**MEDIA ADVISORY**
AUBURN-LSU GAME TO BE PLAYED AS SCHEDULED SEPT. 18
AUBURN, AL
-- Following consultation with state government, emergency management
officials, and Southeastern Conference representatives, Auburn University
announced at 9:30 a.m. today that the Sept. 18 football game between LSU
and Auburn will be played at 2:30 p.m. CST as scheduled at Jordan-Hare
stadium.
In checking with local and state officials, the Auburn administration
and the athletic department have been assured that police and security
staffing will be appropriate for both traffic and law enforcement duties.
Auburn officials urge all who intend to come to the game to arrive on
campus no earlier than 4 p.m. today. The campus-wide ban on RVs in place
earlier this week for safety reasons is no longer in effect, but the no-RV
zone in the core of campus will be strictly enforced as usual.
Due to the unusual events surrounding the hurricane, including the cancellation
of classes, vehicles may have been left in university lots by those who
fled the storm. Those vehicles will not be towed, but alternate parking
accommodations will be made as needed. Auburn administrators believe there
is adequate space for game parking on the campus. The grass lots at the
intersection of Lem Morrison and Donahue Drives traditionally used for
RV parking will be open at 4 p.m. today.
"We weighed many factors in making this decision, including ease
of travel, property damage, the condition of campus and availability of
public safety personnel," said Auburn University Interim President
Ed Richardson. "The decision to play was unanimous among all parties."
A significant factor in the decision was that Auburn University experienced
minimal storm damage and no power outages.
Area hotels will attempt to find accommodations for those displaced by
the storm. County emergency management officials will keep area shelters
open on an as-needed basis.
The university's Tiger Transit bus system will run its normal schedule
from 10:30 a.m. until two hours after the game Saturday.
#####