Report: Maryland & LSU discuss series; Tigers say no to Thanksgiving Day game

Published May. 19, 2015 6:06 p.m. ET

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The LSU Tiger's AD Joe Alleva recently spoke to The Advocate to discuss a number of issues, including future schedule plans, his stance against Thursday games and keeping LSU home games designated for the bright night lights of Death Valley.

“The whole thing about permanent partners, that battle is lost for now,” Alleva said. “It won’t come up again for a vote for a long time. Given that, my No. 1 priority is night games in Tiger Stadium.”

Last season, the Tigers played every home game at night for the first time since the 2009 season.

The issue facing LSU is dealing with the SEC's television partners. If every LSU game is broadcast on ESPN or the SEC Network, keeping the games at night is no issue. The only possible concern is the league's other television partner CBS. If CBS selects the Tigers for one of their daytime slots, the Tigers are required to fulfill that request.

“I don’t care what network we’re on,” Alleva said, “as long as we’re playing at night.”

Alleva has also resisted moving the team's annual matchup against Texas A&M to Thanksgiving, something the television partners are reportedly pushing for.

“As long as I’m here, we will not play in Tiger Stadium on a Thursday,” Alleva said. “I guarantee you that.”

The LSU AD also dropped one other nugget, as the school is in preliminary talks with Maryland for a future home-and-home football series.

(h/t The Advocate)