TigerBait.com - LSU-La. Tech pregame notebook

November 14, 2009

Bryan Lazare
TigerBait.com Senior Writer

LSU is celebrating homecoming in its game Saturday against Louisiana Tech. The Tigers have a 56-25-3 record in homecoming games. LSU has an eight-game winning streak in homecoming games with the last loss coming to Alabama-Birmingham in 2000.

The Tigers have the nation's longest non-conference winning streak at 22 games. Their last loss to a non-Southeastern Conference came against Iowa in the 2005 Capital One Bowl, Nick Saban's final game as LSU coach.

In addition, the Tigers have won their last 27 home games against non-conference opponents. The last non-SEC team to beat LSU in Tiger Stadium was UAB nine years ago. The Tigers also have a 24-game winning streak against Louisiana opponents.

Louisiana Tech has defeated LSU once in 18 games. The Bulldogs knocked off the Tigers 6-0 in 1904. LSU has two victories against Louisiana Tech this decade - 58-10 in 2007 and 49-10 in 2003. The Tigers are 23-1 against current members of the WAC.

Under Les Miles, LSU has a 31-3 record against unranked teams. Miles' teams have a 28-6 record in Tiger Stadium.

LSU's defense has allowed just 35 points in five home games this season. The Tigers have intercepted a pass in 11 consecutive games - their longest streak since they picked off a pass in 19 straight contests from the 1983 Tulane game to the 1985 Ole Miss game.

LSU has not allowed a point off its eight turnovers. The Tigers and Arkansas share the SEC lead in turnover margin at plus-9. Only Florida has allowed fewer touchdowns than LSU. The Gators have given up eight touchdowns - four less than the Tigers.

LSU is last in the SEC in total offense (317.1 yards), kickoff returns (18.4 yards), sacks (12) and fourth-down conversions (20 percent).

The Tigers are first in the SEC in kickoff coverage (45.5 net kickoff yards) and punt returns (17.3 yards).

LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton was the head coach at Louisiana Tech from 1996-98. During those three seasons, the Bulldogs had a 21-13 record. He was the offensive coordinator in Ruston the year prior to becoming head coach.

Brandon LaFell needs two receptions to move past Early Doucet into fourth place on the school's all-time list. He needs 33 receiving yards to move by Tony Moss into sixth place on LSU's all-time rankings.

With Charles Scott injured, the Tigers' leading rusher is Russell Shepard, who has 224 yards on 31 carries. Keiland Williams and Stevan Ridley, expected to be the main ball carries Saturday, have a combined 293 rushing yards on 54 attempts.

If Jordan Jefferson can't play, Jarrett Lee will make his first start in almost a year. Lee started against Ole Miss in 2008 and injured his ankle in the second quarter. This season, Lee has completed nine of 18 passes for 92 yards and a touchdown with an interception.

If T-Bob Hebert is not healthy enough to start at center, the Tigers will make their first change in the lineup along the offensive line all season. Redshirt freshman P.J. Lonergan would get the nod if Hebert cannot play.

Only once in school history has LSU had two receivers catch at least 59 passes in the same season. In 2006, Dwayne Bowe and Early Doucet had 65 and 59 receptions, respectively.

Presently, Terrance Toliver is on pace to catch 61 passes and LaFell is on track to catch 59 passes (including the bowl). Toliver has 42 receptions for 547 yards and three touchdowns, while LaFell has 41 receptions for 506 yards and eight touchdowns.

LaFell is the SEC's active leader in receptions (159), receiving yards (2,231) and touchdown receptions (22).

Josh Jasper, who is used as the Tigers' pooch punter, has placed six of his nine kicks inside the opponent's 20. Derek Helton has had more than half of his punts (16-of-30) fair caught. Helton is averaging 40.6 yards on his punts.

Starting linebackers - Kelvin Sheppard (78), Perry Riley (63) and Harry Coleman (55) - are LSU's top tacklers. Sheppard and Drake Nevis have a team-best 7? tackles-for-loss.

Rahim Alem and Nevis have applied the most pressure on quarterbacks. Alem has three sacks and three quarterback-hurries, while Nevis has three sacks and two quarterback-hurries.

The top pass defender is Patrick Peterson, who has intercepted two passes and broken up nine passes. Chris Hawkins has two interceptions and five pass breakups.

Louisiana Tech has lost all five of its road games this season. In their last two road contests, the Bulldogs were beaten by a total of three points - 23-21 at Utah State and 35-34 at Idaho.

LSU will be the second ranked opponent for Louisiana Tech this season. The Bulldogs were beaten 45-35 by No. 5 Boise State last Friday. Louisiana Tech has a 3-26 record against Top 25 teams since 1989.

Bulldogs free safety Antonio Baker is third in the nation in career tackles among active players. Baker has 352 tackles, a fewer number than Baylor's Joe Pawelek (392) and Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon (379).

Running back Daniel Porter needs 12 rushing yards to move ahead of Patrick Jackson into fifth place on the school's all-time list. Porter, a senior, needs 530 yards to surpass Jason Cooper as Louisiana Tech's top rusher.

In nine games this season, Porter has rushed for 732 yards and eight touchdowns. He is averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Ross Jenkins has completed 59 percent of his passes (133-of-225) for 1,581 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions.

Only two Bulldogs have caught at least 20 passes. Tight end Dennis Morris has 27 receptions with seven resulting in touchdowns. Phillip Livas has made 20 catches for 205 yards.

Livas is one of four active players to have scored a touchdown in four ways - rushing, receiving, punt and kickoff return - in his career. The others are Clemson's C.J. Spiller, Florida International's T.Y. Hilton and Central Michigan's Antonio Brown.

Livas has 4,067 career all-purpose yards - 1,742 yards on kickoff returns and 393 yards on punt returns. This season, Livas has 567 return yards - 468 yards on kickoffs and 99 yards on punts. He has one punt return and one kickoff return for touchdowns this year.

Matt Nelson has made seven of ten field goals and 30 of 31 extra point attempts. Nelson's average kickoff has reached the opponent's 12. Cade Glasgow is averaging just 38 yards on 40 punts.

Three Bulldogs have made at least 50 tackles - middle linebacker Adrien Cole (64), strong safety Tank Callais (55) and Baker (51). Tackle D'Anthony Smith has made a team-high 4? stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Smith has been the top pass rusher with four quarterback-hurries and 2? sacks. Cornerback Deon Young is the best pass defender with three interceptions and four pass breakups.

Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley was an assistant at LSU during Saban's tenure. Dooley coached running backs, tight ends and special teams as well as serving as recruiting coordinator with the Tigers.

Dooley, the son of former Georgia coach Vince Dooley, is the only individual to hold the dual role of head football coach and athletics director at a Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision school.

Bulldogs defensive backs coach Terry Joseph was a graduate assistant under Miles in 2006. Louisiana Tech defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh was an assistant strength coach for LSU in 2006-07.

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