LSU’s Miles still hasn’t named starting QB

By David Moorman  |   Tuesday, August 26, 2008  |  Comments( 1 )

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Coach Les Miles held his first weekly press luncheon of the year Monday, and still no word on his starting quarterback.

If Miles knows the identity of his starter, he wouldn’t reveal it. Miles might tell the players Thursday, he said. Certainly, everyone will know by 4 p.m. Saturday when LSU opens its season against Appalachian State in Tiger Stadium.

Until then, most will have to speculate on whether it will be sophomore Andrew Hatch or redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee. Miles all but said it won’t be true freshman Jordan Jefferson. Even so, all three are likely to see action during the season, Miles said.

All signs point to Hatch, who missed only part of a preseason scrimmage with a sore back. Lee’s back kept him out of one of the three scrimmages, and a tender ankle caused him to miss several practices.

Starting against Appalachian State is no guarantee of anything, though.

“I’m not going to make a decision on the season based on a two-a-day camp,” Miles said.

How the quarterbacks perform in the first three nonconference games will, in large measure, dictate how they are used the rest of the season. After Appalachian State, LSU will entertain Troy and North Texas before opening its Southeastern Conference schedule at Auburn.

LSU isn’t looking that far ahead, though. The Tigers know of Appalachian State’s strength, particularly because Miles has repeatedly shown them tape of the Mountaineers’ shocking 34-32 upset of then-No. 5 Michigan in last year’s season opener.

LSU begins this year ranked sixth in the USA Today Coaches Poll and seventh in The Associated Press Top 25 after having won last year’s BCS national title.

Appalachian State has won three consecutive titles in what is know called the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1-AA). The matchup will be the first season opener between two reigning national champions.
Quarterbacks Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux, who guided LSU to its second BCS crown in five years, have since left the Tigers. Flynn completed his eligibility, while the team dismissed Perrilloux -- who transferred to Jacksonville State in Alabama.

That leaves the unlikely trio to battle it out as LSU’s next signal-caller. Miles said the quarterback -- whomever it is -- won’t be asked to do anything beyond his capability.

All anyone has asked of Miles is a name. As of yet, no answer.
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About David Moorman

Dave Moormann is an award-winning journalist, who has covered LSU athletics since 1980. He began his coverage with the Baton Rouge Advocate, where he was a writer and editor from 1980-98. In 1996, he authored a book on the history of LSU football entitled, "Fighting Tigers Handbook: Stories, Stats...
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