at 2:30, Coach Les Miles held his weekly press conference to talk about the upcoming game against ASU. Coach Miles had high words of praise for the ASU team. He said ASU has outstanding special teams players and a kicker who usually kicks the ball deep into the end zone preventing kick returns. Coach Miles said the Sun Devils have a great middle linebacker who is a big play maker and that their defensive line is fast and mobile. He also said ASU has a super quarterback who throws the ball very well, and he had good things to say about their wide receivers and their freshman running back.
Coach Miles said that LSU playing the game on the road would not be used as an excuse. The first year head coach at LSU said that the team has worked very hard during Fall practice and that the attitude of all the players is outstanding.
According to Coach Miles, LSU's starting quarterback will be announced Thursday. One reporter asked the coach why not make the announcement today since the room was full of reporters. Miles smiled and said he likes making announcements on Thursdays. At the 2.30 press conference, depth charts were handed out to the news media with JaMarcus Russell listed as the No.1 quarterback. There are not any major surprises on the depth chart that I can see. Brett Helms is listed as the starting left guard over Will Arnold. Joseph Addai is the starting running back with Justin Vincent and Shyrone Carey No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Jason Spadoni is listed as the starting Will linebacker over Ali Highsmith, Chris Jackson is listed as the No. 1 PAT/FG kicker and Patrick Fisher is listed as the No. 1 punter.
I have not seen the odds on the game between LSU and ASU yet, but I believe that ASU will be a two- to three-point favorite. I believe at this time that the Arizona State game is going to be the hardest game on the schedule for the Tigers to win for two reasons. First, I do not believe LSU will be 100 percent focussed on the game due to all the distractions the last week. Second, Arizona State is a very good team and the game is being played at ASU. I believe the key for LSU to win the game will be collecting first downs. I expect ASU's game plan will be to put six and eight players in the box and force LSU to throw that ball with an inexperienced quarterback. If LSU can pick up four to five yards on first downs by running the football, it will force ASU to use a standard defense. I really feel bad for Coach Les Miles that the first game of the season was postponed and the second game moved to the opposing team's home field.