LSU’s home opener has been delayed by a hurricane once again, and this time it was Rita that forced the Tigers’ game against Tennessee scheduled for Saturday to be shifted to Monday night.
The Southeastern Conference made the announcement Thursday after a conference call with school officials. The game will start at 5:30 MDT and be televised by ESPN2.
“After reviewing all of the information, I felt this was the best decision for the game,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said. “The safety of our student-athletes, coaches and fans is our priority. I understand this puts a burden on LSU and its administration, however, the travel safety issues necessitate this decision.”
Hurricane Rita was heading toward the Texas Gulf Coast and extreme western Louisiana on Thursday. It was expected to make landfall by late today or early Saturday.
LSU’s first home game against North Texas was scheduled for Sept. 3, just a few days after Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
Bowls: The NCAA has approved the use of video replay review of on-field officiating calls during all 28 Division I-A games.
The NCAA is allowing the use of video replays at all schools and conferences this season after the Big Ten used it for the first time last year.
Mark Womack, chairman of the NCAA’s postseason football subcommittee and executive associate commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, said the use of replays during bowl games would create consistency with regular-season games.
“It is the goal of everyone to have the best officiated bowl games as possible, and we think instant replay will assist us in reaching that goal,” he said.
Nine of 11 Division I-A conferences are using some form of video review this season. In July, the Collegiate Commissioners Association asked the NCAA to permit the use of the Big Ten’s video review system in all bowl games.
Georgia Tech: Quarterback Reggie Ball looked much better in practice, taking a majority of snaps with the first team and looking as though he will be ready to play Saturday against Virginia Tech.
Ball missed last week’s victory over Connecticut after coming down with viral meningitis, ending 27 consecutive starts.
The No. 15 Yellow Jackets (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) desperately need Ball for one of their biggest games in years against fourth-ranked Virginia Tech (3-0, 2-0).
Ball got limited work in the first two practices of the week, the coaching staff not wanting to risk a relapse of the illness that put the junior in a hospital for two days. But he stepped up his routine.
“He’s a lot better,” coach Chan Gailey said. “He had a good practice and did a lot more than he did in days past. I’m very encouraged.”
Redshirt freshman Taylor Bennett started against UConn and got most of the work with the first-team offense Tuesday and Wednesday. That wasn’t the case Thursday.
“They shared the snaps,” Gailey said. “Reggie probably had a few more with the (first team) than Taylor.”
The Yellow Jackets designed their game plan to accommodate both quarterbacks playing, but Gailey isn’t saying how he plans to use them.
“I still think both quarterbacks will play,” he said. “What percentage? I don’t know. Who will start? I don’t know. I’ll leave it at that.”
Meanwhile, defensive end Eric Henderson got limited work in practice because of a sore leg, casting doubt on whether he will play.
