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Jan Risher
On the freedom of being unnoticed When I told a friend that I have come to believe I could be a great spy, she said, “You’d have to change your glasses.” Maybe so. But I still believe that at this point in life I could be a good spy — maybe not great. But good. Here’s why: When I’m out and about on my own, no one is paying much attention to me. I know this because I have proof. This spring, I walked into a tiny bar in Clarksdale, Mississippi. I knew The Black Keys were performing and that the show was sold out, but I thought I was just walking into the bar. When I opened the door, the sound did one of those Doppler effects, almost like I was walking into another dimension. The ticket person and I nodded at each other. I took three steps and there they were: The Black Keys, playing their hearts out on a stage the size of my dining room table. What’s a girl to do? I knew I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be, but I leaned against the wall and started watching. The Black Keys. In Red’s Blues Club. In Clarksdale. I was overwhelmed with the Delta-ness of it all. The moment had the air of magic, and I couldn’t force myself to walk out. Two minutes later, a friend of mine walked in through the same door as I had. She walked over and stood beside me. Worth noting that she is a stunning brunette. She looked like she had just stepped out of a magazine. I looked more like I had just stepped out of my car — after a long trip. The ticket person noticed. Then, apparently, she noticed me, too. We were asked to leave. Let me acknowledge that leaving was the right thing to do from the get-go, and my mother would likely say I should be ashamed of myself for not leaving the moment I realized I was somewhere I didn’t have the privilege of being. But I was transfixed and knew that the moment was so full it couldn’t last long. I was right. But being outside wasn’t bad either. My friends were there, and the mood was right. That night — and so many other moments over the years — made me reconsider something I had believed for a long time: that people were paying attention to me. Turns out, I was wrong.
STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON
The Painted Posse, whose painted jerseys spell out ‘Beat The Aggies!’ sings to ‘Callin’ Baton Rouge’ as LSU warms up for the game against Texas A&M on Sept. 26 in Tiger Stadium.
The Bigger picture
A Tiger Stadium tradition, the Painted Posse combines faith and fandom on LSU game day
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BY ROBIN MILLER Staff writer
onathan Skipper holds out his arms on either side. “Gentlemen, start your engines!” he yells to the 13man posse backing him in the arched entrance of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at LSU. That’s the posse’s signal to start its walk to Dalrymple Drive for the procession to Tiger Stadium, where, on this Saturday night, Sept. 26, the Tigers will take on Texas A&M. Make that the Painted Posse, the group’s official name. Their presence has become an LSU game day tradition in person and on television. The group sits in a row fronting the student section with purple and gold “jerseys” painted on their shirtless chests, backs and arms. Hence the “Painted” part of their name. Instead of numbers, their “jerseys” bear letters on the front and back, which, when standing or sitting in order, spell out messages, which aren’t revealed until the posse reaches Victory Hill. “When we get there, we’ll line up in order and walk down the hill,” Skipper said. “The message on the front is always something about the game.”
STAFF PHOTO BY ROBIN MILLER
Mallory Richard, a junior from New Iberia majoring in international finance, paints a gold jersey on a Painted Posse member at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at LSU on Sept. 26.
But the back message is always mission of the Baptist Collegiate an expression of Christian faith, as Ministry. It has no official memberthe Painted Posse is more than just a ship, no registration as a university bunch of LSU students united in Ti- organization. The mission simply has grown ger fandom. They’re Christians, and organically at the ministry, plantthis is how they share their faith. ing the seed in football season and A grassroots mission gradually blossoming into other It’s been that way since 2003, ä See POSSE, page 2G when the posse became a grassroots
ä See SPY, page 2G
GRAB YOU A CUP OF AMBITION
Before death, Dolly Parton partnered with Community Coffee Dolly Parton and her Cup of Ambition Community Coffee brings together Parton’s love of coffee and her unmistakable spirit in a coffee line she helped create. PROVIDED PHOTO
Staff report Dolly Parton’s Cup of Ambition, the late icon’s new coffee line and a dream of hers more than 40 years in the making, is now officially available for purchase nationwide. Developed in partnership with family-owned Community Coffee in Louisiana, the collection brings together Parton’s love of coffee and her
unmistakable spirit in a coffee line she helped create. “I thought the Cup of Ambition would be a fantastic name for a coffee brand, and I’ve been working towards this for over 40 years,” Parton said in a news release back in June when she was visiting Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop. “This is just one of those dreams that’s taken a little longer than I thought it might, but we’ve got it and it’s
working. I can’t wait for you to try it. But I couldn’t be more happy with it. Community Coffee has been a fantastic partner for me and I like the way they think.” Following its debut at Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop in June, the coffee line is now available for nationwide shipping on cupofambition.com,
ä See DOLLY, page 2G
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POSSE
Continued from page 1G sports, including gymnastics, soccer, baseball, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball. Still, its members need someone to keep them organized, so every year a president and vice president are appointed. This year, the president is Baton Rouge senior and biology major Jake Mathis, and the vice president is Skipper, who rallies the troops in the archway. He’s a senior biology major from Fort Worth, Texas. Some posse members’ individual accessories have become their trademarks, including a captain’s hat for one, a cheesehead wedge hat for another, along with cowboy hats and oversized sunglasses. “Everyone chooses their own pants and shorts and hats,” Mathis said. But the common thread tying them together is their painted jerseys, which usually are standard white with purple and gold trim with the exception of special games when fans are specifically asked to wear purple or gold garb. The Texas A&M game is the season’s gold game, so female members of the ministry start the session by stirring yellow acrylic paint on a fold-out table while posse members gather on a large tarp inside the entrance of the cavernous Frank Horton Chapel. The ESPN College Gameday broadcast from Knoxville, Tennessee, silently airs on the flat screen televisions at the front of the chapel, while a soundtrack of music mostly dating from the 1960s to the 1990s plays in the background. And, yes, these Gen Z-ers know all the words.
The game day ritual The posse’s Saturday ritual begins around 10:30 a.m. with Mathis calling the group, including the painters, into a room behind the chapel for an opening prayer. The young men return to the chapel, remove their shirts and take their places on the tarp.
Leah Choi, right, a Leesville freshman majoring in kinesiology, paints the second coat of yellow on a member of the Painted Posse.
STAFF PHOTOS BY ROBIN MILLER
Painted Posse vice president Jonathan Skipper, center, revs up the posse in the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at LSU’s arched entryway before leading the group to Tiger Stadium, where LSU played Texas A&M on Sept. 26. “We’ll have to paint three coats of the yellow paint on them today,” said Leah Choi, a freshman from Leesville majoring in Kinesiology. “The gold is thin, and we need to make it thick so it will show up.” Meanwhile, Hannah Franks, Mallory Richard and Makaili carefully mix red and blue to create the right shade of LSU purple. Franks is a sophomore biology major from Brusly, Richard is a New Iberia junior majoring in international finance, and Wise is a freshman in pre-nursing from Bulchar, Texas. The women have the option of attending the game and sitting in the row behind the Painted Posse. Most times, when television cameras zoom in the posse — and they often do — the ladies also get TV time. But for now, painting takes priority, and slathering 14 guys in three coats of yellow paint takes time, because one coast must completely dry before the next is applied. But the waiting time is never boring. Everyone talks, sings, and when Texas A&M fan Gilbert Mwihaki peeks in the chapel’s open door, members rush over to shake his hand. “I used to go the BCM when I was a student at Texas A&M, and I thought I’d come check out the BCM here,” Mwihaki said. “I didn’t know the LSU guys that painted up are connected to LSU’s BCM, and I think it’s pretty awesome.” And like Mwihaki, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry connection isn’t always known to LSU fans, who often stop Painted Posse
Hannah Franks, a sophomore biology major from Brusly, paints a cross on a Painted Posse member’s painted jersey. The cross, always painted on the left side near the heart, is a standard part of the posse’s uniform and ministry. members for selfies. “The tradition started with a couple of guys in 1983, but it didn’t become organized until 2003,” Mathis said. “And it started out as just a group of guys here from the Baptist Collegiate Ministry going out there trying to express their love for Jesus while also showing their fandom for LSU football. Now we’re considered a subsidiary of the BCM.”
devoted organizations to get involved in when I came here. I’m Presbyterian, and I’m involved in the Salt ministry at The Chapel. I learned about the Painted Posse and that it was Christ-based, so I decided to join as a painter.” Game day usually is limited to 14 members, because, as Skipper explains, that’s how many the row in Tiger Stadium can accommodate. Senior posse members usually vote on the week’s messages early in the ‘Friends for life’ week, then send out a sign-up The Painted Posse recruits sheet for those who want to atnew members from a booth at tend the game. LSU’s Free Speech Alley at the Attendance usually rotates beginning of the semester. Be- among the posse members with ing Baptist isn’t a requirement. senior members getting first dibs. “We don’t try to get to the sta- Email Robin Miller at “I’m a Christian,” Choi said. “And I was looking for Christ- dium before the rest of the stu- romiller@theadvocate.com.
DOLLY
SPY
communitycoffee.com, TikTok Shop and other major retailers online, including amazon.com and walmart.com. Available in light, medium and dark roast varieties, the collection offers a cup for every Parton fan and coffee lover. It’s available for preorder in K-Cup pods and available now in ground coffee. The collaboration between Parton and Community Coffee began with a shared appreciation for quality coffee, family and community. Cup of Ambition reflects that connection, bringing together Parton’s vision for her first coffee line with Community Coffee’s expertise in crafting coffee since 1919. “Dolly had a warmth that made you feel like you’d known her forever,” said Donna Saurage, thirdgeneration owner of Community Coffee, in a news release. “We connected over our love of family, serving our communities and bringing people together, and it was a true joy to help make her dream of a Cup of Ambition coffee become a reality.” Parton brought her Cup of Ambition coffee to life on camera in July 2026, filming three commercials for the brand and shared in her own words on what the coffee line meant to her. The animation was illustrated by Katie Reed of She Got Good and Monica Woodward of Happy Web Co., animated by Joel Rob-
Or at least, they weren’t paying nearly as much attention as I had imagined. That realization has been surprisingly liberating. Most of us spend a lot of time believing that people are noticing — that we are being watched. We worry about our hair, our shoes, our clothes, the way we just tripped a little bit on the edge of that carpet, the stupid thing we said yesterday and how many people noticed that we said it. Meanwhile, everyone else is busy worrying about their own hair, their own shoes, their own walk and the ridiculous thing they said or the carpet edge that almost had them spilling down the hall. The truth is, most people are not watching us. They are living their own lives. Once I understood that, I stopped worrying so much about whether anyone was watching. I can sit in a sports bar by myself and watch the game, and no one wonders why. I can ask the obvious question. I can laugh too loudly at my own joke in the grocery store. I can walk into a room without first wondering how I look walking into the room. The world keeps moving right along. And that realization has turned out to be a pretty serious kind of freedom. Which brings me back to spying.
Continued from page 1G
dents,” Skipper said. “We’re not about that. We just get in line, and we’re part of them.” Once in line, posse members have a chance to talk to their fellow students. “We have conversations with them, and we ask if they need prayer or want us to pray with them,” Mathis said. “Even in the middle of the excitement, no one has ever turned us down.” Back in the chapel, the dried coats of yellow are trimmed in purple and white, and a purple cross is painted near the heart on the left side of each “jersey.” Then come the purple letters on front and back. “The pastor at my church was doing this in 2012,” said Carter Grace, of North Carolina, who stopped in to watch. “I painted up for three years, but I’m retired now. I’m in grad school majoring in finance. But I know freshmen whose parents did this.” Once the paint has dried and the letters are outlined in white to make them pop on television, the posse lines up for an official game day photograph in the ministry’s courtyard. This is the pre-reveal before the official reveal on Victory Hill. On the front: “Beat The Aggies!” On the back: “Praise Be To God!” “I have to say that I’ve made friends here that will be friends for life,” said Norman Brown, a Baton Rouge senior majoring in film engineering. “I’ve been doing this since I was a freshman, and I love spreading the Gospel.”
Continued from page 1G
PROVIDED PHOTO
Dolly Parton and Donna Saurage visited to chat about Parton’s Cup of Ambition collaboration with Community Coffee.
ertson of Fourthcrown, directed by TK McKamy, produced by Olly Rowland of NOZ Entertainment, colored by Rodney Williams of Big Finish and video edited by Adam Davis of CTK Enterprises. Every cup of Cup of Ambition coffee helps support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and its mission to inspire a love of reading in children from birth to age 5. Community Coffee will serve as the anchor funding partner for Lafayette Parish, expanding its commitment to early childhood literacy in Louisiana. Consumers can also join in supporting the mission by making an optional donation to Imagination Library at checkout on cupofambition.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY JAN RISHER
Red’s Blues Club is a legendary juke joint in Clarksdale, Miss. A spy’s job has two parts: Go unnoticed. Notice everything. Some spies also need a third part, which involves kung fu or special knife skills. The third part could be my downfall in the world of espionage. I’ve been practicing the second part for most of my life — long before I got into journalism, which involves a lot of sitting in the back of rooms, writing down what people say and watching what they do with their hands when they don’t know what to say next. The first part, apparently, took care of itself and may be one of the strange gifts of getting older.
So, I go about my business of noticing things. I notice the couple in the next booth — arguing while speaking through their teeth. I notice the woman who has been reading the same page for 20 minutes. I notice who lights up when somebody walks into a room and who winces just a bit when they move their left elbow. And every now and then, the world gives me something extraordinary to notice. Like The Black Keys playing in a tiny juke joint in Clarksdale. Same glasses. Email Jan Risher at jan.risher@ theadvocate.com.
The Advocate ■ theadvocate.com ■ Wednesday, October 14, 2026 ■ 3G
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Preston
Tour bus operator
“The future’s happening here in Richland Parish.” Kaycie
Coffee shop owner
Lindsay
Food truck owner
$1.6 billion for Louisiana businesses. Catering for 40 people used to be a good week. Now they hit 400. And that’s just the tacos. From coffee shops to bus tours, Meta’s Richland Parish investment is already paying off for businesses across Louisiana.
The future is for everyone. meta.com/BuildingLouisiana
4G ■ Wednesday, October 14, 2026 ■ theadvocate.com ■ The Advocate
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The Tigers celebrate after defeating Coastal Carolina 5-3 in game two of the College Worl d Series finals in Omaha, Nebraska, on Sunday. The roar is restored. When Jay Johnson took over aas the LSU baseball coach in 2022, the six-time national champion Tigers were in the midst of a 13--year title drought. The Tigers returned to the top of college baseball during the 2023 season. LSU survived s a dicey regional that went to a winner-take-all final at Alex Box Stadium against upstart LLittle Rock. Then LSU dominated, sweeping the super regional and College World Series in seveen games. After Sunday and Johnson’s second national title, he has LSU threatening to reboot a dynnasty that blossomed under legendary coach Skip Bertman. No. 8 is on its way to Baton Rouge. ä SEE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE TIGERS’ COLLEGE WORLD SERIES WIN. PAGGE 1B
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100TH YEAR, NO. 358
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LSU center fielder Chhris Stanfield, right, celebrates with catcher Luis Hernandez as they both score on a two-run single by left fielder Derek Curiel in the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Collegge World Series finals against Coastal Carolina on Sunday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. LSU scored four runs in the decisive inning and won 5-3 to earn its ssecond title under coach Jay Johnson in four years. BY KOKI RILEY OMAHA, Neb. — To calll anything a dynasty requires a certain level of consiistent, championship excellence. The Boston Celtic cs in the 60s, New York Yankees in the 90s and UCo onn women’s basketball in the 2010s certainly fit th he description. LSU winning five national championsh hips in 10 years under Skip Bertman definitely qualiifies. Coach Jay Johnson n’s Tigers aren’t quite there yet, but what LSU acco omplished Sunday afternoon at Charles Schwab Fielld was remarkable nevertheless and potentially the b beginning of another baseball dynasty in Baton Roug ge. For the eighth tim me in program history, and for
the second time in three seasons, LSU won the national championship. The Tigers took down Coastal Carolina 5-3 in Game 2 of the College World Series final to secure the 2025 title. “Unbelievable. I’m so proud right now,” Johnson said. “It’s not to be taken for granted being here two years ago. That was special. Greatest night of my life. “This is equal and maybe even tops it in some ways.” The win secured Johnson’s second title in four years at LSU, making him the first coach in college baseball history to accomplish that feat at the same school. The Tigers did it despite bringing back just 12 players who appeared in a game from last year’s team, adding 12 players from the transfer portal,
three junior-college recruits and 10 freshmen in the offseason. “We (added) really talented freshmen ...,” Johnson said. “In a month’s time, we were able to add Chris (Stanfield). We were able to add Anthony (Eyanson), Zac Cowan, Luis Hernandez, Danny Dickinson to those 12 guys who were the right 12 guys.” With the score tied 1-1, the fourth inning proved to be the difference between a coronation and a Game 3 on Monday. The Tigers scored four runs on a walk, a hit by pitch and four singles to take a 5-1 lead. Sophomore Jake Brown led off with a walk before a single from junior Jared Jones and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for the junior Stanfield.
Rabalais: Thesse Tigers measure up to LSU’s toweringg expectations, Page 4C
Braswell’s fingerprints all over Tigers’ College World Series title, Page 5C
See which Tigers made an appearance on the All-CWS team, Page 5C
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ä See LSU, page 4C