By JAMES MORAN | Tiger Rag Associate Editor
Running back Derrius Guice is expected to play in LSU’s season opener against BYU on Saturday night in New Orleans, LSU coach Ed Orgeron said Wednesday, but a final decision on his status won’t be made until later in the week.
Guice participated fully during the media viewing portion of practice on Monday and Tuesday after missing time last week.
“We have not made a final decision yet, but it looks like he’s going to play,” Orgeron said on the SEC Coaches Teleconference. “I don’t believe he’s 100 percent right now. We will see toward the end of the week, but I do expect him to play.”
Guice, made available to reporters Tuesday, said he’d missed practice time due to an issue with his wisdom teeth and declared himself “100 percent” ready to go.
“My teeth aren’t holding me back,” Guice said with utmost confidence. “I don’t care if they pull all of them out. I’ll be ready this week.”
Still, Guice acknowledged the final decision belongs to Orgeron and no himself.
“He’s the top dog,” Guice said. “He makes the calls. If he feels like I’m ready to go, I’ll go. If not, I won’t.”
NOTES & QUOTES
On playing a game in New Orleans: “Obviously this is about our team and our great fans and the state of Louisiana. I’m so excited for everybody. I think this is going to be a wonderful night in the Superdome. I know as a kid, I dreamed about bringing a football team from LSU to the Superdome. Now it’s happening in my first game and I just want to thank God for the opportunity.”
– Orgeron said all discipline would be “handled in-house” and that suspensions would not be announced prior to any specific game.
On Houston native Toby Weathersby, whose grandparents were trapped by flood water from Hurricane Harvey: “He’s doing fine. I have not got an update, but I think they’re ok. Last time I talked to his mother, she was going to get her mother out of harm’s way. I haven’t talked to her since, but everyone is fine as far as I know. I will say this: the guys have done a great job of focusing, but you can see the pain on their face and we feel for them.”
On freshmen right guards Saahdiq Charles and Ed Ingram: “They’re unusual, both of them. Saahdiq is about 6-5, 320 pounds. He’s strong and very good on his technique. Hasn’t blinked an eye. He’s very smart and has picked up the offense very well. Goes against the first-string defense every day and does well. Obviously there’s some things he has to get better, but I think he’s very mature. Ed Ingram is very athletic for his size. I do believe that the summer they spent with (LSU strength coach) Tommy Moffitt got both of them in great shape. Ed is a good athlete, comes out of his hips well and will be a great pulling guard. I expect both of those guys to have a good year. Obviously we know there’s going to be some trials and tribulations with them there, so we’re going to have to protect them some and let them do the things that they do best.”
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