LSU - LSU - LSU - LSU



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 Welcome to LSU. My fourth journey across the country takes me to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to see the Tigers play defending National Champions...The Alabama Crimson Tide. By far, this is my most anticipated trip of all. I have always wanted to go to "Death Valley" to see the Tigers play. So buckle up once again as I take you throught an exciting weekend in the Bayou!

As I head towards Baton Rouge, I can only imagine what lies ahead for the next 48 hours. I'm heading toward a place that is know for having, "the best college football atmosphere in the country." I can already feel the excitement as I approach the campus. This week, my oldest son Kelly, will be joining me on this trip. He is a huge college football fan and didn't want to miss the opportunity to see the Tigers play in Death Valley!



We arrived on campus Friday afternoon to tour the LSU campus and stadium only to find out that the stadium was in "lock down." We could not go inside the stadium as CBS was busy getting ready for the big game on TV. The sign above says it all...this team knows how to win championships.






LSU's mascot...Mike the Tiger was impressive. We spent time watching him roam around his habitat. He kept pacing all throughout his territory in anticipation for the big game tomorrow.
On game day, they put Mike in his cage and place him at the entrance of the visiting teams locker room. Can you imaging what the Alabama players thought once they turned the corner and waiting for them was Mike! 




 Tiger Stadium...commonly know as "Death Valley" is feared among opponents playing in this hostile environment. This place gets loud...I mean REAL loud. In 1988, LSU was playing Auburn in a game which Auburn was winning 6 - 0 late in the 4th quarter. With 1:47 seconds remaining in the game, LSU threw a touchdown pass on 4th down which will forever be know as the "Earthquake Game." The fans in the stadium got so loud after the score that a seismograph recorded 15 minutes of ground shaking in the Baton Rouge area. The earth in Baton Rouge actually shook!! You can look this up in Ripley's Believe It Or Not. Now that is some serious jubilation.


Once our day of touring the campus was completed, we decided to drive back to New Orleans for dinner and to pay a visit to down town New Orleans and Burbon Street. Lots of excitement in the street and we even spotted hundreds of Alabama fans in town for the game.




The Louisiana Superdome, home of Super Bowl champions New Orleans Saints. This city is crazy for the Saints! They are very proud of the Saints finally winning a Super Bowl. The Super Dome also housed thousands of people during hurricane Katrina. The Dome was remodeled and looks awesome...it reminds you of a space ship or some type of UFO.




Great weather, great food, great music, great people, great town!My first visit to "The Big Easy" was fantastic.




You don't see these trolly's in Atlanta, but you see them all over the streets in downtown New Orleans. People ride them as means of transportation around town.




It's game day at LSU. The Golden Band from Tigerland makes their way into the stadium. This band really rocks. They are amazing as they create lots of excitement with the music they play. When they strike the first four notes of, "tiger rag" it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! LSU fans enjoy the band as much as the football team.




Inside Tiger Stadium 90 minutes before kickoff. Historic stadium that seats 92,000 noisy fans.





LSU players receive final instructions and a pep talk from their coach. These players were real fired up to play the defending national champions.




Roll Tide Roll. The Crimson Tide makes their way onto the field.




Now the stadium is full, the fans are in their seats ready to cheer on the Tigers!




We had great seats for the game...6th row in the end zone allowed for a fantastic experience. We sat near the band and the student section, and I have never heard fans cheer so loud in all my life. Tiger stadium was at it's loudest Saturday evening. You can feel the stadium shake. LSU lived up to it's billing as being one of the loudest stadiums in the country. The place is electric and charged with excitement. LSU performed magic late in the game to upset Alabama. Tiger Stadium "roared" all throughout the game. It was a sight to see - unbelievable college football atmosphere.




Alabama featured Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram! Ingram ran for 100 yards during the game, but it wasn't enough to win the game for the Tide.




Kelly and I were all smiles after the big LSU win. This photo was taken a few minutes after the game was over. Nobody in the stadium wanted to leave. Everyone wanted to savor the big win. The celebration went on for 30 minutes, the players stayed on the field, the band played, and everyone was enjoying the "moment" in Tiger Stadium. What a thrill.



Final score...LSU - 24 Alabama - 21. We saw an "instant classic" football game today. Tiger Stadium was rockin' all game long as the Tigers came from behind to upset Alabama.



Thank you LSU, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans for making this a fantastic experience. This will be a weekend that I will never forget. The spirit, passion, and energy displayed in Tiger Stadium exceeded my expectations. Tiger Stadium DOES come alive on Saturday night. "It's Saturday Night in Death Valley" has a true meaning. Nothing else like it. If you ever get a chance to see a game in Death Valley - do it - you will have goose bumps all game long. It's what college football is all about. Kelly, thanks for sharing the experience with me. I loved every minute of the trip. I'm glad that you got to see in person the electric atmosphere of LSU and Tiger Stadium. You will never forget it. T-I-G-E-R-S...Go Tigers!

Next stop..."The Swamp" to see the Florida Gators take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. The winner of this game will go to the SEC Championship game! Thanks Westminster PE students for checking in. Until next time...keep your eye on the ball...
- Coach McGuire