By GLENN GUILBEAU, Tiger Rag Editor
The No. 6 Texas football team was expected to fly to Baton Rouge either on Friday night or Saturday morning for its game at No. 21 LSU, which will be keeping its scheduled kickoff time of 6:30 p.m. at Tiger Stadium on ABC.
How Texas got to Baton Rouge and the time of the game were up in the air when planes suddenly were not on Friday afternoon when the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop for all departing flights because of a widespread “telecommunications outage.”
The Longhorns (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) and their coaches and traveling party were boarded on a flight out of Austin on Friday afternoon just before the flight stoppage order at 2:56 p.m. central time. They all deplaned, and the team returned to campus.
At just before 7:30 p.m. Friday, the FAA lifted the air ban.
“We’re going to allow for those larger movements (of people) to take place as a priority,” United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said at a press conference Friday night after the lift. “So, if you’re talking about football teams moving, that’s a lot of individuals on those planes. So, I would encourage those football teams to reach out to the FAA to schedule their flight times and make sure they can move to make sure we have games going off tomorrow.”
This will be the first Texas-LSU game in Tiger Stadium since Sept. 19, 1953, when LSU defeated No. 11 Texas, 20-7, in front of 40,000 in the season opener.
The No. 6 Tigers beat No. 9 Texas, 45-38, on Sept. 7, 2019, in the last meeting between the two border schools just six hours apart. Texas was scheduled to return that home game on Sept. 12, 2020, but that game was canceled because of COVID.
Texas leads the series, 9-8-1. LSU leads in Baton Rouge, 4-1, with Texas’ only win in Tiger Stadium on Sept. 20, 1952, when the No. 11 Longhorns beat the unranked Tigers, 35-14.
LSU (6-3, 3-3 SEC) is a 3.5-point favorite on Saturday night. The Tigers need a win to stay in the hunt for the 12-team College Football Playoffs.
INJURY REPORT
According to the latest availability report by the SEC office released Friday night, LSU starting linebacker and team captain Whit Weeks remained questionable for the Texas game, which means he has a chance to play. Weeks has not played since breaking his fibula on Sept. 26 against Texas A&M and having surgery on his leg. He was questionable Wednesday through Friday after being listed as doubtful last week, then ruled out.
Starting offensive right tackle Weston Davis (ankle) also remained probable, which means he is expected to play.
Texas starting defensive tackle Hero Kano is probable and expected to play. Backup offensive guard/center Cole Hutson is questionable.
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