Tigers putting finishing touches on Capital One Bowl prep

With most college students at home visiting family and friends, the LSU football team has been burning the midnight oil in Baton Rouge to make last-minute preparations for their Jan. 1 game against Penn State at the Capital One Bowl.

The Tigers held nine practices in Baton Rouge before departing for Orlando on Dec. 26. The team also held five additional practices in the Sunshine State to put finishing touches on its game preparations.

“We have practiced hard and improved all phases of our team,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “We’ve really done some things we needed to do to get better.”

The Tigers will be showcasing a pair of new coaches against the Nittany Lions.

Former Tennessee assistant coach Frank Wilson will serve as the team’s running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. Wilson will replace former running backs coach Larry Porter, who became the head coach at his alma mater Memphis.

Wilson, a former standout halfback and defensive back at Nicholls State, spent time coaching high school football at Karr and O. P. Walker before making the jump to college with Ole Miss, Southern Mississippi and Tennessee.

A New Orleans native, Wilson is expected to greatly aid LSU’s recruiting in Louisiana and across the Southeast.

“Frank knows football and he’s a proven recruiter,” Miles said. “He’s a former high school coach in our state and has an extensive background in south Louisiana.”

Wilson’s efforts have already paid off as the Tigers got three commitments for the 2011 recruiting class the week before Christmas, including Patterson High School standout Kenny Hilliard, who is widely regarded as one of the best high school halfbacks in America.

“Kenny’s talked to [Wilson] a couple of times and he’s just comfortable with him,” Patterson coach Tommy Minton told Rivals.com. “The big thing is that he wants [Wilson] to be his position coach and just felt at ease around him.”

In addition to Wilson, former Florida wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales will also make his LSU debut in the bowl game.

Gonzales will also serve as the Tigers’ passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach.

A two-time national champion with the Gators, Gonzales has coached Florida’s high-powered receivers since 2005.

Gonzales helped mold and develop former Gator receivers Percy Harvin, Cornelius Ingram and Andre Caldwell in the past few seasons – all of which are currently in the NFL.

Molding those receivers have helped the Gators rank in the Top 5 nationally in passing efficiency each year since 2007.

Gonzales’ stint at LSU ends a nearly 10-year run he’s had with Florida coach Urban Meyer. He was also on Meyer’s staff at Bowling Green and Utah before going to Florida.

“I wish it wasn’t at a rival,” Meyer told the Orlando Sentinel on Dec 10. “But he’s a good coach and every year he’s had job opportunities.”

While LSU will be welcoming two new faces to the fold against Penn State, they will not be welcoming back senior halfback Charles Scott.

Scott broke his collarbone during the team’s Nov. 7 loss against Alabama.

Scott said following the injury he had hoped to return for the team’s bowl game, but Miles said he isn’t quite ready to return yet.

“If he had just a couple of more weeks, I’m certain he’d probably play in this game,” Miles said. “We certainly miss him and we’ve missed him every day that he hasn’t been on the field with us.”

Without Scott, LSU will be without their leading rusher and a sure NFL Draft pick.

His services would have been needed against Penn State’s stout rushing defense that ranks No. 10 in the country and allows just 93 rushing yards per game.

“I just think it’s smart and wise for him to continue his rehabilitation, work hard and get it all squared away so he can be ready for the NFL,” Miles said.