UK football notes: LSU will stick with Lee at QB

LSU Coach Les Miles has said that Jarrett Lee will continue to start at quarterback, but that he would not rule out playing former starter Jordan Jefferson against Kentucky on Saturday.

Jefferson, LSU's starter since late in the 2008 season, was reinstated to the team this week after a grand jury reduced the quarterback's felony second-degree battery charge to a misdemeanor stemming from a fight at a Baton Rouge bar.

"It's unlikely that he (Jefferson) will be ready to play this Saturday," Miles told the media on Wednesday, "but I wouldn't rule it out."

Lee has started all four games this year, throwing for six touchdowns with just one interception.

Jefferson led LSU to a 10-2 record and a win over Texas A&M in last year's Cotton Bowl. Jefferson threw for 158 yards and three touchdowns in the 41-24 win over the Aggies.

■ The 11:21 (CT) starting time is the earliest start for an LSU home game since the 2008 opener against Appalachian State. That game was moved to 10 a.m. (CT) to avoid Hurricane Gustav.

■ LSU is 24-25-3 in day games since 1960. Under Miles, the Tigers are 47-4 at night, but just 18-13 during the day. They are 6-9 during day games over the last three seasons.

■ LSU is 22-5-1 against Kentucky in Baton Rouge and has won four of the past five. Kentucky's last win at Tiger Stadium was 39-36 in 1998. Kentucky has not scored in the stadium since then, losing 34-0 in 2000 and 49-0 in 2006.

■ Kentucky is 3-9 against No. 1-ranked teams. The Cats beat No. 1-ranked Oklahoma 13-7 in the 1950 Sugar Bowl. The loss snapped a 31-game Oklahoma winning streak. UK beat No. 1-ranked Ole Miss 27-21 at Jackson, Miss., in 1964. And the Cats beat top-ranked LSU 43-37 in three overtimes in 2007 at Commonwealth Stadium.

■ LSU can also score with its special teams. Morris Claiborne returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown last week against West Virginia. It was LSU's longest return since Eric Martin went 100 yards against Kentucky in 1981.

■ Kentucky Coach Joker Phillips said running back Josh Clemons (hamstring) and safety Martavius Neloms (concussion) are expected to play Saturday. Wide receiver Gene McCaskill (back) did not make the trip.

■ History says don't expect LSU to be looking ahead to next Saturday's game with Florida. Since Miles became the Tigers coach in 2005, LSU is 6-0 in games before playing the Gators, its yearly rival from the SEC East.

LSU beat Vandy 34-6 in 2005, Mississippi State 48-17 in 2006, Tulane 34-9 in 2007, Mississippi State 34-24 in 2008, Georgia 20-13 in 2009 and Tennessee 16-14 last year before playing Florida.

■ Kentucky (0-1 in the SEC) has started each of the past three seasons 0-2 in the conference.

Reach John Clay at 859-231-3226 or 1-800-950-6397, ext. 3226, or jclay@herald-leader.com. Read his blog at Kentucky.com.

This story was originally published October 1, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "UK football notes: LSU will stick with Lee at QB."