Foucha enduring suspension

Safety Joe Foucha, who transferred from the University of Arkansas to LSU in the offseason, is still waiting to play his first game for the Tigers.

Foucha, who played in 44 games at Arkansas with 33 starts, missed LSU’s seasonopening 24-23 loss to Florida State in his hometown of New Orleans because he’s serving a four-game suspension for an academic issue, The Advocate newspaper of Baton Rouge reported Sunday night prior to kickoff.

“It really has to do with some technical issues relative to credit hours and transfer credit hours,” LSU Coach Brian Kelly said on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. “So it’s really difficult for me to get into the specifics of it, but it’s really unfortunate.

“Joe has done everything we’ve asked him to do. But sometimes in the transfer process, credit hours are earned and lost.

“He was put into a very difficult position relative to gaining hours.”

The Advocate reported the athletic department is appealing to try to get Foucha’s suspension reduced from four games.

“We’re in that process,” Kelly said. “We’re hoping to get him back as soon as we can.”

Foucha was expected to be a starter after having 231 tackles and 5 interceptions in four seasons with the Razorbacks.

“He’s a mature guy, but obviously anybody that loses games, those are so precious,” Kelly said when asked how Foucha is handling the suspension. “He certainly wants to be with his teammates and wants to be able to play.

“But he’s a guy that obviously has dealt with some adversity in his life, and he’s dealing with this the best he can right now.”

Senior defensive back Greg Brooks Jr., another Louisiana native who transferred from Arkansas to LSU after last season, started at nickel back and had five tackles against Florida State.