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Gustav-LSU
09/03/08 - 03:55 PM
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    BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU has postponed its football game
against Troy after Hurricane Gustav rolled through Louisiana this
week.
    The university made the decision on Wednesday after having a
full day to get a handle on damage to Tiger Stadium and around the
community, much of which is expected to be without power into next
week.
    “The welfare of the people of Baton Rouge, the uncertain power
issues facing all of us and the condition of Tiger Stadium were all
factors in making this decision,” LSU director of athletics Joe
Alleva said. “We are fortunate that both schools had a common open
date later in the year. I am appreciative of the cooperation of the
good people at Troy for their understanding of this situation.”
    The seventh-ranked Tigers’ game versus the Trojans will be
played Nov. 15. Classes are canceled through the end of the week,
with only part of campus on generator power.
    LSU’s football team met at the Tigers’ on-campus training center
Tuesday afternoon, then went ahead with practice. They continued
practice on Wednesday afternoon on their indoor field, which also
has generator power.
    Gustav caused some damage at Tiger Stadium, including broken
glass and torn awnings over club seats. Debris littered the stands
and playing field.
    Alleva said facilities crews were not yet certain if the stadium
lights or scoreboards were still working because regular power was
still out at the stadium. A generator was used to power meeting
rooms below the stands behind one end zone.
    Troy athletics director Steve Dennis said his university was
happy to accommodate the postponement.
    “This is a football game, nothing more, and the people of Baton
Rouge have more to worry about right now than a football game,”
Dennis said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of
Baton Rouge and LSU and we wish them nothing but the best as they
work to overcome the effects of this storm.”
    Trees are down on campus and throughout Baton Rouge, some
resting on the roofs of houses. Dangling and shredded power lines
were also a common sight.
    Normally, more than 100,000 fans flock to campus for Tigers’
games, enjoying tailgate parties on campus even if they cannot gain
entrance to 91,600-seat Tiger Stadium, then filling area hotels.
    LSU officials said there was no way the Baton Rouge area could
accommodate such an event this weekend, but remained hopeful that a
scheduled home game on Sept. 13 against North Texas would be played
in Death Valley.
    The eye of Gustav passed just west of Baton Rouge, battering the
capital city with recorded gusts of 74 mph for hours. Damage
appeared worse in Baton Rouge than in New Orleans, where the Saints
remain scheduled to play their regular season opener against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Louisiana Superdome.
    Tropical Storm Hanna is also causing schedule changes this
weekend. The Colgate-Coastal Carolina football game has been moved
from Saturday night to Sunday at 1 p.m. in Conway, S.C.