Gameday or Gustav?

UPDATE: The LSU-Appalachian State game kickoff time has been moved to 10 a.m.

Another year, another season for LSU football and another blog post! Let's get to the nitty-gritty on this stuff though, because there's a lot to talk about.

• All signs point to Andrew Hatch getting his shot at the starting QB role beginning Saturday with the game against Appalachian State. ESPN.com lists Hatch as the starter.
  
  
• Will the game even be played? That's the debate that's going on right now in the Athletic Department as the administration is hunkered down in a meeting to determine the status of tomorrow's game. No word yet, the latest commentary is from Herb Vincent and he did not provide any indications. As of 11:30 a.m., the meeting is still going on.
  
  
• As of now, Tropical Storm Gustav is slated to hit the mainland U.S. sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday. The projected landfall has continually been pushed back because of Gustav's erratic path and slow movement. Continued word out of New Orleans is that contraflow will begin Saturday, which may very well have an effect on the start of the game.
  
  
• Back to some sports stuff: App State shocked the football world when they beat Michigan at Ann Arbor last season in the Big House. Michigan, then ranked No. 5 and a championship contender, fell completely out of the Top 25 and struggled to get back there later in the season. Will that happen to LSU?
  
  I'll bet against the Mountaineers. The LSU defense is just too strong and will contain Armanti Edwards. This may not be a rout, but expect the defense to hold App State under 20 points, and the offense will hopefully gell well enough. I'll take LSU 38-17.
  
  
• This is the first time in history a Bowl Subdivision Champion has faced a Championship Subdivision Champion (formerly division IA and IAA).
  
  
• In non-sports related LSU news, the University is open for business today (Friday). In addition to the time of the game, other emergency procedures and class cancellations are being discussed. LSU will be closed for Labor Day on Monday. Cancellations for Tuesday's classes will be announced no later than today at 2 p.m. With the slowing situation of Gustav, I would also expect a decision on Wednesday's classes, too. Follow updates at www.lsu.edu.
  
  
• Follow Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna at www.weather.com.
  
  
• For continued updates on Gustav and the game, check out www.lsureveille.com.