He took over a program that had six straight losing seasons and that hadn't been ranked in the AP Top 25 since 1989. DiNardo revived LSU football; bringing back the tradition of wearing white jerseys during home games and restoring LSU's reputation as an SEC powerhouse. In his first season at LSU in 1995 the Tigers opened with a loss at #3 Texas A&M (9/2/95). However, during LSU's first home game (9/16/95) DiNardo led LSU to a 12-6 upset victory over #6 Auburn, a game which went down to the last play. As a result of the victory, LSU spent the next 3 weeks in the AP Top 25 before losing to #3 Florida (10/7/95). LSU's next losses were to unranked Kentucky (10/14/95) and #16 Alabama (11/4/95). LSU finished the season by beating #14 Arkansas (11/18/95). The Tigers then went to the Independence Bowl, where they beat unranked Michigan State 45-26, who were coincidentally coached by Nick Saban, the man who would eventually replace DiNardo at LSU. In 1996, LSU began the season with a preseason ranking of #19. After LSU defeated #13 Auburn (9/21/96), the Tigers lost to #1 Florida (10/12/96) and #10 Alabama (11/9/96), finishing the regular season at 9-2. LSU went to the Peach Bowl where they beat unranked Clemson, by a score of 10-7. LSU finished the season ranked #12. In 1997, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #10. After losing to #12 Auburn (9/20/97) LSU faced off against #1 Florida in Tiger Stadium. LSU upset the Gators 28-21 (10/11/97), making the cover of Sports Illustrated in the process. The next week LSU lost to unranked Ole Miss (10/18/97). LSU's only other loss of the season was to unranked Notre Dame (11/15/97), which the Tigers avenged by beating Notre Dame 27-9 in a rematch in the 1997 Independence Bowl. LSU finished the season ranked #13. In 1998, LSU started the season with a preseason ranking of #9. They climbed to #6 before losing to #12 Georgia (10/3/98). The next week the #11-ranked Tigers lost to the #6 Florida (10/10/98). After the Gator loss LSU went into a tail-spin, losing 13 of the next 17 games, including losses to a #10 Notre Dame (11/21/98), #13 Arkansas (11/27/98), #10 Georgia (10/2/99), #8 Florida (10/9/99), #12 Mississippi State (10/23/99), #25 Ole Miss (10/31/99), and #12 Alabama (11/6/99). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_DiNardo
