LSU Media Day

The LSU football team had a busy day on Friday as the Tigers held their first practice as an entire unit with a morning workout followed by the school’s annual Media Day during the afternoon.

Friday’s only practice session had the Tigers going in full pads for the first time. It was also the first time the team practiced as an entire group since the beginning of camp.

“We had a nice long go,” LSU coach Les Miles said of the Tigers’ first full squad workout. “We were very physical; it was a lot of full line. We installed short yardage today, and at the end of the practice in the heat of the day we ran, and we ran hard.

“The defense thrived in the heat, and in my opinion had a great day. They also thrived in the run (defense), and the offense fought through it, which is what they're supposed to do. We're not ready to play a game, there is no way we're ready to play a game, but if we work like we did today, we will be ready to play and certainly have the opportunity to play well as the season goes forward.”

Following an afternoon of meetings, the Tigers, along with Miles, co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto, and offensive coordinator Gary Crowton met with members of the media.

Among the biggest attractions of LSU’s annual media event, which attracted close to 150 members of the media, were quarterbacks Jarrett Lee and Andrew Hatch, all-America defensive end Tyson Jackson and preseason all-America offensive guard Herman Johnson.

Other highlights of the media session were posed pictures of the biggest and smallest scholarship players on the team in Herman Johnson (6-foot-7, 375 pounds) and running back/return specialist Trindon Holliday (5-5, 164); a group picture of LSU’s two-sport athletes (Holliday – football/track, Chad Jones – football/baseball, Ricky Jean-Francois – football/track, and Jared Mitchell – football/baseball); and group pictures of the siblings on the squad (Chad Jones and Rahim Alem; Brett and Trey Helms, and the Taylor trio – Curtis, Brandon and Jhyryn.

Saturday will be another full day of work for the Tigers as LSU will have two practices starting with workout in full pads at 8:30 a.m. The Tigers will practice in shells (shorts and shoulder pads) during the afternoon.

The Tigers will cap their first full week in camp with a stretch-and-stride session on Sunday morning followed by Fan Day at the River Center in downtown Baton Rouge during the afternoon. Doors to the River Center open at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday with autographs with the football team going from 2:30 to 4 p.m.