Tennessee preparing for unusual trip to LSU

The way Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer sees it, his team’s change in travel plans for Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge, La., is a small inconvenience by comparison.

The No. 10 Volunteers (1-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) normally travel the day before an away game. To secure hotel rooms for Friday night, they would have displaced employees of a power company helping in the aftermath of the storm.

Instead, they decided to fly in Saturday morning and rest near campus before the night’s matchup.

“Us doing something like that, reflecting on all they have been through down there with the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, is very minimal as far as an adjustment on our part. It’s the right thing to do,” Fulmer said Monday.

Fulmer said he doesn’t remember the Vols ever traveling the day of a game, but he’s not worried about how the team will respond to the change.

“I think we’ll do fine with it,” he said, adding that during high school most players traveled in buses only hours before away games

The hurricane caused LSU to postpone its home opener against North Texas on Sept. 3, and then the Tigers moved their next home game against Arizona State to Tempe, Ariz., because of a lack of hotel rooms and the chaos around campus where some injured and sick evacuees were taken.

LSU rallied to beat Arizona State 35-31.

After having last weekend off, the Tigers will finally have a home game. Tennessee officials had requested an afternoon kickoff, but LSU wanted to maintain its tradition of playing at night and ESPN chose to televise the game in its 7:45 p.m. EDT slot.

The Vols hope playing a football game will help the hurricane victims.

“It’s like a relief. It’s a way for 60 minutes to get your mind off stuff that’s going on,” cornerback Jason Allen said. “In a way I think it’s kind of good for all the people in Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama who went through the hurricane.”

Tennessee also hopes Hurricane Rita, which dumped heavy rain on the Florida Keys on Monday, does not make landfall this weekend in Louisiana. Forecasters predicted Rita would strengthen into a major hurricane and make landfall between northern Mexico and western Louisiana.

“I am concerned about this weather that’s apparently coming in, but that’s not something we can do anything about today,” Fulmer said.

Saturday’s game is a big deal for both teams but for different reasons. It’s the first Southeastern Conference game for LSU and home debut of new coach Les Miles.

For the Vols, it’s a way to jump back into contention for the SEC crown after last week’s 16-7 loss at Florida.

They have already made some changes by naming Erik Ainge the starting quarterback for good to help get the offense in sync. Tennessee had been rotating Ainge and Rick Clausen, who began his college career at LSU before transferring.

Another change will be in the offensive line. Fulmer said starting right guard Cody Douglas probably won’t play because of injuries to his right knee and ankle that put him in a walking boot and on crutches. Fulmer did not elaborate on the injuries.

Arron Sears would then move from left tackle to right guard, and Eric Young would replace Sears. Center Richie Gandy, who missed the opener because of injury, will likely play, but Fulmer said if he had to make the decision now he would start Anthony Parker at center.

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On the Net:

LSU football: http://www.lsusports.net

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