The Enduring Legacy of the LSU Fighting Tigers: A Tradition of Excellence

The LSU Tigers football team, also known as the Fighting Tigers or Bayou Bengals, proudly represents Louisiana State University in the realm of college football. As a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), LSU boasts a storied history filled with remarkable achievements, passionate fans, and a deep-rooted tradition of excellence. Their home games are played at the iconic Tiger Stadium on the university's campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Early Years and the Foundation of a Legacy (1893-1934)

The genesis of LSU football can be traced back to 1893 when Dr. Charles E. Coates, a chemistry professor with a passion for the sport, assembled the university's first team. Coates' plan for a football team dates back to the autumn of the previous year, when he assembled a team and held one or two scrimmages before shelving the idea for the following autumn. The team's inaugural game against Tulane marked the beginning of a rivalry that would endure for decades. Although LSU lost that first contest 34-0, it ignited a spark that would fuel the program's growth. Future Louisiana governor Ruffin G. Pleasant was the quarterback and captain of the LSU team. According to legend, purple and gold were chosen because they were Mardi Gras colors, and the green was sold out. The game was the only one Coates ever coached, and the only football game Pleasant played in.

The team achieved its first victory in 1894, defeating the Natchez Athletic Club 26-0. Samuel Marmaduke Dinwidie Clark secured his place in history by scoring LSU's first-ever touchdown. The first football game played on the LSU campus was at State Field on December 3, 1894, a loss against Mississippi. LSU's only touchdown in that game was scored by the head coach, Albert Simmonds. By 1895, LSU had its first win in Baton Rouge. In 1896 LSU hired Allen Jeardeau of Platteville, Wisconsin. LSU went undefeated, winning the school's first conference championship in the school's first year as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA), the first southern athletics conference. Tulane was forced to forfeit for its attempt to play Hall of Fame Penn back George H. Brooke. This was the first team to be called the "Tigers." The mascot was reputed to be named after the “Fighting Tigers,” the name of the 9th Louisiana Infantry in the Civil War. Coach Jeardeau returned for his second but final year at LSU in 1897 for two games in Baton Rouge.

The early 20th century saw LSU continue to build its program, facing challenges such as outbreaks of yellow fever that disrupted seasons. Several coaches led the team during this period, including Edmond Chavanne, the first LSU alumnus to coach the team. In 1907, LSU made history by becoming the first American college football team to play on foreign soil, winning the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, Cuba, with a resounding 56-0 victory. The 1908 team posted an undefeated 10-0 record. Quarterback Doc Fenton led the nation in scoring with 132 points, posting then school records of 36 extra points and six field goals. Mike Lally was his running mate in the backfield. LSU beat Auburn 10-2, Seip going over for the first touchdown. Auburn's two points came on a safety, after T. C. Locke blocked Fenton’s punt. Fenton could not recover the fumble because he was knocked unconscious by a spectator's cane.

During the 1920s, Mike Donahue, who came from Auburn, became the seventeenth head football coach at LSU in 1923. The final game of the 1924 season saw the first game played at Tiger Stadium, with an original seating capacity of 12,000, on Thanksgiving Day against Tulane. In 1931 LSU played its first night game in Tiger Stadium, a 31-0 victory over Spring Hill. The 1933 lost no games and was led by track and field athlete Jack Torrance.

The Bernie Moore Era and Early SEC Dominance (1935-1947)

The arrival of head coach Bernie Moore in 1935 marked a turning point for LSU football. Under Moore's leadership, the Tigers achieved unprecedented success, winning their first Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship in 1935 with a 5-0 conference record and a 9-2-0 overall record. LSU played in their first Sugar Bowl game, falling to No. 4 TCU 3-2 at Tulane Stadium. The Tigers and Horned Frogs both took home the Williamson Poll national championship, which is not claimed by LSU. End Gaynell Tinsley was named a consensus All-American in 1935 and 1936, becoming the first All-America selection for LSU. Coach Moore once said, "Tinsley could have made All-American at any position. He was so tough, he made blockers quit. He's the greatest lineman I ever saw." Along with Tinsley in the line were Marvin Stewart, Justin Rukas, and Jeff Barrett. In the backfield were Mickal, Jesse Fatherree, and Pinky Rohm - all members of LSU's "Early Days" team of the century. The team's quarterback was Bill May, awarded the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 1936.

The 1936 team won the school's second SEC Championship finishing with a 6-0 conference record and 9-1-1 overall. The Tigers finished runner-up to Minnesota in the AP Poll. LSU won the Williamson Poll and Sagarin Ratings national championships, which are not claimed by the school. LSU's largest margin of victory, and most points scored in a football game came on November 21, in a game at Tiger Stadium against USL (University of Southwestern Louisiana, now University of Louisiana Lafayette). The final score was LSU 93, USL 0. In 1939, in a game against Holy Cross, Kavanaugh caught four touchdown passes in the 26-7 win. According to Kavanaugh and teammate Young Bussey, Kavanaugh found four rusty nails on the sideline during the game. The next week against Rice, he found another nail and scored another touchdown to give LSU a 7-0 win. Kavanaugh was a consensus All-America selection for the 1939 All-America Team.

The 1943 team was led by Steve Van Buren, moved to running back because of a lack of players due to World War II conscription, and won the Orange Bowl. Van Buren led the NCAA in scoring that season, with 98 points (110 including the bowl game). The 1946 team played in one of the most notable instances of the Cotton Bowl Classic - "Ice Bowl." LSU, led by head coach Moore and quarterback Y. A. Tittle, entered the game against Arkansas with a 9-1 record. Ice, sleet and snow pelted the stadium as LSU players filled oil drums with charcoal and started fires for makeshift heaters while fans built fires in the stands.

The Dietzel Era and the 1958 National Championship (1955-1961)

Paul Dietzel's arrival as head coach in 1955 ushered in a new era of innovation and national prominence for LSU. Jim Taylor was an All-American in 1957, and led the SEC in scoring in 1956 and 1957. In 1958, however, Dietzel came up with a unique "three-platoon system." Instead of replacing individual players during the game, Dietzel would bring in an entirely new set of players between plays and series. The three teams were called the White Team (the first-string offense and defense), the Gold (Go) Team (the second-string offense), and the Chinese Bandits (the second-string defense). The system worked, as the 1958 team won the school's first claimed national championship, beating No. 12 Clemson 7-0 in the Sugar Bowl. The only score was a pass from Billy Cannon to sophomore Mickey Mangham, one of the smallest players on the team. Cannon won the Heisman Trophy in 1959. On Halloween, late in the game between No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Ole Miss, LSU was trailing 3-0. Cannon returned a punt 89 yards for a TD, breaking seven tackles. This has become known as Cannon's Halloween Run. The Rebels then drove down the field but were stopped on the LSU 1-yard line as the game ended resulting in a 7-3 victory for LSU in Tiger Stadium.

The McClendon Years: Consistency and Memorable Moments (1962-1979)

Charles "Charlie" McClendon, an assistant since 1953, was named his successor. McClendon picked up where Dietzel left off, with three top ten finishes in his first four years. In the 1966 Cotton Bowl, unranked LSU upset undefeated and No. In 1972, number 6 LSU survived an upset bid from unranked Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium by winning the game on a touchdown pass from quarterback Bert Jones to running back Brad Davis.

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Coaching Changes and a Period of Transition (1980-1999)

After having just four coaches over 44 years from 1935 to 1979, the team went through eight coaches in a 20-year period from 1980 to 1999. This stretch began with the death of Bo Rein in a plane crash before coaching a single game for the Tigers. Following the 1979 season, NC State head coach Bo Rein was hired to replace McClendon as LSU's head coach. In January 1980, Rein took a recruiting trip to Shreveport, Louisiana. Rein and experienced pilot Louis Benscotter left Shreveport in a Cessna 441 aircraft.

The Saban Era and the 2003 National Championship (2000-2004)

Nick Saban became head coach in 2000. His first season saw LSU beat No. 11 Tennessee and Alabama, causing the goalposts to be torn down again. In 2003, LSU won its second national championship by defeating Oklahoma 21-14 in the 2004 Sugar Bowl, which was the BCS National Championship Game.

The Les Miles Era and the 2007 National Championship (2005-2016)

Les Miles became head coach in 2005. His first season was affected by Hurricane Katrina, and a home game was moved to Arizona. LSU still managed a comeback victory. In 2007, No. 2 LSU played a thrilling game against No. 9 Florida, winning 28-24 after being down in the fourth quarter. LSU then went on to defeat No. 1 Ohio State 38-24 in the BCS National Championship, winning their third national title. In 2011, No. 1 LSU played No. 2 Alabama in a game called the "Game of the Century". It was a very defensive game with no touchdowns, ending in a 9-6 LSU victory in overtime. Later that season, the two teams met again in the BCS National Championship, where Alabama won 21-0.

The Orgeron Era and the 2019 National Championship (2016-2021)

After Les Miles, Ed Orgeron became the interim head coach and then the full-time head coach. He made changes to practices and brought in new coaches. The 2018 season saw LSU upset No. 8 Miami and No. 7 Auburn. They also had a shocking upset win over No. 2 Georgia. The 2019 team had an incredible undefeated season (15-0). They had a huge road win against Texas, known as the "3rd-and-17" Game, and a thrilling 46-41 victory over Alabama. Quarterback Joe Burrow set new LSU and SEC records for passing yards and touchdowns. The Tigers won the SEC Championship and were named the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy.

The Brian Kelly Era (2021-Present)

Brian Kelly became the 34th head coach at LSU on November 30, 2021. His first season in 2022 started with a close 24-23 loss to Florida State. However, the Tigers went on to win several games, including upsets over No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 6 Alabama. They won the SEC West division title, earning a spot in the SEC Championship against No.

Conference Championships

LSU has won 16 conference championships across three different conferences. Since the SEC started playing in divisions in 1992, LSU has won or shared the SEC West title 10 times.

Uniforms and Traditions

LSU's helmets have changed over the years. Before 1946, they wore leather helmets. In 1956, the helmet color changed to a yellow-gold, similar to the Green Bay Packers. It had a white stripe with purple stripes on the sides. In 1977, the current helmet design was introduced, featuring curved LSU letters above a tiger head logo. The current jersey style was introduced in 1957. White jerseys have purple numbers with gold and purple stripes on the shoulders. Purple jerseys have white numbers with white and yellow stripes. LSU is famous for wearing white jerseys at home games, which is unusual in college football. This tradition started in 1958 when Coach Paul Dietzel had the team wear white for good luck. Fans loved it, and it became a tradition. From 1983 to 1994, NCAA rules made LSU wear purple at home, which fans disliked. The team usually wears gold pants with white and purple stripes.

Other traditions

Tiger Stadium is a huge stadium with a capacity of over 102,000 fans. A crossbar from old goalposts hangs above the locker room door. LSU has a long tradition of playing night games, which started in 1931. LSU is famous for its amazing tailgating parties before home games. Before each home game, the football players, coaches, cheerleaders, and Mike the Tiger walk down "Victory Hill" while thousands of fans cheer them on. When LSU's defense makes a big play, the band plays the Tiger Bandits song, and fans bow to honor the defense. Jersey No. 18 is a special tradition at LSU. It started in 2003 when quarterback Matt Mauck led LSU to a national championship. After him, the jersey was passed to other players who showed success on and off the field and had a selfless attitude. Each season, a player is chosen by the coaches to wear this important jersey.

Rivalries

LSU and Alabama have played each other every year since the 1960s. This rivalry became even more intense after former LSU coach Nick Saban became Alabama's head coach in 2007. The rivalry with Arkansas grew when Arkansas joined the SEC in 1991. The winner of this game takes home the Golden Boot, a large, gold trophy shaped like the states of Arkansas and Louisiana. LSU and Auburn are both called the "Tigers," and they have had many memorable games since they were placed in the same SEC division in 1992. The Florida Gators and LSU have played every year since 1971. The LSU-Mississippi State rivalry is LSU's longest, with 108 meetings. Ole Miss is another traditional SEC rival for LSU. The winner now receives the Magnolia Bowl Trophy. LSU and Texas A&M first played in 1899. The rivalry has had different periods, becoming a yearly game again when Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2011. LSU's oldest rival is Tulane. Their first game was in 1893.

Bowl Game History

LSU has played in 52 bowl games, winning 28 of them.

Facilities

Tiger Stadium is the home of the LSU Tigers football team. It can hold 102,321 fans, making it one of the largest college stadiums. The Charles McClendon Practice Facility is where the LSU Tigers football team practices. It includes the LSU Football Operations Center, an Indoor Practice Facility, and four outdoor practice fields. The LSU Football Operations Center, built in 2006, is a modern building that has the team's locker room, a lounge for players, a weight room, training room, equipment room, and coaches' offices. The LSU Indoor Practice Facility, built in 1991, is a large, climate-controlled building with a 100-yard indoor football field. Right next to the main buildings are four outdoor practice fields.

Coaching Staff

LSU has had 32 head coaches since 1893. Four coaches-Dietzel, Saban, Miles, and Orgeron-have won national championships with the Tigers.

Mascot and Traditions

Mike the Tiger is the official mascot of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and serves as the graphic image of LSU athletics. LSU's official colors are Royal Purple and Old Gold. The Louisiana State University Tiger Marching Band (also called The Golden Band from Tigerland or simply the Tiger Band) is known by LSU fans and foes alike for the first four notes of its pregame salute sounded on Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium.

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