Football: Tigers to possibly play North Carolina

LSU could finalize its next 2010 football opponent in the coming days, according to senior associate athletic director Verge Ausberry.


"I'll be honest with you, a deal is close, but we don't say anything until a contract is signed," he said.


Reports surfaced in July the Tigers would open the 2010 season against North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Ausberry said a deal should be done "in the next week or so" but declined to confirm the Tar Heels as the opponent.


"The other school is still doing some things, and I can't put them in a bad situation," he said.


North Carolina associate athletic director Steve Kirschner also declined to comment on the Kickoff Game.


"We're in talks with lots of teams right now, and we won't say anything until a contract is signed," Kirschner said.


Should a deal go through, LSU may have to rework its rivalry date with Tulane, who is currently listed as the Tigers' 2010 season opener.


Ausberry said an announcement about the Tulane series "should be breaking in the next week to week and a half."


"That's something us and Tulane will announce together," he said. "I keep telling people we need to start this season before we worry about the next one."




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Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com