Sports

By Derek Levarse dlevarse@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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ORLANDO, Fla. – Dealing with missing players hasn’t been a problem for LSU. The Tigers have fought through numerous injuries in 2009, particularly at running back, where they’ll likely start fourth-stringer Stevan Ridley in Friday’s Capital One Bowl against Penn State.

A bit more problematic is having to deal with missing coaches.

December has not been a particularly stable month for LSU, which has had to replace two assistant coaches since closing out the regular season with a tight win against Arkansas on Nov. 28.

Running backs coach Larry Porter, considered to be one of the country’s top recruiters in any region, left to take the head coaching job at Memphis, his alma mater, a day later. Though his status for the bowl game was up in the air for a few weeks, it will be new hire Frank Wilson who will take his place against the Nittany Lions.

Receivers coach D.J. McCarthy was the target of an NCAA investigation for possible recruiting violations and resigned on Dec. 10. His replacement is Billy Gonzales, who will also be coaching his first game for the Tigers on Friday.

One coach who will be there is defensive coordinator John Chavis. But Friday may be his last game at LSU. The veteran SEC assistant is reportedly the favorite to take over the same position at Georgia.

On Wednesday, Chavis did little to dispel those rumors, twice declining to address the situation.

“Well, we’re excited about what we’re doing at LSU, and my focus has been on LSU and will continue to be on LSU,” Chavis said. “We’ve got an opportunity to win 10 ballgames, and certainly that’s what we want to do. That’s where our focus is going to be, and I’ll talk as long as you want to about LSU and about our players. Be happy to do that.”

Later he responded to a question about his future by saying, “Like I said earlier, I’ll be happy to talk about the bowl game and anything beyond that, I want to leave it like it is.”

Ridley likely to start

The Tigers’ woes at tailback may actually be less convoluted than their coaching situation.

LSU had hoped to get back leading rusher Charles Scott to face Penn State, but the broken collarbone he suffered late in the season will almost certainly sideline him Friday.

With backups Keiland Williams and Richard Murphy both out for the season with injuries, that leaves the rushing duties primarily to Ridley, return specialist Trindon Holliday and freshman quarterback Russell Shepard.

“We started out the season, interesting enough, with Ridley out (with an injury),” LSU offensive coordinator Gary Crowton said. “He got hurt in spring practice and came off knee surgery. We went into season with three running backs to count on -- Scott, Williams and Murphy -- and all 3 have been hurt through the year.

“It’s been an adjustment because you can’t get reps for everybody in camp. ... It kind of hurts your rhythm and momentum a bit. But we’ve had a lot of time to prepare.”

Paying respects

The Big Ten’s national profile remains very low, especially with the conference going 1-6 in bowl games last season. The SEC is once again widely considered the best conference in the country.

Regardless, LSU isn’t about to underestimate Penn State.

Linebacker Kelvin Sheppard said the Lions’ offense reminded him most of Alabama, the nation’s top-ranked team.

Offensive lineman Ciron Black said he he didn’t see a dropoff in looking at film of Penn State.

“I think they can match up with anyone in the SEC, to be honest with you,” Black said. “You watch those linebackers on film, and they’re running sideline-to-sideline. ... These boys, they play football. North, south, whatever -- they know how to play football. They got some guys who can really get after you, and I really like that about them.”