225 Magazine - Tiger Pride 2026

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TRUST IS EVERYTHING

Whether you’re cheering on Sam Leavitt and LSU Football in Death Valley or conquering your own health goals, the same spirit that drives the Tigers drives FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake to deliver best-in-class care Louisiana trusts — for every fan, every family and every community.

As Championship Health Partners, LSU and the Lake are advancing health, sports performance, education and research to transform healthcare for Louisiana and the Gulf South.

Spirit

A11 Your tailgating handbook

A17 Labor Day weekend in Death Valley

A21 Traveling Tigers

A24 A guide to away games

A26 Golden Band from Tigerland fun facts

Outlook

A31 Matt Moscona’s season forecast

A35 Transfer portal additions

Team

A39 LSU’s offensive unit

A42 Q&A with QB Sam Leavitt

A44 Digging into the Tiger defense

A47 Meet tight end Trey’Dez Green

Style

A55 The alumni behind the LSU dance teams’ flashy fits

A60 Gameday-ready accessories

In every Tiger Pride

A6 Intro

A62 I am 225

A26

ON THE COVER

High five!

Each year for our annual edition of Tiger Pride, 225 contributing photographer Jordan Hefler sets out for Tiger Stadium to snap shots of all the action before and during the big game, like this playful close up of mascot Mike the Tiger interacting with sideline spectators.

THE TIGER TAILGATES

It just means more

THE COUNTDOWN TO kickoff is so on. Those matchups we patiently await all year are almost here—plan accordingly.

Just like most Tiger fans, the 225 team has had football on its mind since before summer. And the wait is almost over. On Sept. 5, the Bayou Bengals will battle another group of Tigers in a season opener at home against Clemson. Talk about a catfight!

Then, LSU pounces into the new season, taking on Ole Miss in Oxford, which is sure to be a tense matchup between the two rivals given LSU’s acquisition of Lane Kiffin as head coach. Besides hosting SEC teams like Alabama and Mississippi State, the Tigers will also hit the road for away games against Tennessee and Arkansas, giving fans a reason to travel.

A new coach and a slew of transfer portal additions mean fresh faces are gracing the field this season. Now that makes for a team to watch. You’re going to want to keep your eyes peeled for these field stars.

But aside from the gametime action, a new football season also promises even more to get fans hyped up for, from a lineup featuring more home games for fans to show off their tailgating cuisine to dazzling halftime performances by the Golden Band from Tigerland. Before it all starts, it’s time to study up and get gameday ready. Luckily, you have a copy of 225’s annual Tiger Pride issue in your hands. Each year for over the last

two decades, Louisiana’s flagship university has graced at least one cover of 225 Magazine, along with other print features and online coverage. This dedicated standalone edition has been part of our August print issue since 2011. So our team knows a thing or two when it comes to LSU's football team.

Just like its previous iterations, this Tiger Pride is all about the passion and pageantry of LSU football. Flip through the pages to find a handbook for home-game tailgates and fun facts about the Golden Band from Tigerland. And of course, we talk about the season’s outlook and standout game-makers with insights from sports writers like Matt Moscona and Mark Clements.

And hear from the Tigers themselves in our exclusive interviews with transfer QB Sam Leavitt and the 225 area’s own Trey’Dez Green. Because Lane Kiffin isn’t the only name that should be on lips this season.

We’re also featuring other LSU teams that make gamedays great, like the Golden Girls and Tiger Girls, and showcasing the alumni who are behind their glittering garb. If these flashy fits by Jaime Glas Odom and Suzanne Perron St. Paul have you inspired, we’ve got you covered with a curated selection of gameday-ready pieces that are sure to take any ensemble to the top, too.

Consider this your playbook. Study up. It’s geaux time. Hut! Hut! Hike!

Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief: Kelli Bozeman

Managing Editor: Olivia Deffes

Features Writer: Maggie Heyn Richardson

Digital Staff Writer: Catherine Clement

Digital Content Strategist: John McElwain

Staff Photographer: Collin Richie

Contributing Writers:

Riley Bienvenu Bourgeois, Mark Clements, Matt Moscona, Ben Warren

Contributing Photographers: Jordan Hefler

ADVERTISING

Vice President, Sales: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert

Sales Director: André Hellickson Savoie

Multimedia Marketing Consultants:

Abbie Bayham, Jamie Hernandez, Grace Robinson, Ella Shipp, Annabelle Slusher

Digital Operations Manager: Devyn MacDonald

Content Creator: Londyn White

Digital Operations Coordinator: Addison Champagne

Data Analyst: Sydney DeVille

Content Strategist: Emily Hebert

STUDIO E

Director and Corporate Communications Strategist: Mark Lorando

Special Projects Editor: Lisa Tramontana

Content Strategist: Emily Hebert

Multimedia Producer: Jordan Ponzio

Video Producer: Taylor Stoma

ADMINISTRATION

Chief Technology Officer: James Hume

Marketing Director: Ashleigh Ward

Business Operations Manager: Kirsten Milano

Business Associate: Sarah Kleinpeter

Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

CREATIVE SERVICES

Creative Services Manager: Ellie Gray

Art Director: Hoa Vu

Senior Graphic Designers: Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, Sidney Rosso

Graphic Designers: Aniya Dunn, Lea Showers

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Circulation and Client Experience Manager: Ivana Oubre

A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC

Chairman: Julio Melara

Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto

Vice President-Sales: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert

Chief Content Officer: Penny Font

Chief Digital Officer: Erin Pou

Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone

Circulation/Reprints

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JORDAN HEFLER

FROM OUR TIGER PRIDE SPONSORS

BUILDING TEAMS THAT WIN IN LOUISIANA, FOR THE WORLD.

The LSU Foundation is honored to have a frontrow seat to Tiger pride in action every day. Donors from around the world invest in the aspirations and potential of our students and faculty, inspired to create elite opportunities that yield life-changing results. Their trust in us, and the collective impact of their giving, creates measurable momentum. In just the past year, LSU has celebrated its largest ever graduating class, marked five consecutive years of historic growth in research expenditures, and opened the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building. Every gift advances LSU’s important, growing role as an engine for education, research, and global impact.

Geaux Tigers!

Krista Raney President & CEO

Dear Tiger Nation,

On behalf of REV Fiber and our nearly 400 local employees, we are proud to be the exclusive Official Internet Partner of LSU Athletics; deepening our commitment to the state of Louisiana and the Baton Rouge community. This sponsorship reflects more than our support for Louisiana’s flagship university – it represents our continued investment in the people, places, relationships and experiences that make this region strong. As a locally built company, REV believes in investing where we live, work, and serve. Through partnerships like this, we are helping strengthen community connections with our reliable technology, supporting local pride, and creating opportunities that bring residents, fans, businesses, and families together. We are honored to stand alongside LSU Athletics and look forward to contributing to the excitement, tradition, and potential of Louisiana.

The future is bright. The energy is real. And we’re just getting started.

Tressy Leindecker EVP of Sales and Marketing REV

At FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake, we know great things happen when people unite around a shared mission. Our Championship Health Partnership with LSU reflects exactly that. Through academics, workforce development and groundbreaking research, we’re advancing healthcare in ways that benefit LSU student-athletes, our communities and patients. This year, we celebrate the opening of the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building and the FMOL Health Learning & Laboratory Wing at the Huey P. Long Fieldhouse, powerful symbols of our shared commitment to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals and supporting LSU’s vision of becoming a Top 50 research institution. This partnership is a true point of pride for our health system. We’re honored to continue growing our partnership with LSU and are proud to work together to strengthen the future of healthcare across the Gulf South.

Non Excidet!

E.J. Kuiper President & CEO FMOL Health

For almost 80 years, we’ve had the privilege of being more than just a name on your grocery shelf—we’ve been part of your Saturdays. From tailgates before kickoff to the roar that follows a Tiger touchdown, our sausage has found its way onto grills and into gatherings where neighbors turn into friends and strangers become family. Whether we’ve been sizzling on the grill before a game day cookout, filling the plates at your tailgate spread, or bringing a taste of home to your table during a rebuilding season, you’ve made us part of your traditions. That means everything to us. Being a staple in this community isn’t something we take lightly. It’s built on trust, shared memories, and the same purple and gold pride that fills this town every fall. Thank you for letting us be part of your story—game after game, year after year.

GEAUX TIGERS!

From left to right:

Bobby Yarborough

Tommy Yarborough

Steve Yarborough

ORIGINSpirit

HOME Good to be

LSU fans have more chances this season to tailgate

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON // PHOTOS BY JORDAN HEFLER

IT’S A LINEUP that seems custom made for tailgaters. A generous helping of home games—seven this year—means the Tiger Nation has more chances to roll out its special brand of pageantry, starting with a season opener in Death Valley for the first time since 2020. Armed with a provocative new head coach and a need for redemption, LSU has three home games in September, followed by high-octane meetings in October and November in Baton Rouge.

Veteran tailgaters are approaching this season with their usual planning, pacing and keen awareness of crowd size and weather, says Zach Rau, whose DVA Tailgating group has set up near the LSU Campus Mounds since 2012.

“This season is pretty front loaded,” Rau says. “The Clemson game is going to create a huge atmosphere with [College] GameDay in town, and the heat is going to be something to really keep in mind.”

Rau says his September menus will feature classic dishes that aren’t too heavy, like jambalaya and pastalaya, along with plenty of water and electrolyte mix.

Three September home games will feel like an endurance test, but this year’s schedule offers convenient “peaks and valleys,” Rau says. Big games are followed by away games or more relaxed rivalries, which will give habitual tailgaters some breathing room, he says.

Along with the season opener against Clemson, Rau says he’s especially excited about the Bama game.

“We could conceivably head into that game undefeated,” he says. “So that game will include everything that comes along with that.”

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Sept. 5

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

The scene: It’s big. At home for the first time since 2020, the season opener is Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut and the campus will host ESPN’s College GameDay. The humidity will be as thick as the hype, so pace yourself and hydrate.

The dish: Mammoth crowds will have tailgaters bringing their best, high-volume work, including dishes like cast-iron-pot jambalaya and those workhorses of the outdoor grill, burgers and dogs. Invited to a tailgate? Bring fruit salad and extra water.

Sept.12

LOUISIANA TECH

The scene: A home game on the second weekend of the season keeps the good vibes going, but the atmosphere will be less intense. Fans are asked to wear purple. The dish: The heat is still an issue, so throw something low maintenance on the grill, like boudin and smoked sausage from the Capital Region’s abundance of local meat markets.

Sept. 26

TEXAS A&M

The scene: September’s trio of home games culminates with a chance at redemption against A&M. Tiger fans are still stung by last year’s trouncing in College Station, a watershed event that led to then-head coach Brian Kelly’s firing. Wear gold. The dish: Bring on the brisket. Texas’ favorite barbecue protein is also Louisiana’s. Whether or not Tiger fans will share their handiwork with Aggies remains to be seen.

Oct. 3

MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY

The scene: The weekend following the A&M game is another chance to enjoy a home tailgate as the Cowboys from Lake Charles come to town. Enjoy the start of fall. The dish: Reasonable crowds prompt some tailgaters to roll out labor-intensive dishes, like fried catfish and shrimp, or banh mi sandwiches stuffed with smoked chicken thighs or pork belly.

Summer at the U: Learning Beyond the Classroom

At University Laboratory School, Summer at the U transforms LSU’s campus into an extension of the classroom. Through hands-on experiences with LSU faculty, students, researchers, and campus professionals, campers discover new interests while exploring the people, places, and opportunities that make LSU extraordinary. Every experience encourages curiosity, creativity, confidence, and lifelong Tiger pride.

• Behind-the-scenes tours of LSU’s 459 Commons Dining Hall

• Interactive learning with the LSU Entomology Club

• Sports photography with LSU Athletics

• Exploration at the LSU Museum of Natural Science

• Math challenges alongside LSU faculty in Lockett Hall

• Campus adventures, LSU landmarks, and the LSU Lakes

Oct. 17

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

The scene: The two teams haven’t played since the Tigers traveled to Starkville in 2023. Mid-October usually brings spectacular weather for fans to enjoy.

The dish: Riffing on Mississippi’s love for barbecue pork, roll out baby back ribs and pulled pork sliders. Pair them with layered salads and loaded dips.

Nov. 7

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

The scene: Nick Saban might not be around to fuel Tiger fans’ ire for the Tide, but the rivalry still stands. A threeweek break away from the gravitational pull of Death Valley will have fans clamoring to cheer on the Bayou Bengals.

The dish: Expect to see edible “elephants” fashioned from pork chops posing as ears joined by pork loin trunks. Crowd size will inspire tailgates to prepare big-volume dishes like roast suckling pig and pots of gumbo.

Nov. 14

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

The scene: Tigers will be eager to ruin QB1 Arch Manning’s day as they host the Longhorns in a regular season game that should have been played back in September 2020 but was canceled due to the pandemic. The dish: The final home game of the season is a fine chance to break out street tacos made with grilled skirt steak and accompanied by fresh avocado, pickled red onion and cotija cheese.

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Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Melara Enterprises, LLC. 2026. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700

l'VE HAD BACK PAIN FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS HELPED. WHERE DO I EVEN START?

The first thing I tell patients is- don't assume it's been properly evaluated just because it's been looked at. The sacroiliac joint is one of the most overlooked sources of chronic low back pain. Studies suggest 15 to 30 percent of chronic low back pain may actually be coming from the SI joint. not the spine itself. 1 2 That's a significant number of people walking around with an answer nobody's looked for yet.

WHAT IS THE SI JOINT, AND WHY DOES IT CAUSE SO MUCH PAIN?

The sacroiliac joint connects your pelvis to the base of your spine. and its job is to transfer weight and forces between your upper body and your legs. It functions like the body's shock absorber. Like any joint, it can degenerate over time or the surrounding ligaments can be injured- and when that happens, it can produce significant, chronic pain that people often mistake for a spine problem.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY SYMPTOMS ARE COMING FROM MY SI JOINT?

One of the most telling signs is something we call the Fortin Finger test- patients can point with one finger to exactly where it hurts, right at the base of the spine just below the belt line. almost always on one side. Beyond that. the pattern is recognizable: lower back and buttock pain. a sensation of tingling or weakness in the leg, difficulty sitting for long periods without shifting to one side, and real pain when getting up from a chair. If that sounds familiar, the SI joint should be considered as a contributor to your pain.

The

not coming from the back? Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2009 Jan 1;34(1):E27-32.

1995 Jan 1;20(1):31-7.

WHY IS SI JOINT PAIN SO HARD TO DIAGNOSE?

That's the most common frustration I hear. SI joint dysfunction doesn't show up on imaging the way a herniated disc does. and many evaluations simply don't include it. A proper diagnosis requires a thorough physical exam of the lumbar spine. the SI joint. and the hip. combined with specific provocative tests and- most definitively- a diagnostic injection directly into the joint. Without that, it's easy to miss entirely. I always make sure we're looking at the full picture.

IF THE SI JOINT IS THE PROBLEM, WHAT CAN ACTUALLY BE DONE ABOUT IT?

There's a real range of options. and we always start conservatively. That means physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications. SI joint belts for support, and targeted injections with anesthetic and steroids. Radiofrequency ablation is another option. For patients who've tried those approaches and are still suffering from chronic. debilitating pain. minimally invasive SI joint fusion can be a very effective next step. The key is finally having the right diagnosis - because the right treatment follows from that.

NeuroMedical Center CLINIC

SCAN HERETO LEARN MORE

1. Sembrano JN. Polly OW Jr. How often is low back pain

2. Schwarzer AC, Aprill CN, Bogduk N. The sacroiliac joint in chronic low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).

BOUND Baton Rouge

Make the most of a football-filled Labor Day weekend in the Capital City

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON // PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

LSU’S 2026 SEASON opener is at home for the first time since 2020, which means Labor Day weekend in Baton Rouge is lining up to be a seismic event. Tiger fans will be ready to bring the energy as LSU faces off against Clemson amid home field traditions and

the unmistakable roar of Death Valley.

Visitors from both teams will descend on the Capital City for the big game, but they’ll find plenty of other things to do in Baton Rouge as well. Here’s how to make the most of the long weekend.

Saturday 6:30 p.m.

Kickoff. Geaux Tigers!

Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Relish the chance to sleep in, then head for brunch downtown. Savor detailed global dishes at Cocha or opt for Creole favorites at Cecilia.

Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

Meander through the 440-acre Burden Museum & Gardens in the heart of Baton Rouge. A state-of-the-art welcome center completed this spring orients visitors to the site’s three memorable experiences: the renowned LSU Rural Life Museum, Windrush Gardens and the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens.

Sunday, 4 p.m.

Journey to Court to Table Kitchen & Bar for a round of pickleball or cornhole followed by dinner in the onsite modern American restaurant. The Hot Yardbird fried chicken sandwich and banh mi craft tacos will ease your appetite after all that friendly competition.

Friday, 3 p.m.

Arrive in Baton Rouge and check into a downtown hotel. Unpack and stretch your legs, then head for the top floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts for a stunning view of the majestic Mississippi River. Snap a few pics, then move inside to Tsunami Sushi for a Blushing Geisha cocktail at the bar.

Friday, 7 p.m.

Hop over to Mid City for dinner. Queue up for a table at the Michelin-recommended hometown favorite Elsie’s Plate and Pie, or make a reservation at Rocca Pizzeria for a wood-fired Neapolitan pie with curated toppings. End the night with a chef-driven cocktail at the stylish new speakeasy Hearsay, inside Circa 1857.

Saturday, 9 a.m.

Start the morning off at the beloved downtown Red Stick Farmers Market, where dozens of farmers and producers sell local-only items. Munch on a scone, sweet potato pie or loaded biscuit from a market vendor and sip sustainable, fair-trade coffee at River & Roots inside Main Street Market. Stroll through the adjacent monthly Arts Market and peruse the impressive wares of regional artisans.

Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Let the game festivities begin. Walk or rideshare to The Pastime Restaurant downtown, a local institution famous for pizza and po-boys whose origins date back to the 1920s. Scribble your order on a piece of paper, grab a pitcher of beer and head for a table. After a stomach-coating nosh, reserve your seat on the Pastime’s Tiger Transit bus, which will take you to and from the game for a nominal fee.

Saturday, 3 p.m.

Stroll through LSU’s iconic tailgate scene and witness over-the-top fan traditions. Grab a strategic spot and prepare to watch the Golden Band from Tigerland march down Victory Hill. After the goosebumps recede, head to Mike the Tiger’s habitat for a peek at Louisiana’s favorite feline. It’s almost gametime. Head inside Tiger Stadium and take your seat.

Monday, 9 a.m.

Check out of your hotel and head for home, but not before stopping at Coffee Call, the 50-year-old local treasure famous for madefrom-scratch beignets and café au lait. Grab a table and sink your teeth into deep-fried clouds of dough showered in powdered sugar. Don’t forget to take some for the road.

AWAY

Traveling Tigers helps LSU fans take to the road

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

CERTAIN LSU AWAY games are etched in Sally Stiel’s memory.

“One I’ll talk about forever was the season opener in Las Vegas and the massive tailgate we had at the House of Blues,” she says. “There were almost 3,000 people in the room.”

LSU’s much-hyped 2024 faceoff against USC brought a tsunami of purple and gold to Sin City. And

we go

while it wasn’t enough to secure a win, the Tiger Nation succeeded in showcasing its indelible brand of passion.

Another historic battle, this one against SEC rival Auburn during the 2018 season, also sticks in Stiel’s memory, thanks to LSU placekicker Cole Tracy’s last-minute 42-yard game-winning field goal. Snatching victory from a longtime rival was even sweeter

for the fans who witnessed it in person.

“We had a small group who had gone over on a bus trip, and that kick just changed the entire mood,” Stiel says. “There’s just something different about getting a win like that on the road.”

As the organizer of the LSU Alumni Association’s group travel program known as Traveling Tigers, Stiel sees the magic that

happens when the LSU faithful gather for away games. The longtime program hosts excursions to rival cities that help extend the university’s well-known pageantry.

“It takes the excitement of Tiger Stadium on a Saturday and brings it on the road,” says Stiel, LSU Alumni Association vice president of marketing, travel and corporate partnerships. “You have folks of every age on these trips, with a lot

Diehard LSU fans’ love for Tiger football knows no geographical bounds, as shown in this snap from the Traveling Tigers program's 2024 trip to South Carolina.

of repeat travelers. It becomes a mini family.”

Traveling Tigers has existed for 40 years and is best known for coordinating both football and women’s basketball awaygame fan trips. The events range from single tailgates to extended weekend packages with bonus activities beyond the game itself. The program also offers leisure and educational excursions through third-party partners.

The mood is electric among fans who sign up for away games, Stiel says. From the time they arrive en

masse with their LSU swag to their boisterous (or muted) departure after the game, there’s a palpable sense of excitement.

“You can feel the energy when you walk into a hotel lobby and you see all those fellow fans,” she says.

LSU’s deep traditions can’t help but seep into the local backdrop, Stiel adds.

“You’ll hear groups of fans walking through downtown or in a bar start chanting,” she says. “Someone will yell, ‘Go!’ and then you’ll hear ‘Tigers!’ It’s a really fun experience.”

Traveling Tigers participants have seen it all, from a Vegas tailgate with showgirls to a women's basketball game in Pat Summitt country to gridiron matchups at Florida and Clemson (clockwise from right).

Road fever

By Maggie Heyn Richardson

Make the most of LSU’s away games with off-field fun and food

Ole Miss, Sept. 19

Fans venturing into this hotbed of hurt feelings will find strength in numbers at a Traveling Tigers tailgate before the game where the smack talk is good and the food is even better. If you’re there on your own, don’t miss hotspots like Square Books, as well as James Beard nominee Snackbar and award-winner City Grocery.

Kentucky, Oct. 10

The chance to play Kentucky means bonus experiences like bourbon tastings, horse racing and a tour of Henry Clay’s massive 19th-century estate, Ashland.

Auburn, Oct. 24

Mike or Aubie? Only one Tiger will reign supreme. Head for the Plains and enjoy local cuisine at fine dining eatery Acre and see how real “war eagles” are cared for at the Auburn University Raptor Center.

Tennessee, Nov. 21

Traveling Tigers’ Rocky Top tailgate assembles the purple and gold on a picturesque riverfront spot in downtown Knoxville. While in town, don’t miss the city’s No. 1 attraction, Navitat Knoxville, an all-ability, familyfriendly ropes course and zip line with incredible views.

Arkansas, Nov. 28

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This year’s faceoff against the Razorbacks means a trip to the Ozarks and to charming Fayetteville. Sample a juicy burger at local institution Hugo’s before the game. Afterward, catch a band at George’s Majestic Lounge, the state’s oldest live music venue.

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Carefully check this ad

Did you KNEAUX?

Quiz fellow fans on these Golden Band from Tigerland facts

BY OLIVIA DEFFES

PHOTOS BY JORDAN HEFLER

COUNTLESS HOURS OF prep, 325 musical members and those four notes. It doesn’t even need an introduction because you were already thinking about the Golden Band from Tigerland, weren’t you?

It’s rare that a university’s band has a cult following and makes people want to stay in their seats during halftime rather than popping up for a snack or bathroom break, but that’s exactly the case for the LSU Tiger Marching Band.

Whether you know someone who was a member or are a diehard fan, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to LSU’s beloved band. Here are 10 fun facts about the student musicians. Study up and break them out next time you have downtime in Death Valley or get caught up in a serious game of Tiger trivia.

Way before its current fanfare, the band had humble beginnings.

Started as a military band in 1893, the 11-man roster would play for donations and even wear advertising sandwich boards to raise funds for travel, equipment and other expenses. Now, each member receives a $1,000 service award stipend and pays no fees for membership. Most instruments are available for students, usually at no cost. The university also funds the band’s travel and most uniform-related costs.

The band used to have another nickname. First known as the Cadet Band during LSU’s “Old War Skule” days, the group earned the moniker “The Show Band of the South” in the 1930s due to its growth, showmanship and fun performances that caught the attention of those outside of Baton Rouge.

Huey P. Long was a big fan.

In the 1930s, the Kingfish took a liking to LSU’s band. He helped write songs and even expanded the group’s roster to get more people to notice the university. The band also has another tie to Louisiana government, as band co-founder Ruffin G. Pleasant went on to be governor.

The pre-game performance has remained virtually unchanged since the ’50s. Little has changed in this march onto the field in more than 70 years, and it always starts with that chill-inducing, four-note salute. You just hummed it in your head, didn’t you?

Members don’t have to be music majors. As long as you can carry a tune and play an instrument, any student is welcome to try out for the band. About 75% to 80% of the band is made up of non-music majors, and the group represents nearly all academic departments. Requirements include being a full-time student, having a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, being in good standing with the university, enrolling in the MUS 4250 course, and being flexible for travel.

The Golden Band from Tigerland is Grammy-nominated.

Yep, the band was nominated for one of music’s biggest honors for its collaborative album Full Circle with zydeco artist and Tiger Band alumnus Sean Ardoin. Other accolades include being named the “All-American College TV Band” in 1971, being awarded the prestigious Louis Sudler Trophy in 2002, and being inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Death Valley isn’t the only stage the band has taken.

From presidential inaugural parades in Washington, D.C. and Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans to bowl games and celebrations at Walt Disney World, the purple-and-gold-clad marching group has represented LSU well beyond Tiger Stadium.

The band’s uniforms contain Easter eggs that nod to campus architecture.

Over the years, the Tiger Band uniforms have gone through quite a few iterations, with the most recent revamp in 2017. The change kept two distinct design features introduced in 1993: a Greek key and a diamond LSU logo on the shako and arm sleeves. Next time you’re on campus, spy the Greek key adorning Thomas D. Boyd Hall and the LSU emblem on doorknobs at the Faculty Club.

Not all make the cut.

Each year, about 500 students try out, and after weeks of tryouts, that number is narrowed down to a perfect 325-member roster.

The band learns around six unique halftime drills per season.

Memorizing and performing new songs and formations is no small feat, and sometimes the band has fewer than five days to master a show. Want a teaser for this season? Expect performances themed around Pixar, Princess and the Frog and Super Bowl halftime greats.

Powering Progress

A New Home for Discovery, Research and Collaboration at LSU

Shell Research Laboratories

Shell USA, Inc. committed $2.5 million to the Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building as part of a $27.5 million investment in energy-related initiatives at LSU.

Shell Research Laboratories offers advanced research environments to enable faculty and students to work together on complex, real world challenges.

“The opening of the LSU Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building is a testament to the power of partnership and what can be achieved when industry and academia come together around a shared vision.

We are proud to support a space where students, faculty and industry can collaborate to drive discovery, explore new frontiers and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and energy leaders.”

shell.us/louisiana | #PoweringProgress

–Colette Hirstius, President, Shell USA

Pictured L to R: Rob Stuart, LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation President & CEO; Wade Rousse, LSU President; Rochelle Touchard, Shell, Corporate Relations Regional Lead; Colette Hirstius, Shell USA, President; Lee Stockwell, Shell, General Manager, Carbon Capture and Storage North America; Krista Raney, LSU Foundation President & CEO; Robb Brumfield, LSU College of Science Interim Dean

ROUJ FEATURES MENU ITEMS THAT ARE A MIX OF THE MOST CRAVE-ABLE DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

Perfection

An extensive wine list crafted for every palate.

Outlook

ALL IN

BY MATT MOSCONA // PHOTOS BY JORDAN HEFLER

THE LANE KIFFIN era at LSU has seen a wild swing of highs and lows. There have been huge wins (Jordan Seaton), disasters averted (Brendan Sorsby) and PR black eyes (Vanity Fair)

And soon Kiffin will coach his first game for the Tigers.

With a coach on a $91 million contract and a roster budget that has reportedly exceeded $40 million, a rebuild is out of the question. The Lane Train must roll to wins. Lots of them. And the schedule might just set up for the Tigers to make a push to the College Football Playoff.

Turn the page for a breakdown of every game this season.

Tiger Town is betting big on the 2026 team

Sept. 5 vs. Clemson

ABOUT OUR ANALYST Matt Moscona is the awardwinning host of After Further Review, heard weekdays on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette and Lake Charles.

Kiffin’s debut should be the peak Tiger Stadium experience: the biggest non-conference home game in nearly 20 years, with College GameDay and a primetime audience. Dabo Swinney is marching his team into a buzzsaw, which is why the home Tigers are 11.5-point favorites.

Sept. 12 vs. Louisiana Tech

Despite a loss in Baton Rouge, the Bulldogs broke through in Sonny Cumbie’s fourth season, winning eight games and the Independence Bowl. This will be a nice breather for LSU before…

Sept. 19 at Ole Miss

Oxford will be unhinged. The question is if the Rebels’ offense will be as effective without its maestros Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr., especially against Blake Baker’s talented defense.

Sept. 26 vs. Texas A&M

A brutal letdown spot for the Tigers, but at least it’s at home. The Aggies, who ended the Brian Kelly era a season ago, will be coming off a sleepy home game against Kentucky. After a dead sprint in September, the Tigers should exhale in October.

Oct. 3 vs. McNeese Whew!

Oct. 10 at Kentucky

New coach Will Stein will run one of the fastest offenses in the country. Thankfully for LSU, they see the fastest offense every day in practice. Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey running Stein’s offense will be an interesting contrast from 13 years of Mark Stoops.

Oct. 17 vs. Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have beaten LSU just six times in the last 40 years. It’s great to see State back on the schedule after a twoyear hiatus.

Oct. 24 at Auburn

Three consecutive weeks of facing warp speed offenses wraps with LSU’s first trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium since 2022. New coach Alex Golesh and dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown could make this team the sleeper in the SEC.

Nov. 7 vs. Alabama

When was the last time the Alabama game was the fourth-most anticipated on the LSU schedule?

Nov. 14 vs. Texas

COVID robbed LSU of a return trip from the Longhorns after the 2019 classic in Austin. If LSU survives a brutal September and sleepy October, Arch Manning’s trip to Tiger Stadium should be oozing with CFP implications.

Nov. 21 at Tennessee

Rocky Top in November will be beautiful. The Vols must replace quarterback Joey Aguilar, who lost his court case for an extra year of eligibility. Tennessee feels light years away from their CFP appearance two years ago.

Nov. 28 at Arkansas

It’s never easy against the Hogs. Back-toback road conference games following Bama and Texas are unenviable. Such is life in the SEC—as new Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield will learn.

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ARRIVALS

Breaking down how the members of LSU’s 2026 transfer portal class plan to leave their mark on the team this season

BY BEN WARREN

Princewill Umanmielen

Edge rusher, Ole Miss

A key piece of Kiffin’s 2025 campaign at Ole Miss, Umanmielen brings a towering presence to the LSU front seven. Coming off a season that saw him total 9 sacks, he is poised to be a breakout star in 2026.

Ty Benefield

Safety, Boise State University

Jordan Seaton

Offensive tackle, University of Colorado

A standout in Boulder, Seaton joins a unit that was heavily scrutinized last season. The No. 1 offensive lineman in the transfer portal was a second-team all-Big 12 in 2025 after missing the final three games of the season with injury. If LSU wants to be title contenders, the offensive line and Seaton need to play a big role.

After a successful three years at Boise State in which he won a Mountain West Conference Championship Game MVP award and appeared in the College Football Playoff, Benefield brings loads of experience to the LSU defensive backfield. With over 200 career tackles and five interceptions, he will add a playmaking edge at the safety position.

Tre’ Brown III

Wide receiver, Old Dominion University

In one season at ODU, the 6-foot-2 wide receiver reeled in 38 catches for 762 yards and four touchdowns, good enough numbers to earn All-Sun Belt conference honors. An explosive, big-body playmaker, Brown should be wellsuited for a Lane Kiffin offense.

Sam Leavitt

Quarterback, Arizona State University

Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign in which he was injured and Arizona State missed the playoffs, Leavitt lands in Baton Rouge with a chip on his shoulder. He has passed for over 4,500 yards in his career with only nine interceptions in 20 games at ASU. For LSU to be taken seriously, Leavitt will need to show flashes of what we saw in 2025.

SINCE THE CREATION of the college football transfer portal in 2018, no coach has been more closely associated with it than Lane Kiffin.

Whether it was begging players to #cometoboca while at Florida Atlantic or securing five-star signings at Ole Miss, LSU’s new coach has always been at the forefront of portal recruiting. This year is no different, as the highly publicized 2026 offseason brought in a swath of talented players. With the added financial backing of a motivated athletic department and Tiger fanbase, LSU landed the No. 1 transfer portal recruiting class, signing a total of 41 players.

Let’s check out some of the latest additions to the Tigers coming to Baton Rouge by way of the portal.

Faheem Delane

Safety, Ohio State

A name fans will recognize, Faheem is the brother of firstround pick and Thorpe Award finalist Mansoor Delane. Faheem was a 4-star recruit coming out of high school and will look to leave his own mark in Baton Rouge after spending 2025 fighting to see the field at Ohio State.

Eugene

Wilson III

Wide receiver, University of Florida

An electric pass catcher, Wilson comes to LSU by way of bitter rival Florida. After three seasons at Florida that saw him rack up over 1,000 yards in only 22 games, look for him to be a popular target for QB Sam Leavitt.

Jackson Harris

Wide receiver, University of Hawai’i

Coming off a 2025 season that saw Harris receive firstteam All-Mountain West honors, Harris comes to LSU with over 1,000 receiving yards to go along with 13 touchdowns. Add on his six 100-yard receiving games and Harris is clear to be a consistent target for Sam Leavitt.

Husan Longstreet Quarterback, USC

The No. 13 overall player and No. 1 player in California as named by On3 Sports for the class of 2025, Longstreet spent most of last season learning on the USC bench. While he is not expected to see much action in 2026, he is a massive addition to the future of this program under Kiffin.

Stephiylan Green

Defensive tackle, Clemson University Green made his first start and had a career-high 6 tackles in the season opener against LSU last year. An experienced player who was on the ACC Academic Honor Roll for the last two years, he will bring both smarts and power to this LSU defensive line.

Malik Blocton

Defensive tackle, Auburn University

A bruising defensive talent, Blocton stacked up 34 tackles—with 8.5 for a loss—and two sacks over two seasons with the Auburn Tigers. Blocton is a perfect fit for a Blake Baker defense and should continue to be a game-wrecker in 2026.

Jayce Brown

Wide receiver, Kansas State University

Brown lands in Baton Rouge after a threeyear career in the Little Apple, including All-Big-12 honors in 2025. With over 1,900 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, Brown is yet another pair of experienced hands for LSU to target this season.

Aliou Bah

Offensive line, University of Maryland

Bah brings some serious experience down to LSU. With 24 career starts and over 1,500 snaps under his belt, he will be a player that the all-new LSU offensive line will lean on.

William Satterwhite

Offensive line, University of Tennessee

Satterwhite appeared in 11 games in two years with the Vols, all at the center position. While not the most experienced, he has played 182 snaps without allowing a sack in his college career.

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WITH LANE KIFFIN comes offense.

If there’s one thing that feels like a guarantee with the hire of Kiffin, it’s LSU lighting up the scoreboard this fall. Kiffin’s offenses have ranked in the top 50 in the nation every year he’s been a college head coach or offensive coordinator—minus 2013 when USC finished at No. 51—including seven top-20 finishes in the past 12 years.

The first-year Tiger coach has aptly earned a moniker as the “quarterback whisperer” in his coaching career, and he’ll have a trio of new talents to train this season.

Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt headlines the group, coming to LSU as the top-ranked player in this year’s transfer portal. He was the Sun Devils’ starting quarterback for two seasons, racking up 4,652 yards and 36 touchdowns—as well as 816 yards and 10 more scores on the ground—while leading Arizona State to the Big 12 championship and a firstround appearance in the College Football Playoffs.

Leavitt’s season was cut short last October due to a Lisfranc injury that ultimately required surgery, and he’s been rehabbing his foot for the majority of the offseason. While Leavitt, the projected starter, has been limited this spring, fellow transfers Husan Longstreet and Landen Clark have been getting their share of first-team reps.

Longstreet is a former 5-star prospect from Corona, California, who transferred to the Tigers as a top-100 portal player after one year at USC. He saw limited action as a true freshman, completing 13 of his 15 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown as well as 76 rushing yards with 2 more scores.

Clark, on the other hand, comes to Baton Rouge with a full season of starting experience at the FCS level, throwing for 2,231 yards and 18 touchdowns at Elon to earn Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in the Colonial Athletic Conference.

Regardless of which signal-caller wins the starting job, there will be a slew of new weapons to work with around him, along with a pair of familiar faces for Tiger fans.

LSU’s offensive unit was built to score

BY MARK CLEMENTS

Transfer quarterback Landen Clark saw plenty of reps in spring practices.

HARLEM BERRY AND CADEN DURHAM, RB

Husan Longstreet is one of three new quarterbacks who are vying for playing time in 2026.

While the vast majority of the LSU offense will take some getting to know, the Tiger backfield is one of the few areas that maintained some level of consistency. Durham and Berry were LSU’s top two rushers last season, finishing the season with almost identical stat lines: Durham had 111 carries for 505 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Berry ran 104 times for 491 yards and 2 scores. The Tigers prioritized bringing both players back this fall after some transfer portal temptations, and they’ll be pivotal pieces of a Kiffin offense that produced the SEC’s leading rusher a year ago.

JAYCE BROWN, WR

It’s hard to know which one of the dozen new receivers will emerge from the pack, but Brown is certainly a strong contender. He spent the past three seasons at Kansas State, racking up 115 catches for 1,972 yards and 13 touchdowns to finish No. 8 in program history. He was rated as a 4-star transfer and the No. 20 receiver in the portal after earning third-team All-Big 12 honors last year.

JACKSON HARRIS, WR

Harris is a big-play threat that joins LSU after a strong 2025 season at Hawai’i. He led the Mountain West in both receiving touchdowns (12) and yards per catch (19.65), while finishing No. 2 with 963 receiving yards and 87.5 yards per game to earn first-team All-Mountain West honors.

armed& dangerous

New quarterback Sam Leavitt talks transferring, Heisman hopes and practicing against the formidable Tigers defense

BY MARK CLEMENTS

Incoming quarterback Sam Leavitt has partnered with performance menswear brand Mizzen+Main, which outfitted him in this LSU-branded gear.

EVERY ATHLETE HAS their own personalized pregame playlist.

Hip hop is commonly blasted through stadiums and locker rooms to get players and fans energized. Heavy metal or hard rock music might get some guys ready to go to battle.

But for LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, he prefers a more mellow route.

“I always have to listen to reggae music,” Leavitt tells 225. “My whole family always listened to reggae growing up, so it’s something that puts me in a feel-good mood. I try not to get too amped up before the game, and it’s really calming.”

You’ve been going through a lot of rehab throughout the spring and summer. How has that gone and how tough was it not being able to be out there?

Coming off the injury and not being able to go with the team full go is really cruel. [My teammates] aren’t able to see me put in the work and be a grinder out there for them. That’s something that was eating at me the most of spring ball was not being out there for them. One thing about me is I’m a competitor, and it was difficult for me to not be out there competing with my guys. Other than that, summer has been going incredible. It’s been a huge jump in the system for me and physically, just constantly getting better.

You could have gone to a number of elite schools. Why LSU?

It was about finding the best possible situation for me to go have an incredible year and have a chance to go win a national championship, a Heisman and then put myself in the best position to go be the first pick in the draft next year. Other than winning a national championship, that is my No. 1 goal. Obviously, those are high expectations, but I’ve always had since I was a little kid that belief in myself. So I was looking at all these different schools, and if you just look at this offense, it’s so incredible what they’ve done. I want to be in a situation that plays a lot to my strengths. [The offense] reminds me a lot of my senior year. I transferred to a new school and it was a more RPO (run-pass option) driven offense—spread it out. Those

He’s got all his favorites on there—Bob Marley, J-Boog, Common Kings—but he only pops the playlist on after his pregame meditation.

Leavitt, who transferred in from Arizona State, will be hoping Tigers fans don’t worry about a thing with him under center this year. He has a 16-4 record as a starter and led his team to the College Football Playoffs in 2024.

He’s spent much of the offseason recovering from a Lisfranc foot injury, but he has been at or near full speed throughout the summer. Leavitt spoke with 225 this summer to chat about how his foot rehab is going, why he chose LSU, and even a little reggae music.

things are kind of lining up, and it’s going to be really fun to watch it unfold.

You transferred in to Arizona State, won the starting job and led your team to the College Football Playoffs. What did you learn in your time there that will help you at LSU?

My time at ASU was incredible. I learned a lot as a human, as a football player, as a leader. Some things that I took away that were really positive were just my grind factor and how much I cared about every individual. My care factor for winning I think just rubbed off on everyone and they saw it. I do think that being in [the College Football Playoffs], I’m now going into the season [knowing] that especially in the first half of a game, I’ll be way calmer. I understand how the flow of the game goes, especially in those big-time moments where anything can really happen and you just always go to play the next play. You’re never focused on the next drive or something someone said. It’s just super focused on that singular play at hand.

What’s it been like working with all these new receivers? How have you managed to build a rapport with them?

We’ve got some young guys that have got some juice, and some older transfer guys that we brought in that understand the game really well. So me being able to express to them how I view certain concepts and things like that, I think, is the biggest thing that’s been able to grow throughout this summer. You can

always run these routes how they’re drawn on paper and run them super hard and there’s going to be a million people who can do that. But how well do you understand the concept, the timing of the route, and the space that you need to be in? Certain times you’re sitting in windows where you don’t need to sprint for the tempo of routes. Me just constantly putting the ball in those situations and then expressing to them, ‘Hey, this is where you need to be on this timing,’ or ‘Oh, that was too fast there.’ I think we’ve done a great job in the spring and summer since I’ve been able to start throwing a lot more with them. We’ve skyrocketed in a month.

Your offense is being paired with what looks to be a strong defense, and many have you ranked in the preseason top 10 already. What are the team’s expectations this year?

Our defense is incredible. Being able to go against them every single day is going to be one of the greatest blessings I’m going to have. To be able to see their pre-snap holds and how they’re disguising stuff—Coach Baker does a great job with them. On top of that, just having incredible players at every single position, our defense is beyond loaded. And on offense, we’ve got a bunch of dudes as well. I’m just blessed to be able to go against them every single day and learn and grow. I never really try to put expectations on the year. The only expectation I put on us is to get better every single day. Everybody says get 1% better. How are we going to get 2% better?

stand Making a

Digging into a defense designed around returning stars

By Mark Clements

ONE OF THE biggest conundrums Lane

Kiffin faced upon his arrival at LSU was sorting out what to do with his defensive staff and, specifically, his defensive coordinator.

Blake Baker was well respected both locally and nationally, and the vast majority of Tiger fans were hoping he would stick around for a third season in purple and gold.

But keeping Baker in Baton Rouge would prove to be no easy task. The defensive guru drew head coaching interest from a number of schools including Memphis and Tulane.

It was widely reported that Baker, a Green Wave alum himself, was “closing in” on becoming Tulane’s next head coach and that “all signs point(ed) toward” LSU

losing their defensive coordinator to their in-state rival.

But ultimately, Kiffin was able to muster up a bit more magic and convince Baker to stay another season to the tune of a new three-year, $9.3-million contract that makes him the second-highest-paid coordinator in college football.

It was a big win for LSU, who finished 2025 ranked in the top 25 in scoring defense for the first time since 2017 and the top 30 in total defense since 2019. And contrary to the offense, which saw nearly a complete turnover at almost every position, Baker brings back a healthy mix of returning talents and impactful transfers this fall.

He’s joined by Kiffin’s brother Chris, a longtime defensive coach at both the college and NFL levels, who will act as

co-defensive coordinator this season. Positionally, the duo will be responsible for coaching the linebackers, which will be anchored by a pair of dominant SEC veterans.

Whit Weeks has become a household name for Tiger fans after three strong years in Baton Rouge, highlighted by a standout sophomore season where he finished No. 2 in the SEC and No. 9 nationally with 125 total tackles. He was limited to just 8 games last year after suffering a seasonending injury to his lower leg against South Carolina, so he’ll be itching to get back to his energetic self this fall.

He’ll pair up with another tackling machine in TJ Dottery, a fifthyear senior who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU this summer after a strong 2025 campaign

where he led the entire SEC with 98 tackles.

The former 4-star Clemson signee wore the green dot for the Rebels—a small sticker on the back of a helmet that indicates which player has communication with the coaches in order to relay the play to the rest of the defense. It’s a big responsibility, typically only entrusted to the most reliable players, and many predict Dottery will take the same role at LSU.

There’s plenty more talent surrounding this dynamic duo at all levels, some new and some returning. If Baker and Co. can continue building off its strong 2025 season and couple it with a rebuilt Kiffin offense, the Tigers could be building something special.

Linebacker Whit Weeks (#40) and defensive coordinator Blake Baker (in gold) return to defend Death Valley turf this season.

NAMES TO WATCH:

TY BENEFIELD, S

Remember the name. Benefield is shaping up to be the next big one to come out of “DBU” after transferring in from Boise State. The experienced safety has started 33 games in his career and was named first-team All-Mountain West in 2025. He should slot in as a starter in the secondary from Day 1.

DJ PICKETT, CB

ED ORGERON

, Special Assistant to Recruiting and Defense

You know it’s been a hectic offseason when LSU’s national-title-winning head coach returning to the coaching staff five years later isn’t the biggest storyline of the summer. Orgeron is indeed back in a new role under Kiffin, where he’ll primarily focus on his specialty of landing some of the nation’s top recruits. Regardless, it’s always entertaining with Coach O is back in the picture.

PRINCEWILL UMANMIELEN, DE

Umanmielen was the third 5-star Kiffin pulled from the portal (after QB Sam Leavitt and OL Jordan Seaton) and was rated as the No. 6 prospect in the entire portal. He’s a 6-foot-4, 244-pound defensive end who finished last season No. 3 in the SEC with 9 sacks and No. 8 with 13 tackles for loss, earning him third-team All-SEC honors.

Pickett made a name for himself in Baton Rouge after an impactful freshman season where he played in all 13 games with 3 starts. He recorded 37 tackles, 3 for loss, and a sack in 2025, leading the team with 3 interceptions as well. The 6-foot-4 corner will anchor one of the cornerback spots for the Tigers this year.

LAMAR BROWN, DE

Brown might be more of a name for the future, but he’s worth getting to know this season. He was rated the No. 1 high school prospect in the country last year after exerting his dominance on both the offensive and defensive lines at University Lab School. His raw potential and elite athleticism should help him see the field a good amount this season, and he’s one to watch down the line.

GEAUX GOLD.

To the fighting Tigers and loyal LSU fans, here’s to a year of big gains. And great returns.

Now entering the

green zone

All systems are go for this offensive star and hometown hero

SCROLL THROUGH

Trey’Dez Green’s TikTok account, and you’ll find one recurring theme.

Like most college athletes, Green has an occasional highlight reel or LSU hype video scattered throughout his feed.

But nearly half of his posts are just simply videos of Green dancing—in the locker room, around campus, in his apartment, with his teammates. No matter who he’s with or where he’s breaking it down, he’s always got a smile on his face.

It’s just a small peek into the

personality of LSU’s star tight end, but it helps paint a larger picture of what makes Green so special.

He’s a menacing, 6-foot-7 matchup nightmare with basketball hops and a wide receiver’s hands that keep defensive coordinators awake at night. But he’s also the goofy kid from Jackson, Louisiana, with a contagious laugh, a strong work ethic and a passionate dedication to his family.

Simply put, Green is a big dude with a big heart and a big character, who makes a big impact on and off the football field.

“[Everyone] has a fun side to

BY MARK CLEMENTS

you, and I’m just enjoying the moment,” Green tells 225. “I love football with everything in me, and my love of football has grown. Football has taught me so many life skills and taught me how to be the man that I am today. Just by going through the hard workouts and having to be at a certain place at a certain time—it teaches you so much structure in your life. [I’m always] so happy because I wake up with a purpose every day.”

Family first

That purpose Green mentions is far more than just a stat line, an

accolade or a trophy.

Green is the proud father of Rian Cherise Green, his 16-month-old daughter who immediately managed to bring out a soft side to her formidable father.

“She was born March 21, 10:41 p.m.,” Green says. You can hear his smile as he wanders back to that day. “It softened me up for sure. I held her, and I’ll just never forget that moment. That was the most important moment of my life, man. It changed my life, and it gives me another purpose to go out and do what I do. She’s the greatest blessing that God has blessed me with.

Besides having hands made for receiving, LSU football tight end Trey’Dez Green has speed. Put it all together and the Tigers have a standout this season.

I know that she’s watching me and watching every move I make, so I just want to set a good example for her.”

As Green continues to share stories of his daughter saying “Daddy” for the first time or fittingly learning the “Six Seven” dance that kids do nowadays, it’s clear that he himself had some prominent parental figures in his life growing up.

And you don’t have to look far to find the most impactful one.

Green’s mom, Casondra, is just across the apartment, playing with her granddaughter.

anything. The things that she gets away with, I would not have been able to get away with. But that’s what grandmas are for.”

Casondra now lives with her son, in part to help take care of Rian while Green juggles the endless schedule of a high-level Division I student-athlete trying to balance practice, workouts and meetings on top of classes, NIL deals and now fatherhood.

But that’s how it’s always been with Casondra—she’s going to show up for her people, regardless of whatever is standing in the way.

her other maternal duties.

But somehow between work, her treatments and everything else moms do, Casondra still found a way to make it to all but four games in Green’s entire athletic career.

Casondra has now been cancer-free for several years, but the strength, dedication and effort she showed during that time has seemingly been passed on to her son.

Green’s on-field production, coupled with his off-field personality, has boosted his estimated NIL value to over $1 million, according to On3—a figure that has allowed him to return the favor back to his mother.

“She calls my mom ‘Gigi,’” Green says, still audibly smiling. “My mom loves her. I know my mom probably shows a little favoritism towards her because I’m my mom’s baby, and that’s my daughter. So I know she’s the favorite. She lets her get away with

Casondra worked two jobs throughout Green’s childhood to support and provide for her family. She was also diagnosed with breast cancer on Green’s sixth birthday.

Performance Nutrition Center Executive Chef Michael Johnson is known to the students as “The Tiger Chef.”

The news hit the family hard, particularly for Casondra’s young son, who had to watch his mom fight chemotherapy on top of all

“It felt like there was never a time that I would look over and not see my mom in the stands,” Green tells 225. “She was sick and had to be at work the next day, but she drove all the way to Orlando, Florida, for one day to watch me play one basketball game. She spent a little time with me and drove back and was at work that next morning. That’s what got me and my mom so close—seeing her going through all the stuff that she went through and all the sacrifices she has made. I get emotional thinking about all the stuff that she did for me. She’s a real survivor. She’s my superwoman.”

“Now, I get a chance to make her smile,” Green says. “I get a chance to do what I always told her that I was going to do—I get a chance to take care of her and make it so she never has to work again in her life. And that puts a smile on my face.”

Coming out of retirement

There’s that smile again—one of Green’s signature motifs.

Whether he’s helping out his family, filming a fun video for

Large and in charge, Green’s towering stature and wide wingspan makes him a force to be reckoned on LSU’s offense.

social media or celebrating a touchdown with his teammates, it seems to be a calling card he’s carried with him from childhood and into his football career.

But he almost didn’t have a football career whatsoever.

Given his height, Green was originally a basketball star, but he joined his first football team in Clinton when he was in second grade. At one of the first practices, the coach made Green go up against former LSU and current TCU safety Kylin Green in a 1-on-1 drill.

It didn’t go well.

“We went head to head and he hit me so hard,” Green laughs. “I said, ‘I’m not playing football anymore.’ I completely stopped playing football. I didn’t touch it. He retired me.”

The rest is history.

“I didn’t know what I could do in football, and I felt like I was so much better in basketball,” says Green, who originally joined both LSU’s football and basketball teams. “I got to college and after the bowl game happened, I thought, ‘Man, I’m kind of good at this. I really could do this.’”

The game Green is referring to was the 2024 Kinder’s Texas Bowl, during which he recorded 6 catches for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns—the most productive outing of his freshman season.

That was just a glimpse into what Green would bring to the table the following year, when he racked up 33 catches for 433 yards, both third best on the team, along with a team-high 7 touchdown catches.

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Green stayed “retired” from football all the way up until his sophomore year of high school when his friends eventually convinced him— against his mom’s wishes—to sneak out and give it another try.

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“I feel like I’m a unicorn,” says Green, who eventually quit basketball to fully focus on football. “I don’t think there are a lot of people that are 6-foot-7 that can move how I move, so I feel like I made ALEX

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We don’t just build stronger bodies— we build stronger lives.

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After last season’s defeat of South Carolina, Green was named the John Mackey Award National Tight End of the Week. In this matchup, Green contributed 8 catches for 119 receiving yards and a touchdown.

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the right choice. This offseason, I really had the chance to attack the run game and work on my blocking technique, so I feel like I’m a complete tight end. And this might sound crazy coming from me being a basketball player who got retired by getting hit, but I like the contact part of it. I love to hit.”

It’s a fitting full-circle realization for Green, who has quickly worked his way into being one of the top tight ends in the country and is currently viewed as a first-round pick in many early NFL Draft projections.

He’s become such a threat to opposing defenses that even the announcers would refer to the red zone—the area of the football field between the 20-yard line and the endzone—as the Green zone during broadcasts.

“First and foremost, [Green] is an incredible human,” LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt tells 225. “You see that with the way he treats every single person in the facility the exact same. He always

INITIATIVE

has a smile on his face and just has incredible juice and is a super hard worker. On top of that, he’s beyond blessed with his physical ability. If you pair all those things together, it gives you the opportunity to have a really special career. He could have a gold [Hall of Fame] jacket by the end of his time playing. He’s an incredible person to be around.”

And Green isn’t done dancing either, although you likely won’t need to go to social media to find it. Just take a look at the back of the endzone after one of LSU’s touchdown drives.

Chances are, he’ll be busting a move with all of his teammates and, of course, with a big smile across his face.

“I want to be the same person every day,” Green says. “I want to come in and give 110% every day, and I want to smile every day and make everybody’s day better. You never know how someone is doing. A handshake or a smile could change somebody’s life.”

GLITTERS All that

A look into the dazzling costumes of LSU’s Golden Girls and Tiger Girls—and the sparkling alumni collaborations that bring them to life

BY RILEY BIENVENU BOURGEOIS

THE SHIMMER OF a completely bedazzled cargo pant. The way the color white contrasts with the grass of a football field. The subtle nods to Louisiana iconography. When it comes to the costumes that outfit LSU’s Golden Girls and Tiger Girls, intentionality is always at their rhinestoned cores. And it all starts with their creators.

In recent years, the two dance teams have increasingly turned to fellow Tigers for the development and creation of their iconic looks. There was the 2018 redesign of the Golden Girls’ uniforms by former Golden Girl and New Orleans fashion designer Suzanne Perron St. Paul. And in 2024, the Tiger Girls started their partnership with LSU alum Jaime Glas Odom, aka the Queen of Sparkles, with costumes for that year’s UDA National Championship-winning performance.

“Costumes are the first things people see,” Tiger Girls head coach Kandace Hale says. “They have to flow without being too distracting, and getting them right takes a lot of trial and error.”

LSU’s dance teams—and their memorable costumes—trace their origins back to the establishment of the Golden Girls’ predecessor, the Ballet Corps, in 1959. In 1965, the team pivoted to the name that is known and loved today, thanks to the moniker “the glittering girls of gold.” In the years since, the Golden Girls’ uniforms have seen many iterations. From sparkling gold skirts paired with heeled boots to sequined leg warmers and statement shoulder pads, styles have changed with the times.

The same can be said for the Tiger Girls, with the team entering its 29th season this year. However, while some trends might be well past their prime, this lengthy history serves as inspiration and an invaluable resource whenever new uniforms or costumes are created.

Good as Gold

“We hadn’t done a uniform redesign in many years, and we knew we were ready for something new,” Golden Girls head coach Blair Guillaume says of the 2018 redesign. “But we also knew we

Former Golden Girl Suzanne Perron St. Paul was tailor made to take on the task of conceiving the team’s new uniforms in 2018, which she brought to life over countless hours of sketching, pattern making and intricate hand crafting.

versus gold the first time she sat opposite the band at an LSU home game, St. Paul says she couldn’t deny that while gold was the more logical choice given the team’s name, white is more striking.

“I also knew we had to have a fleur-de-lis, but I wanted one that was just for them,” St. Paul says, noting that the imagery had become a Golden Girls staple over the previous decade. “Something that felt unique and different.”

wanted to keep with tradition.”

St. Paul was the first and only choice, according to Guillaume, when it came to the reimagining of the Golden Girls’ uniforms. “We didn’t even think of anyone else,” Guillaume says. St. Paul served as a member of the dance team in the late 1980s and early 1990s, prior to launching her fashion design career through work with renowned brands like Carolina Herrera, Anna Sui and Vera Wang.

Back in Louisiana and now under her own name, St. Paul was approached first by fellow Golden Girls alum Kim Dodd in 2018 for the project.

“I was really excited,” St. Paul says, and she was especially eager to make changes to features like painful sequin placement. “I knew I wanted a lot of gold, but I also knew the uniforms needed to stay white.”

Noticing the impact of white

Working from Guillaume’s request of updated stones and a timeless leotard look, St. Paul spent months perfecting the design with the help of her team and even her parents. Stretching fabrics and working out the best materials for 10-hour wears in extreme heat, the process was all about the little details, down to the hand placement of each rhinestone.

When the Golden Girls finally took the field for their first game of the 2018 season at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, St. Paul says she “about fell over” when she spotted her uniform design on the big screen while watching the game at home with friends and family.

“That first year, it was a lot of work by hand and a huge amount of time that went into each one,” St. Paul recalls, adding that now the team’s uniforms are produced by Baton Rouge-based Jen5 Designs. “It was so special to see them on the field for that first game, and it’s still fun to see little girls wearing their own versions now.”

Dancing Queen

While Queen of Sparkles Jaime Glas Odom is not a former member of the Tiger Girls, her love for LSU runs deep. Named as one of this year’s Distinguished Alumni, Odom is not just an LSU graduate but a dedicated member of the LSU community, working with various departments for the betterment of the university and its programs. This love for the school, paired with her status as a popular designer specializing in the type of sparkling creations that seem made for the floor of a dance competition, made Odom an obvious choice for a collaboration with the Tiger Girls.

Queen of Sparkles designer Jaime Glas Odom collaborates with the Tiger Girls to create competition costumes that outshine the other teams.

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“Jaime had just done something with athletics, maybe a blinged-out jacket for someone, and it made us think to reach out to her,” Hale says, noting that she had been working on the team’s Michael Jackson-themed “Smooth Criminal” costumes with little luck. “She was immediately in, and from the very beginning, we knew it was the perfect fit.”

With what Hale says is one of the

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Can we remove Top of the Teche and put the Sunset Herb & Garden Fest in?

Sept - Nov Events

fais-dodo, two-step, cook, paddle the bayou, and do just about a bit of everything. Find your favorite festival, celebration, outdoor event, or music concert.

Louisiana’s unofficial state bird, the mosquito, with a cook-off, arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction, a kid’s area, and live music by Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin’ Cajuns plus many more.

Celebrate Louisiana’s Creole heritage with a special focus on the French language along with a boucherie and cooking event as well as French demonstrations on preparing staple creole foods like cracklins and boudin.

October 9-11 |

|

November 6-7 | Festival of Words

the

workshops hosted by published authors, and “drive-by poetry.” Enjoy a reading and Q&A with authors, including Poet Laureate

November 12-15 | Cracklin Festival

September 5 | Original SW LA Zydeco Music

The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival is the perfect opportunity to dance to your favorite zydeco musicians.

Celebrate

Experience stories from the past from the ghosts who lived them as you tour this centuries-old cemetery in Opelousas.

Celebrate

written word with open mics, creative writing

Darrell Bourque.

October 3 | Creole Culture Day

The public is the judge as pastry chefs and home cooks vie to be the best in the sweet dough pie contest. Also browse arts and crafts vendors and dance to live music.

Shop for bargains on vintage, antique, and primitive items from over 200 vendors at the Old Schoolhouse Antique Fair in Washington.

Semi-Annual Antique Fair & Yard Sale

Sample fresh-made, deep-fried cracklins, dance to Cajun and Zydeco musicians, shop arts and crafts vendors, and ride carnival rides at this festival in Port Barre.

Oct. 10,11,17,18 | Cemetery Tours & Historical Reenactments

October 31

Sweet Dough Pie Festival

most diverse collegiate dance teams, finding a costume that fits every member perfectly is no small feat. Through a three to four-month process, Hale and Odom work together to perfect a vision. Starting with a Canva inspiration board created by Hale and her team, the costumes slowly come to life, with special attention paid to the needs of the dancers and to each movement in a given routine’s choreography.

“We do a lot of filming throughout the process,” Hale says. “We always dance in the costumes when we get them because it is really important how they move. You want to be able to see all of the moves and choreography—it has to be visual.”

It’s not always functionality that wins out, though. For example, the Kendrick Lamar-themed costumes from last year’s UDA competition featured multiple layers and 6½-lb. cargo pants. “Most of the stuff Jaime makes for us is actual stones, not sequins,” Hale says. “It gets heavy.”

But according to Hale, it’s worth

all the extra practice and her own loss of sleep as she pores over each tiny detail.

“Our choreographers say they always feel bad for the other teams because we are the best dressed,” Hale says with a laugh. “Jaime is such a fan of us, and we’re huge fans of her. It’s such an honor to be able to work with her.”

One for the Books

Long after a football season’s conclusion or the trophy ceremony of a competition, the creations of these local designers will stand as a testament to the commitment and love of the alumni who brought them to life. With each new season, costume and uniform, these alumni, coaches and teams are adding their own chapters to the rich history of LSU and establishing a legacy that will shape the way LSU’s dance teams continue into the future. They are creating the source material for the next generation of Tigers, and they are safeguarding the traditions that make LSU great.

Louisiana talent. Louisiana innovation. Louisiana impact.

Transforming cancer care for Louisiana and beyond

From groundbreaking cancer research to expanding access to clinical trials, LSU researchers and physicians are transforming cancer care across our state. Today, the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center is building toward a historic goal: Louisiana’s first National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center. This effort will bring more research funding, attract top scientific talent, expand innovative treatment options, and help ensure that Louisiana patients can access world-class cancer care without leaving home. Because Louisiana deserves nothing less.

Grab accessories from these Baton Rouge shops to complete your Tiger fan ensemble BY

CATHERINE CLEMENT // PHOTO BY COLLIN RICHIE

IN LOUISIANA, any tailgate, sporting event or post-game party is worth dressing up for.

For Tiger gamedays, you can’t go wrong with purple and gold, but we know for some fans, more is more. Want to show your Tiger pride this season? We scoured local shops to curate a collection of gameready accessories fit for any fan who wants to wear their stripes—or sporty ballcaps or flashy tassel earrings.

1. Football clear bag, $44.95, Fleurty Girl

2. Wallet in purple by Jardine, $24.98, Barnes & Noble LSU Mascot Factory Custom Ears headband, $14.98, Barnes & Noble LSU

Cindy's Creations medium bow, $8.98, Barnes & Noble LSU ‘47 NCAA Baserunner 2T Clean Up hat, $34.98, Barnes & Noble LSU

No Rivals Upside Down Tigers hat, $39.98, Barnes & Noble LSU

3. Taylor Shaye “Mike the Tiger” drop earrings, $32, Bella Bella Boutique

Sweet Caroline “Mini Bow” adjustable bracelet, $34, Bella Bella Boutique

Purple and gold hair clip, $24, Bella Bella Boutique

Purple tassel sequin earrings, $38, Bella Bella Boutique

4. LSU Tigers Society wrap-around shield frame sunglasses, $33, Bengals & Bandits

5. My Sweet Baton Rouge can cooler, $4, Sweet Baton Rouge

6. Victory Lap purple and gold “Sideline” scarf, $45, Wanderlust by Abby

L. Ellis Designs “Baton Rouge” button, $10, Wanderlust by Abby 5 4 6 1 2 3

L. Ellis Designs “Tiger’s Eye” button, $10, Wanderlust by Abby

L. Ellis Designs “Alumni” button, $10, Wanderlust by Abby

Aligned For The Long Game

Douglas Dupont reads the line before he ever takes the swing, the same way he listens before he ever talks business. Here at BSF, the best work happens through patience, persistence, and a team that stays with you through every season; lining up the right move, then helping you follow through.

That’s not a transaction, that’s a relationship and it’s how we’ve built trust for nearly 50 years.

Taking the shot is EVP/Market President Douglas Dupont with AVP/Loan O cer Mac Field, Sr. Loan Portfolio Analyst Steven Sanchez and Commercial Loan O cer Jake Vascocu.

Death Valley DIVAS

“It really blows me away how much joy just putting on a costume and a cape brings to people.”

–Cassondra Glausier

A SHARED LOVE of costumes, sparkles and LSU athletics solidified the friendship of Aimee Adair Eikel and Cassondra Glausier, and the two fans have been turning heads at sporting events with their festive gameday attire ever since.

Both lifelong fans of LSU sports, Eikel and Glausier had been attending games and tailgates dressed in their best purple and gold garb for years when their flashy style and homemade accessories caught the attention of the LSU Athletic Department and they were chosen to be part of the Cox Ultimate Fan Experience promotion in 2024.

For one home football game, the two joined the Tiger Marching Band in leading the team down Victory Hill and watched the Tigers play from the sideline. Naturally, the pair decided to show out for this special gameday. Glausier made golden capes and purchased sequined band hats to top their outfits, and she says the experience was one she won’t forget.

“We were trying to be silly, but we just both had so much fun because we were doing what we love,” Glausier says. “We’re bringing joy to people; we’re costuming, and for a minute it’s like it’s just the power of play. We’re having fun and not worrying about daily life for a couple of hours.”

This opportunity gained the pair more attention. Glausier says fans often approached them at sporting events, recognizing them from social media. Even fans of opposing teams came up to say hello, compli-

ment their outfits or take a photo.

The women didn’t want to let this attention go to waste. As the self-coined “unofficial sports ambassadors of LSU,” they decided to match the hype they were receiving and make their group Facebook official. Death Valley Divas was a perfect fit for a name, Glausier says.

“[Diva] is an empowering term. It’s showing that we love our sports, but we’re also strong women who want to support our teams across the board,” she says.

And the Divas are still going and growing. Over the past three years, they have attended two College World Series, seen the football Tigers beat Clemson at Memorial Stadium in South Carolina, and traveled to Las Vegas for the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic.

They have also added eye-catching accessories to their costumes. Glausier says she loves sourcing unique pieces from local businesses and expressing her creativity through DIY projects like a headpiece reminiscent of Tiger Stadium itself. Her collection of pins, boots, hats, sunglasses and other details grows each year, as the Divas wear a different outfit for each game they attend.

While collecting fabulous clothing is fun in itself, the true joy for these Divas comes from interacting with fans and reaching out to the community. This year, the pair is launching a “Diva for a Day” initiative, in which a different “Aspiring Diva” will join them for a pre-game celebration at every home game this fall.

“We just want to inspire other young ladies or women to get involved with sports,” Glausier says. “Whatever team you root for, be there and support them through thick and thin.”

—CATHERINE CLEMENT

Aimee Adair

Eikel (left) and Cassondra Glausier

COLLIN RICHIE

THE LOUISIANA WAY TO BANK®

Serving Baton Rouge since 1934

GAME DAYS IN DEATH VALLEY. CRAWFISH BOILS THAT LAST ALL AFTERNOON. THIS IS LOUISIANA. Scan