The Missouri Tigers have one game to work out the kinks before they jump into SEC play on September 8, against Georgia. Head coach Gary Pinkel said it would be irresponsible to not prepare against his team overlooking Southeastern Louisiana. However, before the Lions even think about the Tigers, they have to think about getting out of Louisiana with Isaac about to crash ashore. Southeastern Louisiana University is located in Hammond, LA, just north of Lake Pontchartrain, and New Orleans and 623 miles from St. Louis down I-55.
I spoke with Matt Sullivan, the Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations and he says the plan is to fly out of New Orleans on Friday and they don’t expect any issues for Saturday’s game at Mizzou. School has been dismissed and the players are practicing outside on Tuesday as winds begin to pick up in the New Orleans metro area. The storm is expected to hit the coast by 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
AUDIO SE Louisiana’s plans for getting to Columbia (4:30)
Sullivan says no contingent plans are in place and says if they can’t fly out of New Orleans, there are other nearby options for their charter flight to get out on time. Forecasts in Columbia on Saturday, calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms. Sullivan says they’re not going to claim any of that rain as a house warming gift for joining the SEC from a team from SEC country.