Superdome called fit to host Rutgers-Tulane game

The New Orleans Superdome came through Hurricane Isaac largely undamaged and will be ready to host Tulane's scheduled opener against Rutgers on Saturday night if the schools still want to play the game, stadium chief Dog Thornton said.

Thornton delivered his assessment Wednesday evening to Tulane officials, who said they expected to make a final call by Thursday morning.

The tropical storm, which was a hurricane for part of Wednesday, damaged signs, a marquee, landscaping, and large decorative banners strapped to scaffolding along the edges of a public plaza known as Champions Square. It also toppled a tree on a sidewalk along the stadium.

Thornton estimated that damage would cost around $40,000, but he noted that the roof never leaked, surrounding streets did not flood, and the dome never lost power.

"All things considered we came through pretty well," Thornton said. "I'd say right now everybody should plan on the game taking place unless otherwise notified."

Key Superdome personnel have been advised to return to work by 1 p.m. Thursday.

Thornton said remaining obstacles to playing the game include the condition of the rest of the city and whether Louis Armstrong International Airport reopens in time for the arrival of Rutgers' charter flight Friday.

LSU coach Les Miles rode out Hurricane Isaac on Wednesday at the Tigers' football operations building in Baton Rouge, La., where he and members of his staff continued planning for Saturday night's scheduled home opener against North Texas.

Players for the third-ranked Tigers were given the option of staying in their own apartments, at the football operations building, or in Tiger Stadium.

"All those guys that will be in their own apartments off campus have been told to reconcile where they're at and recognize this is a significant storm and that they need to be safe," Miles said on the Southeastern Conference's weekly conference call with coaches.

Miles added that those who had the opportunity to be with family in south Louisiana were encouraged to consider that option as well.

"Each guy's really been given that choice," Miles said. "They had time to find the safest shelter and hunker down."

Wednesday's practice was canceled, and Miles said he was hoping his players would be able to resume preparations for the Mean Green on Thursday, depending on the speed at which Isaac moves out of Baton Rouge and how much damage it leaves behind.

The storied rivalry between Navy and Notre Dame is no longer a one-sided affair.

Notre Dame ran off an NCAA-record 43 straight wins in the series before Navy ended the streak with a 46-44 victory in 2007. The Midshipmen won again on the road in 2009, and a victory in 2010 gave Navy's senior class three victories in the series - a feat accomplished only twice before, in 1937 and 1964.

The Fighting Irish rebounded from the 2010 loss to beat Navy 56-14 last year, and hope to build on that win Saturday when the rivalry resumes in Dublin.

Three suspects accused of assaulting Wisconsin running back Montee Ball were arrested, nearly a month after the Heisman Trophy finalist suffered a concussion during an early-morning attack near campus.

Three 21-year-old men from Madison, Wis., are facing battery charges but haven't been formally charged, according to a police report. Authorities have said Ball sustained a concussion when he was attacked by several men in Madison on Aug. 1.

Police have said the attack may have been related to an altercation at a house party that Ball attended a few days earlier, though detectives say they have no evidence suggesting Ball was involved in that fight.