Saturday, October 13, 2001
Tested Tigers ready for UK
The Associated Press
LEXINGTON — Back-to-back losses to No.13 Tennessee and No.1 Florida have LSU's players in a serious mood for today's game at Kentucky.
“Forget all that "create a sense of urgency' stuff,” linebacker Bradie James said. “We've got to play ball. I'm tired of talking about it.”
LSU (2-2, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) opened the season with blowout victories over Tulane and Utah State, climbing as high as 14th in the polls.
Consecutive losses to Tennessee (26-18) and Florida (44-15), however, have pushed the Tigers from the rankings. With games against SEC West rivals Mississippi State, Mississippi and Alabama looming, coach Nick Saban and his players know a decisive victory over Kentucky (1-4, 0-3) could provide a shot of confidence.
“We realize how important this game is,” linebacker Trev Faulk said.
“It can be a game we can look back to as a turning point in the season.”
The Tigers are 1-4 away from their home field in Saban's two seasons at LSU, and play three of their next four games on the road. Saban said he wants his players to prove to him — and to themselves — they can bounce back with a strong performance after two tough losses.
“The big question that I have for everyone is, What do you learn from an experience like this? That's for everyone,” Saban said. “The coaching staff, players and everyone should ask themselves what they learned from an experience like this.”
Kentucky coach Guy Morriss has learned that coaching in the high-pow ered SEC can become a nightmare quickly.
The Wildcats have dropped three straight games and 12 of their last 13 overall.
They haven't beaten a conference opponent in 12 tries, dating to a 19-17 victory over Vanderbilt on Nov. 13, 1999.
Despite his squad's struggles, Morriss — in his first season as a head coach after taking over the program from former coach Hal Mumme in February — believes it is on the verge of a breakthrough game.
“We've tried to point out the positive things in games, and the kids see that,” Morriss said. “They're in a good frame of mind, and that goes back to the relationship that the players have with us as coaches. They believe in their coaches and believe in what we're doing.”
“They see the positive stuff and understand the things we need to get better at. They're ready to get back to work and play as hard as they can to beat LSU.”
If the Wildcats didn't have enough to worry about facing the Tigers — who blanked them 34-0 in Baton Rouge last year — they may be without as much as 60 percent of the starters on their offensive line.
Right tackle Antonio Hall and left guard Keith Chatelain both have painful sprained ankles and may see limited playing time. Center Nolan DeVaughn is out 3-4 weeks after separating a shoulder in the team's 42-6 loss at No. 9 South Carolina last week.
Three inexperienced players will be thrust into starting roles — sophomore Nick Seitze at center, redshirt freshman Jason Rollins at left guard and redshirt freshman Matt Huff at right tackle.
“First of all, they'll have to deal with nerves,” Morriss said of his three young linemen, who could be making their first career starts. “Then they'll have to adjust to the speed of the game and the strength of the opponents. They'll also have to overcome their youth and inexperience.
“But we expect them to step up and get the job done. That's why we brought them here. And I think they expect to get the job done.”
Like the Tigers, Kentucky's players know a victory in a game no one expects them to win could pay huge dividends the rest of the season.
“I know the character of this team, and I think we can bounce back,” free safety Quentus Cumby said. “We have six games left, so we have to win out because we want to send our seniors off with a bowl game and a good feeling. That all starts with playing hard and beating LSU.”
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Indiana football scores
Anderson 29, Amelia 0
Batavia 18, Bethel Tate 8
Beechwood 42, Holy Cross 0
Bellevue 37, Ludlow 0
Boone County 17, Dixie Heights 13
Campbell County 28, Conner 13
Cin. Hills Christian Academy 33, Landmark Christian 16
Cincinnati Country Day 37, Lockland 6
Colerain 42, Middletown 0
East Central 31, La Salle 21
Goshen 21, Norwood 14
Hamilton 17, Oak Hills 14
Harrison 40, Mason 16
Hillsboro 14, Clinton Massie 10
Kings 34, Wilmington 14
Lakota East 21, Sycamore 20
Lebanon 24, Fairborn 0
Lloyd 33, Garrard County 10
Loveland 27, Little Miami 7
Madeira 21, Indian Hill 20
McNicholas 41, Badin 12
Milford 24, Fairfield 19
Moeller 20, Col. St. Francis De Sales 10
Mount Healthy 62, Shroder 0
New Richmond 50, Clermont Northeastern 12
NewCath 63, Dayton 8
North College Hill 49, New Miami 2
Princeton 30, Lakota West 21
Reading 42, Mariemont 6
Roger Bacon 20, Purcell Marian 10
Summit County Day 74, Yellow Springs 13
Talawanda 34, Edgewood 25
Taylor 33, Deer Park 6
Washington Court House 28, Jonathan Alder 15
West Carrollton 12, Monroe 6
Western Hills 27, Woodward 8
Williamsburg 66, Western Brown 8
Winton Woods 24, Turpin 7
Wyoming 49, Finneytown 20
Tested Tigers ready for UK
