LSU's Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware Expected To Play Vs. Bama

LSU Vs. Alabama: Suspended Players Don't Seem All That Suspended Anymore

Suspended LSU Football Players Mathieu, Ware, Simon Return To Practice

LSU seems like it will have its full complement of previously suspended players against Alabama on November 5. Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware, and Tharold Simon, all suspended for reportedly failing a drug test, returned to practice with the Tigers on Tuesday, and Les Miles is talking as if they will be eligible to play against the Crimson Tide.

"We're practicing, preparing them to play and operating along that way," Miles said. "We're going to plan on using them."

Mathieu was a Heisman Trophy candidate before his suspension and might still be, Ware is the team's leading rusher, and Simon is a strong defender. And yet LSU didn't seem to miss a beat without the three players against Auburn, defeating the Tigers in a 45-10 rout.

Things might have been different if they had been suspended for the match-up with Alabama that could be a de facto BCS National Championship Game play-in game, though.

For more on the Tigers, head to SB Nation's And The Valley Shook. For more on the Crimson Tider, head to SB Nation's Roll Bama Roll.

Suspended LSU Football Players To Be Reinstated Tuesday, According To Report

LSU’s three suspended players are expected to be reinstated on Tuesday according to CBSSports.com.

Players Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon were said to only be allowed to play against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Nov. 5 if they get the all-clear from both LSU chancellor Michael Martin and athletic director Joe Alleva. Apparently, that is what's happening. 

The New Orleans Times-Picayune had reported previously  that the players would be suspended only one game. LSU did just fine without the trio against Auburn this past weekend, trouncing the defending national champs 45-10.

Mathieu has forced four fumbles, returning two of them for scores, and two interceptions while making 42 tackles. He has also recorded seven passes defended and five pass break-ups, while totaling 1 1/2 sacks.

Ware is LSU's leading rusher with 512 yards, and has accounted for seven touchdowns.

Simon has one interception and 29 tackles.

For more, visit LSU blog And The Valley Shook and SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football news hub.

Suspended LSU Football Players Can Only Play Vs. Alabama With AD's, Chancellor's Permission

Louisiana State chancellor Michael Martin -- who's been continuing the LSU #realtalk tradition today -- told USA Today that suspended LSU Tigers players Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon will only be allowed to play against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Nov. 5 if they get the all-clear from both Martin and athletic director Joe Alleva. That's an extremely long sentence.

The three were suspended for last week's game against the Auburn Tigers, reportedly due to failing a test for synthetic marijuana. Here's Martin on the future of the trio:

"The athletic director will ultimately make the decision, (and) he'll consult with me," Martin said when asked about possible reinstatement. "Fortunately for them and the team, they have two weeks to get their act together because we have a bye week. They have been directed to some counseling, and they will now be subject to greater scrutiny for the remainder of their time at LSU."    

Few expect the Heisman-worthy Mathieu and his talented teammates to miss that prime time game between the two top teams in the country. Also not sure how much of a leaf one can turn over in only two weeks. But if specific conditions have been set for their return, every college football fan in the country should hope they can do it*.

* Spoiler alert: they will.

For more on the Tigers, head over to LSU blog And The Valley Shook.

Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware Officially Suspended, Expected To Return For Alabama

Not that this is really a surprise to anyone after it's been reported for most of the week, but we now have official confirmation that the Honey Badger and a couple of his teammates will be absent from this week's contest against Auburn.

While Tyrann Mathieu has gotten a lot of the attention this week -- and rightly so, given his two interceptions and four forced fumbles -- Spencer Ware is also a pretty important piece of the LSU machine buzz-sawing its way through the SEC West. His 512 yards rushing easily leads the Bayou Bengals on the season, and his six touchdowns are tied for tops on the team.

As for the players' return -- next week, technically, is a bye week for the Tigers. And we're absolutely sure that the time frame for the punishment is not at all related to the pivotal clash with Alabama on Nov. 5.

For more on the Tigers, head over to LSU blog And The Valley Shook.

Suspended LSU Players Will Return For Alabama Game, According To Report

College football fans have been eyeing the November 5 matchup between LSU and Alabama since the Tigers beat the Oregon Ducks in the first week of the season, kicking off their run to the top of the rankings. The announced suspensions this week of three key players--Spencer Ware, Tharold Simon and Heisman-candidate Tyrann Mathieu--for a failed drug test raised concerns among the LSU faithful that the players would not be available for the game against the Crimson Tide. According to a report from the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the three players will be available for the Alabama game, in what should be a clash of No. 1 vs. No. 2. 

Head coach Les Miles declined to comment when asked for details of the suspension during his press conference Wednesday. Multiple anonymous sources confirmed with the Times-Picayune that the suspensions, which had initially been reported as "indefinite," would not last past the Tigers' bye week following this Saturday's game against No. 19 Auburn, however.  

Ware currently leads the team in rushing, with 512 yards and six touchdowns on the year. Mathieu has been arguably the most dominant cornerback in the country this season, and could become the first defensive player to take home the Heisman since Charles Woodson in 1997.

For more, visit LSU blog And The Valley Shook and SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football news hub.

Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware Suspensions Could End Before Alabama Game, According To Report

Though LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles has yet to confirm whether stars Tyrann Mathieu and Spencer Ware, along with contributor Tharold Simon, have been suspended over synthetic marijuana use, reports flag the suspensions with the dreaded indefinitely tag. Mark Schlabach reports the players have certain "requirements" to meet in order to get back on the field.

And meet them they shall, or at least two of the three will, since LSU's next game after their home stand against the Auburn Tigers is a trip to play the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide. A bye week separates the two games, so surely lessons can be learned in all that time off.

Of course, LSU fans had better hope this was the first drug-related suspension for the three. As CBS Sports' Brett McMurphy shares, a second failed test would mean an automatic, school-mandated two-game suspension. But wouldn't we have known about the hypothetical first failed test? Nope -- LSU athletic programs can handle one-time whoopsies on their own without suspensions.

For more, visit LSU blog And The Valley Shook and SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football news hub.

Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware Suspended Vs. Auburn, But LSU Might Not Even Notice

Without three suspended stars in Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware and Tharold Simon, how does LSU match up versus the visiting Auburn Tigers? Pretty well, actually.

Les Miles: Failed Drug Test Reports 'Way Left Of Center'

LSU Tigers head coach Les Miles would not confirm Wednesday that the top-ranked LSU Tigers will suspend three players for this Saturday's game against No. 19 Auburn. He would not go into any specifics or confirm if cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, running back Spencer Ware, and defensive back Tharold Simon were indeed suspended, as had been widely reported.

Miles was extremely less-than-forthcoming with specifics and details:

"I'm not going to confirm anything...I'm not inclined to be forthcoming with information...When there's information to share - I will."

He did say, however, that reports of failed drug tests are "way left of center."

Ware and Mathieu reportedly failed a drug test and all three apparently tested positive for synthetic marijuana.

Mathieu has forced four fumbles, returning two of them for scores, and two interceptions while making 42 tackles. He has also recorded seven passes defended and five pass break-ups, while totaling 1 1/2 sacks.

Ware is LSU's leading rusher with 512 yards, and has accounted for seven touchdowns.

Simon has one interception and 29 tackles.

Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware Suspended: What Does It Mean For LSU Football?

The LSU Tigers will reportedly take on the Auburn Tigers minus their best player, cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, and two outstanding contributors, running back Spencer Ware and defensive back Tharold Simon. Losing three impact players before a conference game against the defending national champions is bound to change things -- Vegas has taken down the game's line for the time being, as a matter of fact.

But from what we know about LSU, what kind of a difference can we expect this to make? For insight, we turned to LSU blog And The Valley Shook. Here's close Tigers observer Paul Crewe:

I'm not going to try and say the loss of two of our best players is simply meaningless. But I will say that LSU has gotten as far as they have this season because they are a good team.

Sure, guys like Mathieu stand out on the weekly highlights, but this isn't a team that has tied its fate to one player's success, which is exhibited by the fact that they've lost a starting quarterback, starting left guard and starting center at various points and still trounced everyone on the schedule. 

Losing a top playmaker on both offense and defense will hurt LSU, though. There may be a bit of fortune that this news breaks right before they play an outmatched opponent at home. If the news becomes more severe (more players and longer suspensions), then it becomes an issue for LSU.

Can they beat Alabama without Tyrann Mathieu and Spencer Ware? Sure. But it sure doesn't help anything. I think the fact that they could go to Dallas on the heels of all the Jordan Jefferson news and trounce one of the finest teams in the country answers whether or not this will become a distraction to this team as well.    

For more, visit LSU blog And The Valley Shook and SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football news hub.

LSU Reportedly Suspends Tharold Simon In Addition To Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware

According to reports from multiple outlets local and national, the LSU Tigers will be without all-world cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and ace running back Spencer Ware for their game against the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, and possibly longer. Several reports had mentioned a potential third player, who's now been named by the Associated Press: productive defensive back Tharold Simon.

Simon is fourth on the team in tackles this year. He's also contributed a pick, 2.5 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups. Here's LSU beat writer Randy Rosetta with some thoughts on who might be asked to fill in throughout the secondary against Clint Moseley:

Ronnie Vinson could also get snaps at CB, and safeties Craig Loston and Sam Gibson might be asked to fill in on nickel.    

For more, visit LSU blog And The Valley Shook and SEC blog Team Speed Kills. For more college football, visit SB Nation's college football news hub.

LSU Football Suspends Tyrann Mathieu, Spencer Ware, According To Reports

The No. 1-ranked LSU Tigers have reportedly suspended Heisman candidate Tyrann Mathieu and star running back Spencer Ware for this weekend's game against Auburn. The suspension reportedly concerns a failed drug test.