Auburn Wins, So LSU Gets Sugar Bid--but Loses Arnsparger : Bayou Bengals Top Tulane; Coach to Be Florida AD?

Bill Arnsparger resigned as Louisiana State’s football coach Saturday night after his team beat Tulane, 37-17, and accepted an invitation to the Sugar Bowl. There was speculation that Arnsparger, whose resignation is effective after the New Year’s Day game, may become the athletic director at Florida.

The fifth-ranked Tigers (9-2) won the Southeastern Conference championship and the bid to play Nebraska when Auburn knocked Alabama out of a potential tie for the title earlier in the day.

“In fairness to the young men being recruited by LSU and to the next coach and his staff, I felt this was the best time to announce my decision,” Arnsparger said.

“Life away from coaching offers three options for me. One, I can start collecting on my NFL pension and enjoy the life of retirement. Two, I can stay at LSU in some capacity. Three, since I’m stepping aside as LSU’s coach, I feel I can discuss other non-coaching opportunities which may come up.

“At this point, let me emphasize I do not wish or intend to pursue any other coaching opportunity.

“I may just decide to go fishing.”

Freshman Tom Hodson riddled Tulane (4-7) for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns to Wendell Davis.

Hodson threw touchdowns of 30, 10 and 15 yards to Davis, giving him the school record with 19 scoring passes in a season. Hodson completed 16 of 23 passes with one interception. His 2,261 passing yards this season were the second most in LSU history.

David Browndyke had field goals of 30, 26 and 28 yards, and Harvey Williams scored on a three-yard run for the Bayou Bengals.

Tulane got a 31-yard field goal by Dan Guirl in the first quarter. Then the Green Wave did not score until the fourth quarter. Shawn Burst intercepted a pass by Mickey Guidry and returned it 36 yards for a score, and alternate quarterback Jerome McIntosh threw a two-yard scoring pass to Marc Zeno.