ATLANTA -- Last week LSU football coach Ed Orgeron told his top-ranked Tigers they weren’t playing in a bowl game — he told him this trip to Atlanta for the College Football Playoff semifinal a the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl is a business trip.
“This isn’t our ultimate goal,” LSU defensive end Rashard Lawrence said. “Most teams when they play a bowl game, this is their last game. This game is a game where you have a chance to advance and play in New Orleans.”
The Tigers meet No. 4 Oklahoma Saturday with a chance to play for a national title on the line and when the team arrived in Atlanta, Orgeron made sure to remind them that that was at stake.
“There's not a lot of free time to where guys are going out and visit the town and stuff like that,” Orgeron said. “We're here to win a game. We're going to prepare. I think these guys know how to prepare and today's been a phenomenal start.”
Orgeron said he could tell the team was off to a good start as the coaching staff set an earlier curfew for players than normal and players were back in 30-to-45 minutes early.
“Everybody's locked in and doing what they need to do,” LSU center Lloyd Cushenberry said.
Related: LSU's Edwards-Helaire has 'chance' to play vs. Oklahoma
LSU practiced at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the place where the Tigers captured an SEC Championship just a few weeks ago, Monday and Cushenberry said the team was glad to be back in a familiar setting and was taking advantage of the time to prepare.
“Even though we were here, we get to kind of explore the city a little bit, I guess,” he said, “Getting used to the field some more. We didn't have that (last time). (We) weren't here all week the last time. So getting our cleats in the ground, getting the right cleats, and so we're not slipping out there on Saturday.”
Lawrence also added that the Tigers will have more time on task outside of practice.
“We have longer meetings, short practices,” Lawrence said. “This week we’ll spend a lot of time in the film room and we have the evenings off, (but) it’s not like we are gonna be going out or anything. A lot of the guys we get together and watch film.”
The Tigers are even set from a Christmas Day practice.
“Obviously, we're going to honor it because it's the birthday of Jesus Christ. No question about that,” Orgeron said. “But it won't be a lot of big festivities. It's going to be a practice day. It's going to be a work day for us.”
Related: LSU freshman cornerback Stingley will be tested vs Oklahoma
