After Hurricane Katrina blew into South Louisiana just east of New Orleans on Monday, LSU resumed practice on Tuesday in preparation for its season opener Saturday against North Texas.

Baton Rouge was spared from major damage, but most of the city lost power that will likely not return for days. LSU did not lose power, but the neighborhood streets around the campus were filled with chunks of trees along with downed power lines.

Tiger Stadium apparently came through unscathed, but the weather delay didn't help, because the new West side upper deck is behind schedule and is not expected to be completed until the Sept. 24 home game against Tennessee.

About 2,000 seats will not be ready for Saturday's game and for the Arizona State game on Sept. 10. People who purchased tickets for those seats for those games will be moved to other areas of the stadium usually reserved for visitors. Fans from North Texas and Arizona State did not buy all their allotment of tickets.

Watch The Defense

Alabama's strength to open the season is a defense returning nine starters from last year's unit that ranked second nationally. "We've just got to shore up a few tiny loose ends, a few busts here and there," said senior strong safety Charlie Peprah. "As far as people ready to play, it's there. The chemistry is there."

So by working Robert Lane suddenly back in the quarterback mix, is Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron playing mind games with projected starter Michael Spurlock? Sure seems that way.

According to preseason polls, Arkansas could again play five nationally-ranked teams for the second consecutive year. "I love the Southwest Conference (in which Arkansas played prior to '92), but I remember as a child (growing up in Little Rock) I took that schedule out and I'd circle up the games we're for sure going to win," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "On average, I circled eight. Now, I don't think any coach in the SEC would be wise to go down his schedule and start circling games."

Gibbs ready to go

Auburn debuts new defensive coordinator David Gibbs on Saturday against Georgia Tech. He's the son of Alex Gibbs, who during a 20-year career coached for six NFL teams and six Division I schools. "David's got a different coaching mentality," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "He'll chew somebody out and then turn around and pat them on the back. That's the kind of coaching style I like.

The intrigue of Saturday's Mississippi State-Murray State opener is Murray State having two former Bulldogs in its starting backfield -- quarterback Ken Topps, who signed with State, didn't play and transferred to Itawamba Community College, and running back Nick Turner, tossed off the team in the spring of '04 by Croom after Turner failed to comply with some of Croom's requirements. Turner holds State's season and individual game records for all-purpose yardage. Last season for Murray, he ran for 746 yards and 7 TDs.