Miles: Linebacker Alexander to miss rest of season
By scott rabalais
Advocate sportswriter
October 14, 2012
The LSU Tigers’ insurance deductible has certainly been reached this season.
Another week of the season brought yet another injury, as LSU coach Les Miles confirmed Monday that freshman linebacker Kwon Alexander will likely miss the rest of the regular season.
Alexander suffered what was reportedly a broken ankle Saturday in LSU’s 14-6 loss at Florida. Miles did not confirm the nature of the injury, but fellow linebacker Kevin Minter said it was a break despite the fact that Alexander isn’t currently in a cast.
“I won’t lie,” Minter said. “It’s a big loss.
“He just caught onto the defense so quick. I feel sorry for him. I’ve been talking to him since it happened, just before I came out here (for interviews Monday afternoon). He’s fine. He knows he will be great.”
Miles expressed hope that Alexander may be able to return for LSU’s bowl game.
A true freshman, Alexander has already played too much time this season to be redshirted.
Alexander started the last two games at strongside linebacker in place of junior Luke Muncie, who has been battling a stomach aliment all season that has caused him to lose weight. Muncie, who started the first four games, will likely return to the starting lineup.
Alexander has 11 tackles, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. The Oxford, Ala., native came to LSU after missing most of his senior high school season with a knee injury.
The strongside linebacker position has been a trouble spot for LSU’s defense all season. Preseason starter Tahj Jones was ruled academically ineligible in September and never played a snap.
Alexander becomes the 16th player LSU has lost since this summer to injury, suspension, academics or transfer. Five of those were preseason or regular season starters: Alexander, Jones, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, left tackle Chris Faulk and tailback Alfred Blue.
Starting right guard Josh Williford left Saturday’s game in the second quarter and did not return. Miles said he is hopeful that Williford will able to play this Saturday against South Carolina (7 p.m., ESPN).
CBS uses option for Oct. 20
CBS has called an audible on SEC games for Oct. 20, including LSU’s game at Texas A&M.
The network has exercised its six-day option on games for that weekend, meaning it doesn’t have to announce its choice until Oct. 15.
CBS is considering three games for its 2:30 p.m. time slot on Oct. 20: LSU at Texas A&M, Alabama at Tennessee and South Carolina at Florida.
The two games CBS doesn’t choose will be on ESPN at either 11 a.m., 6 p.m. or 6:45 p.m.
Auburn’s game at Vanderbilt will be at 11:21 a.m. on the SEC Network, Georgia at Kentucky will be at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPNU or FSN, and Middle Tennessee at Mississippi State will be at 6 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPNU or FSN as well.
Minter earns honors
Minter was named SEC co-defensive player of the week and Louisiana defensive player of the week for his play against Florida.
Minter recorded 20 tackles — one off the school record — including 17 solos.
He might have broken the record, set by Al Richardson in 1982 against South Carolina, had he not had to go to the locker room for a couple of IVs after cramping up during the third quarter.
While Minter was being treated, Florida scored its first touchdown.
“I knew I was doing decent, but the way the score was it didn’t feel that way,” Minter said.
Minter’s play wasn’t lost on free safety Eric Reid, who had a front-row seat for the performance.
“I told him in the first half, ‘Bro, I don’t know what you’re doing, but keep doing it, please,’ ” Reid said. It seemed like he was in on every tackle, which he virtually was.”
LSU issues advisory
LSU has advised fans to arrive early for the South Carolina game in part because of construction that has begun on the south end zone expansion at Tiger Stadium.
Access will be limited to Gates 11, 12, 14, 18 and 20 on the southeast corner of the stadium and Portal B on the southwest corner.
Those gates will be open, but fans who sit in the south end zone are advised to use Gates 1-3 on the west side.
For a map of the construction zone and suggested pedestrian routes, visit http://www.
LSUSports.net/SEZ.
LSU-South Carolina series
The Tigers have dominated this series, leading 16-2-1 overall and 10-1 in games in Baton Rouge.
South Carolina’s only win in Baton Rouge was 18-17 in 1994.
Ranked No. 3 in the AP, USA Today coaches’ and Harris Interactive polls, the Gamecocks are ranked higher than they’ve been since they were No. 2 late in the 1984 season.
The highest-ranked South Carolina team LSU played before this week was in the 1987 Gator Bowl. LSU beat the No. 8 Gamecocks 30-13.
LSU won the last meeting between the two schools 24-17 in Columbia, S.C., in 2008.