Tide Completes Work For LSU

The top-ranked University of Alabama football team practiced for 90 minutes and helmets and shorts Thursday afternoon in the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility, as preparations wind down for Saturday’s game at number 15 LSU. The Crimson Tide will hold a brief walk-through in Tuscaloosa on Friday before departing for Baton Rouge.

“I think our team has had pretty good focus and preparation for this game,” Alabama Coach Nick Saban said. “We are coming off a good win against Arkansas State. There are certainly some things we can improve on, work on and get better at. We need to challenge ourselves to play to our full capacity, which is certainly going to be a key to this week’s game because LSU has an outstanding team. They are very well coached. Les Miles has done a fantastic job while he has been there.

“They have a very good offensive team. They average over 400 yards per game and score a lot of points. They have a lot of good skill players and a very good offensive line. They have really good runners. Their defense is very talented and have some guys that are difficult to block in the front seven, whether its Tyson Jackson, Kriston Pittman or Rahim Alem. (Darry) Beckwith is a good linebacker. They have a great kicking game and great returner. They are a very, very good team. We are going to need to play as good a football as we have played, or better, and continue to improve as a team to be able to have an opportunity to be successful.”

Alabama and LSU will meet Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST at Tiger Stadium in a pivotal Western Division clash. The game will be televised nationally by CBS Sports with Verne Lundquist (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter) calling the action.

ESPN’s College GameDay, the popular two-hour college football preview show, will also be on hand in Baton Rouge this weekend. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard will report from Baton Rouge from 9-11 a.m. (CT) on ESPN.