Wow... what an interesting turn of events last night in Tiger Stadium. After going through two pages of new threads I doubt there is much I can say about the game that has not already been said. I will say this though. The LSU offensive line got OWNED throughout the game. I was completely shocked by this. Randall had guys bear-hugginh him throught the firts half as he thre the ball. Russell had similar problems in the second half but he seems to be more poised and evaded the rush a little bit better. All in all though I am very very worried about the offensive line. The defense looked fine. They were overworked though because of the constant three and outs by the LSU offense. Thus they gave up some yardage here and there. That's not why I am posting though. I wanted to take the time to talk about the atmosphere of the ay inside Tiger Stadium. For this game I sat in the upper South Endzone. We were going to go into the stadium early, about 2 hours befor egame time, but decided that we'd wait for the Oregon St buses to pull up and join in some good-hearted tigerbaits to their players. This was a LOT of fun. The Oregon St. players almost all had headphones on but their was no avoiding hearing the steady chant. One LSU fan had a "Beaver Eater" tshirt on and was yelling at what looked like a defensive linemen. "Hey fatty look here!!!" I thought it was kinda rude but he actually got the kid's attention. When the player looke dat the fan's beaver eater tshirt he burst out into laughter and waved at the guy. Shortly after this, Mike the Tiger was pulled into the south entrance to Tiger Stadium in his cage. I had never been present outside the stadium in that spot for that moment. It was a very neat thing to see. Usually I'd be wathing the LSU band step off and watching the LSU team walk down instead... So, about an hour and a haf before the game we made our way into the stadium. The student section, in true die hard style, was already packed. I so miss my days sitting in that section. Those were some fun days! Mike the Tiger's cage was parked in its traditional spot in the south end zone where the opposing team come out. Oregon State players early on seemed intrigued by Mike. Many stopped by the cage and I noticed pictures being taken. Also I saw some Oregon St. fans were allowed onto the field for pictures and their Band members as well. I could just see that these Oregon St. fans were amazed by the atmosphere already and were enjoying it. About ten minutes before kickoff, we sat there soaking wet from sweating in the heat. I was thinking that at about this point Oregon St. and their fans were now finally gettign a true feel for a Louisiana hot humid day. There was that looming thunrderstor cloud though . . . . The band began lining up and the crowd began to rise. It's finally here, GAME TIME. The band stepped off onto the field and then it happened.... as if it were syncronized with the band making that first step onto the field.. a monsoon type rainstorm complete with lightning and thunder. What a damper, literally, this put on the pre-game and the hoisting of the new 1958 and 2003 National Champuinship flage in the north end zone. As I sat their having gone almost instantly from hot and soaking wet with sweat to cold and soaking wet from rain, I cheered loudly along with everyone else. What did we care, it was time for football!. Then of course came the inevidable, a lightning delay. During this delay I saw perhaps the sillyest, funniest, and most embarassing displays by LSU fans ever. Ok, I admit it, it was more entertaining than embarassing. I watched as the first LSU fan ran out to mid field during pouring rain with no shirt on and did a belly slide on the eye of the tiger... In all, I counted 9 fans that did this in various styles. There was one guy who was a heisman hopeful in the making. He started out at the north endzone and ran to the thirty, cut left and juked a police officer out of his shoes. He then went ful speed to the fifty where he apparently gave out. The ROAR of the crowd for this was amazing. lol Then came the streaker........ This guy ran out in all his glory and had a LOT of police chasing after him. At one point he cut back and THREE cops all fell down and busted their arses. It was fairly short lived though as about 15 or so of them tackled him in unison. Funny as hell though! All I could think during this was Oregon State fans thinking "Oh my god, the stories about these LSU fans being crazy are all true!" Finally the teams came back out to do their pre-game warmups again. When they went back into the locker room, the LSu band RAN QUICKLY out onto the field and lined up near the north endzone galposts in record time. This was very veyr impressive. Within seconds the LSU team came out and ran out onto the field in traditional style. Now, it was finally time for football! Wow, I have spent two pages on just pre-game.
I won't spend too much time on the game itself..... My memory seems to be failing me... All I remember is LSU winning. :wink: During the game I watched the crowd of OSU fans in the upper deck do their O S U cheer over and over and over. I was getting sickened by it. They were happy and excited, we were not. this was so very wrong. Their cheer, by the way, was complete with hand gestures. Much like the O - U cheer for Oklahoma, but with a weird S body gesture added. I heard this cheer in my sleep last night I swear. During halftime the band did a tribute to Queen, culminating in We Are the Champions. This was very very bittersweet to listen to at that time. Fantastic performance by the band though. At that point the bets entertainment value we had gotten as fans was a streaker and the band..... So, the second half gets started and after Oregon St. gets stopped something truly suprising happened. #4 JaMarcus Russell stepped out onto the field. There was a feeling of electricity in the stadium. He was given a standing ovation by most of the crowd. Nothing really happened early with him in the game but the attitude of TS was a lot more positive. #4 went on to lead LSU on a touchdown drive that brought LSU to within 9-7. The touchdown pass was hard to see from my location. I could not tell if it was caught but I could see that an amazing effort had been made to get that pass off and to the corner of the endzone. Then it became official as the stadium errupted. The swagger was back in TS and the O-S-U cheer was silenced. It was all short lived though. A TERRIBLE kickoff gave oregon St. great field position and they quickly scored. Then the unthinkable happened... An Oregon. St. player made perhaps the most selfish play of the game and kept the ball after the touchdown and earnign his team a 5 yard penalty. We know what happened from there. Fast forwarding to a little over 3 minutes left to go in the game. LSU has the ball, fourth and goal from the two. It's crunch time, do or die, <insert cliche here>, and the game, if not the season, feels like it is on the line. Russel rolls out to his left and we see it... #5 wide open in end zone. JR is getting a little pressure and he does the unthinkable.. <aside - Did I mention Shaquille O'neal was in the stadium and making his rounds throughout the game? Wonder if he'll improve on free throws any time soon. Oops, back to my thread.>....... The unthinkable happens. As if he were inspired by Shaq, Russell shoots a free throw to a backboard just above Skylar's head. This is truly what the pass looked like. Wow, we were stunned and heart-broken. Oh, but it was not over yet! What happened next will never be forgotten. This young kid got the ball back with just over a minute to go. In four very fast plays he led his team down the field for a score. Wow! Incredible! The crowd was SO LOUD! We had all been so miserable the whole game then this happens. Not so fast though, we need two. This play is the most amazing and exviting I have seen in TS in recent memory. This young kid rolled out to his left then TOOK IT TO THE HOUSE! In dramatic fashion he dove into the endzone for the conversion. Which he should never have done.... From our vantage pint he could very well have touched his knee on the one yard line if luck were not on his side. This would have been the most disappointing of outcomes. But hey, luck WAS on his side and LSU's side. At this point, I looked up to the upper deck at those Oregon St. fans and yelled SHUT UP! Ok, so i was wild and into the game. Of course they could not hear me but it sure felt good! :grin: LSU of course went on to win in dramatic fashion in over time. The range of emotions in this game were excruciating. By late in the game, I was convinced that the most entertaining and enjoyable thing LSU fans were to experinece at that game was to watch a grown man run around the field naked. I am VERY glad I was wrong. Whew! Go Tigers! Way to show some true heart and grit. Amazing experience in TS!
Thanks, was just posting my thoughts after I woke up the morning after game. It had been a few years since I had been to a game, enjoyed the atmosphere and in the end I was able to enjoy the game as well! :wink: :tigerhead :helmet: :geaux:
It wasn't easy for us to play it, either. We played in the PMAC before the game for TAF members, and they went absolutely crazy. Of course, many of us expected for the Tigers to be up at the half. The fact that we weren't made this probably one of the most miserable half-time shows I've done in Tiger Stadium. The crowd seemed very unenthusiastic, but I (along with the rest of the band, I'm sure) gave it my all. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
