100 Years in Death Valley: How Tiger Stadium Became One of the Most Legendary Venues in American Spo

HOW TIGER STADIUM BECAME ONE OF THE MOST LEGENDARY VENUES IN AMERICAN SPORTS

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

Acknowledgements First of all, the greatest thanks go to my wife

pages, especially current staffers Hilary

the EBR Library now so capably maintains.

Michell, who has put up with my crazy sched-

Scheinuk and Michael Johnson.

Thanks also to Dan Borne, Tiger Stadium’s

ule and demanding hours for 35 years, though

I also needed the cooperation of the folks

longest-serving public address announcer, for

no more so than in 2024 in the process of

in the LSU athletic department, starting

helping me with research on LSU’s previous

finishing this book. Similar thanks go to my

with Sports Information Director Michael

PA and radio announcers and SEC Associate

children, Dr. Megan Rabalais Nuss, Nicholas

Bonnette and LSU General Content Manager

Commissioner Herb Vincent for as always

Rabalais and Katherine Rabalais, who have

Todd Politz. A huge help with photos was Jason

being a dependable sounding board.

spent their whole lives knowing nothing but

Feirman, executive director of creative design

I would be remiss without thanking four

fall Saturdays when dad is covering a game.

and photography for LSU’s South Stadium

more people. My mother Kathy, who has al-

Next, to another great lady, Judy Jumonville.

Productions, and Photography Director Chris

ways been my biggest fan throughout my ca-

Though she’s now retired as The Advocate’s

Parent. There was never a time they said no or

reer. My late father Ed, a much better athlete

librarian, she agreed to help me every time

that something couldn’t be done, and as with

than I ever was, who instilled in me an inquisi-

I needed something researched. This book

my past books on LSU football, I am grateful.

tive nature and a slightly jaundiced eye toward

Special recognition goes to the late Rick

authority that has served me well through my

would literally not exist without her.

Thank you to our staff at The Advocate,

Shinabery, who years ago entrusted me with

career. My brother Jeff, who would probably

starting with former Executive Sports Editor

his vast collection of LSU photographs from

have made a better sportswriter than me. And

Perryn Keys and Deputy Sports Editors Jason

the 1970s and ’80s. Dumped them on me might

my mother’s cousin, Allen Carrier, who took

Yates and Zach Ewing, as well as LSU beat

be a more accurate phrase, but those pictures

me to many LSU football games that gave birth

staff of Wilson Alexander, Sheldon Mickles,

filled in some crucial gaps in the coverage of

to so many great memories, even though we

Koki Riley and Reed Darcey. When I needed

this book and included some of my personal

almost always left early to beat the traffic.

editing, advice or just taking something off

favorites.

Finally, my thanks to you, Tiger fans ev-

A tip of the golf cap to Barry Cowan with

erywhere. As current LSU coach Brian Kelly

LSU’s Hill Memorial Library and Melissa

says in this book, in the end a stadium is just

More than my words, I wanted this book

Eastin with the East Baton Rouge Parish

a building. It’s the people who fill it and the

to be about photos that showed the sweeping

Library for their assistance. Barry helped with

passion they bring that makes the difference.

history of Tiger Stadium, its great moments,

research into LSU’s old downtown campus

You’re what has made Tiger Stadium and LSU

great players and memorable traditions. I urge

and the current LSU campus that never took

football so unique for 100 years, and hopefully

the reader to take the time to read the names

shape anywhere other than in drawings and

what will continue to make it special in the

of the many Advocate and Times-Picayune

plans. And Melissa helped me dip into the vast

next century to come.

photographers whose fine work graces these

treasure trove of Advocate file photos that

my plate, you were all there for me during the writing process.

OPPOSITE: Defensive end BJ Ojulari is surrounded by fans after LSU’s dramatic 32–31 overtime victory over Alabama on Nov. 5, 2022. M ICHAEL JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

Introduction about 25,000 seats and a few decks, seemed

of them, anyway. I figure I’ve seen nearly 300

Rain.

enormous. The grass was so amazingly green,

games in person in Tiger Stadium, from the

I know. It never rains in Tiger Stadium. But

painted as it was then a darker shade every

stands or from the press box. If you count

I remember the first LSU game my parents

five yards. The players looked like they were

being stuck in pregame traffic, nearly a full

took me to in the early 1970s and it came down

the size of vending machines.

year of my life.

My earliest memory of Tiger Stadium?

in buckets. We had to take shelter under the

But even they didn’t make the biggest im-

My 10-year-old self still never gets over

stands in the old south end zone upper deck of

pression on me. I remember back then that

the pageantry, the passion, the experience of

what is now the lower bowl, as the rain falling

there was a man who would come to the games

Tiger Stadium. Every game is special there,

through the glare of those huge floodlights

on a hospital gurney parked in the ground-

but there are those exceptional times when the

took on a luster my young eyes had never seen.

level portal on the east side of the north end

stadium is about to roar to life and the band

Then we went back out to our seats along the

zone. Prone on his back, he would hold up a

is playing pregame and you know at that mo-

railing where I brushed the drops of water

mirror to watch the action.

ment, there is no better place in America to be.

from the cold metal.

I couldn’t comprehend what a special place

Wow, I thought. That man really loves his LSU Tigers.

OPPOSITE: Garrett Nussmeier and other LSU players run through the smoke into Tiger Stadium for a game against Arkansas on Sept. 23, 2023.

M ICHAEL JOHNSON / THE ADVOCATE

It is my hope that I have captured some of the spirit and excitement of Tiger Stadium

Tiger Stadium was then — I was probably

That man really loved Tiger Stadium.

with this history of its first 100 years. I hope

5 or 6 — but I soon found out. My mother’s

More than 40 years have passed since I

this book will stir some happy memories for

cousin had season tickets near the goal line in

saw that man on the hospital bed with his

you as they have for me, because there truly

the north end zone and he used to take me to

mirror. I’m sure he must have died long ago.

is nothing like Tiger Stadium on a Saturday

games year after year in the 1970s and ’80s.

He looked ancient to my 10-year-old self, for

night.

The stadium, though smaller than it is now by

sure. Now I’m the old man in the stadium. One

Scott Rabalais June 2024

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

Contents Acknowledgements ������������������������������������������������������������������ 3 Introduction ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 A valley rises ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9 The home of legends ������������������������������������������������������������ 33 The greatest games �������������������������������������������������������������� 59 Traditions �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 85 The Tiger Stadium you never knew �������������������������� 111 Tiger Stadium is everywhere ������������������������������������� 137

LEFT: Snow falls on Tiger Stadium on Dec. 8, 2017. J OHN BALLANCE / THE ADVOCATE 100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

“It was so loud I could barely read the signals. My eyes were vibrating.”

SOUTH CAROLINA’S BRUCE ELLINGTON

A valley rises Long before there was a mas-

other side of the campus at what was known

to be located where the LSU Student Union

sive LSU campus anchoring the

as State Field. It more resembled a small high

now sits on the south side of the Parade

south side of Baton Rouge, with

school field than a college football stadium,

Grounds. And there were calls to name the

Spanish tile-roofed buildings

with seating for about 1,500 fans. The field was

stadium after one of the two most recent gov-

embraced by its fabled stately

located on the northeast side of the campus,

ernors: Parker Pavilion for outgoing Gov. John

oaks and broad magnolias,

near what is now Capitol Lake, in an area that

M. Parker, or Fuqua Field for incoming Gov.

LSU’s campus sat adjacent to

today lies between the State Capitol building

Henry L. Fuqua.

the Mississippi River just north

and the Old Arsenal Museum. Other than the

Tiger Stadium won out, but the word “sta-

of Louisiana’s small capitol city.

Pentagon Barracks, little from the old campus

dium” might have been overstating things.

LSU moved from its original campus in

remains, its buildings razed to make room for

The facility consisted of two rectangular

Pineville in 1869 to a single building in Baton

the State Capitol building and grounds which

sections of concrete seats bracketing both

Rouge, a necessity after the original cam-

were completed in 1932.

sidelines, with bleachers, temporary and

pus burned down. In 1886, LSU received per-

By the end of World War I in 1918, LSU

more permanent ones, clustered around the

mission to take over the Pentagon Barracks

had outgrown its campus and plans began

end zones. The original capacity: 12,000. And

(which still stand near the river adjacent to

for a new one. A large tract of land compiled

there were no lights.

the State Capitol) and land belonging to a

from three Mississippi River plantations —

LSU said goodbye to State Field on Nov. 15

former military post, eventually totaling some

Gartness, Nestle Down and Arlington — was

with a 40-0 victory over Northwestern State.

200 acres.

assembled, and construction began in 1922.

Two weeks later, on Nov. 27, 1924, the first

In 1893, LSU fielded its first football team,

One of the first buildings completed on the

game in Tiger Stadium was played against the

losing its only game 34–0 against Tulane in

new campus was an agricultural barn, now

program’s big-city rival from New Orleans,

New Orleans on Nov. 25.

home of the Reilly Theatre.

Tulane.

On Dec. 3, 1894, LSU played its first football

The other was Tiger Stadium.

OPPOSITE: Convocation ceremonies on the field in Tiger Stadium. Note cars parking on the current site of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at right, next to Mike the Tiger’s original small enclosure. F ONVILLE WINANS

Even by the standard of a modern-day LSU

on the old downtown campus, on a parade

As the Tigers played through their 1924

home game with its hours of gridlocked traf-

ground just south of the Pentagon Barracks.

season at State Field and on the road, Tiger

fic, getting to that first game was an arduous

The result was pretty much just as dismal as

Stadium took shape on the flat river bottom

task. If you came from across the river, you

the year before, as Ole Miss beat LSU 26–6.

lands below what is now called Victory Hill,

had to take a ferry, or perhaps two. Special

Before the turn of the century, the LSU

though that wasn’t always the definite site. An

trains were dispatched from New Orleans and

football team started playing its games on the

early plan of the campus called for a stadium

stopped at a siding near the campus (driving

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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RIGHT: A grainy photo of then LSU coach Mike Donahue standing next to Tiger Stadium in 1924. LSU ATHLETICS

World War II general who served at Normandy.

Even from Baton Rouge, shuttle trains were

“I have never seen so many strange faces,”

The driving force behind the stadium’s

the best way to get to the campus, then three

Tulane’s ticket manager said that day. “I’ll bet

first expansion to 22,000 seats and a shift to

miles outside the city.

there are hundreds who will see this game

night games was a man little remembered in

who never saw one before.”

LSU football lore: T.P. “Skipper” Heard. LSU’s

Kickoff was at 2:30 p.m. on a day that began rainy but cleared in time for the start. Tiger

The spectacle perhaps exceeded the actual

athletic director from 1931–54, he was essen-

Stadium had no dressing rooms for either

game, won by Tulane 13–0 behind its College

tially the father of LSU’s night-time football

team. LSU players suited up on the old campus,

Football Hall of Fame quarterback Lester

tradition, born from a desire to avoid the early

traveled by taxi to the agricultural building

Lautenschlaeger. LSU completed its second

season heat and head-to-head competition with

and then walked several hundred yards to

season under coach Mike Donahue (himself

afternoon home games at Tulane and Loyola.

the stadium. Tulane players dressed on their

a College Football Hall of Famer for his prior

special train parked at a nearby siding (the

success at Auburn) at 5–4.

same tracks that still run through the campus

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

How did Heard find the funds to expand Tiger Stadium in the midst of The Great

By 1931, Tiger Stadium had a new look

Depression? He got wind that then LSU

and Tiger football had a new tradition. That

President James M. Smith had secured

Not all of the concrete stands were us-

season, LSU raised and extended the sideline

$250,000 in funding to build dormitories on

able, but a crowd estimated at 18,000–18,500

stands with an extra section to the height of the

the growing campus. Heard convinced him

crammed into the available seats somehow.

lower bowl of the stadium as it exists now and

that LSU could have both new dorms and an ex-

Among the onlookers was Col. Teddy Roosevelt

crowned them with floodlights. LSU played

panded Tiger Stadium by building the student

Jr., son of the former president and a future

its very first night game on Oct. 3, 1931, a

housing under the newly raised grandstands.

on the west side of Nicholson Drive).

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35–0 win over Spring Hill.

meant hours on the twisty, dusty River Road).

Tiger Stadium grew again despite the de-

himself in the middle of an academics versus

in 1958. While LSU’s football fortunes vastly

pression, getting a 24,000-seat expansion in a

athletics fight involving Tiger Stadium and a

improved, Tiger Stadium stayed relatively

1936 Works Progress Administration (WPA)

new library for LSU.

unchanged until the mid-1970s, when con-

project that enclosed the north end zone and

Proponents wanted to enclose the stadium’s

struction on a west upper deck began. It was

turned the arena into a giant horseshoe by

south end zone to make it a “bowl” seating

finished in time for the 1978 season, raising

connecting the east and west stands. That

67,720 fans. Opponents cited LSU’s less-than-

the stadium’s capacity at the time to 75,750.

was also the year Mike I came to live on LSU’s

capacity average attendance in the late 1940s

The west upper deck came with two small

campus. A Bengal tiger purchased from the

and early ’50s, arguing that the library should

club seat sections that bracketed the 1950s

zoo in Little Rock, Arkansas, for $750 raised

be the priority. As post-Korean War construc-

era press box. As the 2000s approached, the

through 25-cent donations from students, he

tion costs soared, Tiger Stadium finally won

demand for premium seating was growing at

was named after the school’s popular athletic

out, with the south end zone bowled in for the

stadiums and arenas everywhere, and Tiger

trainer, Mike Chambers.

1953 season. The LSU Library (long known

Stadium was no exception. The east upper

as Middleton Library) wouldn’t be built until

deck, including 70 self-contained suites called

1958.

“Tiger Dens,” debuted with the 2000 season.

LSU’s best player in 1936 was two-time All-American Gaynell “Gus” Tinsley. By 1948, Tinsley had taken over from his coach Bernie

A 5–6 record in 1954 proved to be Tinsley’s

The stadium’s capacity, which had grown

Moore to helm the Tigers’ program. By the

last, ushering in Paul Dietzel and putting LSU

incrementally since 1978 to about 80,000, was

early 1950s, Tinsley along with Heard found

on track to winning the national championship

quickly bumped up to 91,600.

ABOVE: Tiger Stadium as it looked in the 1920s. L SU ATHLETICS

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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steward of this, one of the nation’s greatest sports venues.

“My goal is to leave the place hopefully better than I found it,” Woodward said. “Continue to improve and continue to make it better.

“It’s a special place. You don’t want to mess with special.”

What does the next century hold for Tiger Stadium? Woodward said that while the oldest parts of the facility are now over 100 years old, he foresees a long life ahead for the place known as Death Valley.

“I think it has decades of life left in it because of the rehabilitations on the east, west and south sides,” Woodward said. “I would assume the next big project will be on the north side, doing something with that.

“My guess is they’re probably going to have to look at it structurally in 50 years or so and say, ‘What do we do here and how do we do it?’”

Whatever those questions are and how they are answered, one thing is virtually certain: There will always be a Tiger Stadium.

OPPOSITE: An undated photo of the east side of Tiger Stadium after lights were installed in 1931 and dorms were added in 1932.

F ONVILLE WINANS

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

1958 LSU goes 11–0 en route to its first wire service-era national championship, including five wins at home.

1959 NBC broadcasts the first televised game from Tiger Stadium, a 26–3 LSU win over Rice in the Sept. 19 season opener. On Halloween night, Billy Cannon returns a punt 89 yards to beat Ole Miss 7–3.

1978 The old west upper deck is completed just in time for the Sept. 16 opener with Indiana, bringing Tiger Stadium’s capacity to 75,750.

1986 The playing field is moved 11 feet to the south to better center it with the grandstands.

2000 The east upper deck, including 70 suites called “Tiger Dens,” is built, raising Tiger Stadium’s capacity from 80,000 to 91,600.

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

“What makes LSU is the environment and the fans and those guys wearing the jerseys. They’re really good players.”

URBAN MEYER

The home of legends W hy do es L SU play

they’ve been shining as brightly there as

list of Heisman winners and College Football

night games at Tiger

anywhere for LSU — and often for its op-

Hall of Fame honorees from opposing teams

Stadium?

ponents as well.

who have played in Tiger Stadium through

Avoiding the heat

Tiger Stadium has been the home of three

of the day early in the

Heisman Trophy winners, nine College

LSU players are grouped by the levels

season, of course. The

Football Hall of Fame players and four coach-

of achievement (Heisman winners, hall of

chance for fans to tail-

es, plus 80 players who earned a total of 93

famers, All-Americans and All-Southeastern

gate, commiserate and

All-American honors.

Conference performers) and then chronologi-

marinate all day long,

the decades.

For Tiger Stadium’s first 100 years we’ve

cally by when they played. Opposing play-

come up with a list of LSU’s 100 greatest play-

ers and coaches are listed alphabetically by

But nighttime is when the stars come out.

ers who have thrilled fans with their exploits

school.

And during Tiger Stadium’s first century,

over the years. We’ve also come up with a

certainly.

The Tiger Trinity Billy Cannon, HB, 1957–59

Joe Burrow, QB, 2018–19

Jayden Daniels, QB, 2022–23

He led LSU to its first wire-service nation-

Burrow set the nation on fire in 2019 en route

One of the greatest dual threats in college

al championship in 1958 and won its first

to the biggest landslide win in Heisman his-

football history, Daniels became only the 11th

Heisman Trophy in 1959. Still for many Tiger

tory. He threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touch-

player to throw for over 3,000 yards (3,812)

fans the standard by which all LSU players are

downs and rushed for five more scores, lead-

and rush for over 1,000 (1,134) in a season. He

judged, Cannon was inducted into the College

ing LSU to a season that can never be topped

also set the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS)

Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

— a 15–0 record and a CFP national title.

passing efficiency record (208.0) en route to

OPPOSITE: Six LSU football legends before a game against Mississippi State on Sept. 20, 2014. Standing (from left) are Jimmy Taylor, Jerry Stovall, Charles Alexander, Tommy Casanova and Billy Cannon. Seated is Y.A. Tittle. All are members of the College Football or Pro Football halls of fame.

H ILARY SCHEINUK / THE ADVOCATE

winning the 2023 Heisman.

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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Hall of Fame names A look at LSU’s 13 other College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches with the year they were inducted:

Players Abe Mickal, HB, 1933–35 (1967)

Bert Jones, QB, 1970–72 (2016)

Born in Lebanon, “Miracle” Mickal was known

Before Burrow, Jones was LSU’s only con-

for his deft passing touch as he helped LSU

sensus All-American quarterback. Famously

to its first SEC title and Sugar Bowl appear-

led LSU on an 80-yard drive in 1972 to beat

ance in 1935.

Ole Miss 17–16 on a pass to Brad Davis as time expired.

Gaynell “Gus” Tinsley, End, 1934–36 (1956) LSU’s first great player of the SEC era, Tinsley

Charles Alexander, RB, 1975–78 (2012)

was a two-time unanimous All-American in the

In an era dominated by running backs,

Tigers’ run to two SEC titles and two Sugar

“Alexander the Great” stood tall. The two-

Bowls. Coached LSU from 1948–54.

time All-American rushed for 1,686 yards in 1977 on a school-record 28.3 carries per game.

Ken Kavanaugh Sr., End, 1937–39 (1963) An All-American in 1939, Kavanaugh finished

Kevin Faulk, RB/KR, 1995–99 (2022)

seventh in the Heisman balloting that year.

An All-American as an all-purpose player in

In 2024, he still had the most receiving touch-

1996, Faulk was LSU’s career rushing leader

downs (50) in Chicago Bears history.

with 4,557 yards. Won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.

Jerry Stovall, HB, 1960–62 (2010) Like Cannon before him, Stovall ran, played

Glenn Dorsey, DT, 2004–07 (2020)

defense, punted and returned kicks. Was the

A two-time All-American, Dorsey was the

Heisman runner-up in 1962 to Oregon State

most decorated defensive player in LSU his-

QB Terry Baker.

tory. Won four individual awards, including the 2007 Lombardi Award, and Outland and

ABOVE: Gaynell Tinsley was LSU's first All-American and later coached the Tigers from 1948–54. L EON TRICE / THE ADVOCATE OPPOSITE: Jerry Stovall (21) was an All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 1962.

T HE ADVOCATE

Tommy Casanova, CB, 1969–71 (1995) LSU’s only three-time All-American, Casanova was a triple threat on defense, offense and returning kicks. He returned two punts for touchdowns in a 61–17 win over Ole Miss, clinching the 1970 SEC title.

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

Nagurski trophies.

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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RIGHT: Bert Jones (7) hands off to Chris Dantin against Wisconsin on Sept. 30, 1972.

R OBERT STEINER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE FAR RIGHT: Charles Alexander (4) sweeps right against Oregon on Oct. 22, 1977. Alexander rushed for 237 yards and four touchdowns in the 56–17 LSU victory. L SU ARCHIVES

BELOW RIGHT: Kevin Faulk (3) gets his face mask grabbed

by Arkansas’ Cory Nichols on Nov. 28, 1997.

T RAVIS SPRADLING / THE ADVOCATE

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

LEFT: Glenn Dorsey takes a blast from a water bottle during a game against Florida on Oct. 6, 2007.

C HUCK COOK / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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NOV. 8, 1969

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100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

“It makes Notre Dame look like Romper Room.”

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S BRAD BUDDE

The greatest games The handmade sign ris-

Kelly chose to decide it all on a two-point

Nov. 28, 1936: LSU 33, Tulane 0

ing above the student

conversion, and the way Daniels executed it

In front of 48,000 fans, a record for a football

section at the 2003 LSU-

with a goal-line pass to Mason Taylor to touch

game in the South, LSU routed No. 19 Tulane to

Georgia game said it all:

off a mad, field-rushing celebration.

repeat as SEC champion. The Tigers finished

“Let the valley shake.”

And, yes, it was Nick Saban’s last visit to

Like the Tigers’ 17–10

LSU. The program he led to so many wins.

victory over Georgia

The program he beat so many times. The pro-

Oct. 22, 1938: LSU 7, Vanderbilt 0

in that top-10 matchup,

gram, that in this circumstance at least, got

An upset as the Commodores were ranked

there have been plenty

the last word.

No. 16, it was also redemption for the hidden

of games during Tiger Stadium’s first century that have made the

But that’s just one game. There are 99 more,

No. 2 in the first AP poll.

ball trick Vandy used to upset LSU 7–6 in 1937.

listed in chronological order:

to count. But we decided to count them any-

Nov. 27, 1924: Tulane 13, LSU 0

“Beat Bama for Bernie!” was the rallying cry

way to come up with a list of the 100 greatest

A loss for LSU to its archrival, but the one

as the Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide for

games in Tiger Stadium history.

that started it all in Tiger Stadium.

the first time since 1909, making a winner

OPPOSITE: Mark Lumpkin (25) kicks the go-ahead field goal in LSU’s 20–15 win over Alabama on Nov. 8, 1969, making Charles McClendon the first former player to defeat Bear Bryant.

out of coach Bernie Moore.

THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Nov. 9, 1946: LSU 31, Alabama 21

valley, Death Valley, shake. Almost too many

Maybe your favorite game is on the list.

Maybe it isn’t. The debate over such things

Dec. 9, 1933: LSU 7, Tennessee 0

definitely makes sports so much fun.

Bert Yates outgained the Volunteers by him-

Oct. 22, 1949: LSU 13, North Carolina 7

self in the Tigers’ only win over Tennessee

The Tigers derailed the No. 6-ranked Tar

until 1974.

Heels and Hall of Famer Charlie “Choo Choo”

You can call it recency bias, but having attended the vast majority of LSU home games since the 1970s, the greatest game in

Justice, snapping UNC’s 20-game winning

this writer’s view was LSU’s 32–31 overtime

Nov. 21, 1936: LSU 93, Louisiana 0

victory over Alabama in 2022. It was a back-

In Mike I’s debut, the Tigers scored 14 touch-

and-forth battle between two teams loaded

downs over what was then Southwestern

Oct. 29, 1949: LSU 34, Ole Miss 7

with great players, including 2021 Heisman

Louisiana Institute (SLI). It remains LSU’s

Avenging a 49–19 loss to the Rebels in 1948,

Trophy winner Bryce Young of Alabama and

highest-scoring game ever.

the Tigers broke the game open with three

streak.

2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels of LSU.

touchdowns in an 11-minute span in the sec-

It was the way first-year LSU coach Brian

ond quarter.

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

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OCT. 14, 2017 76

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

OCT. 13, 2018

LEFT: Joe Burrow (9) takes off on a 59-yard run against Georgia as LSU routs the Bulldogs 36–16 on Oct. 13, 2018. B ILL FEIG / THE ADVOCATE

OPPOSITE: Devin White (40), Grant Delpit (9) and Arden Key (49) bring down Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson as LSU rallies from a 20–0 deficit to win 27–23 on Oct. 14, 2017.

B RETT DUKE / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Oct. 1, 2016: LSU 42, Missouri 7

Oct. 14, 2017: LSU 27, Auburn 23

Oct. 12, 2019: LSU 42, Florida 28

Ed Orgeron took over for Miles as interim

LSU fell behind No. 10 Auburn 20–0, then

Burrow fired three touchdown passes and

coach and pulled out the stops in an offense

mounted the greatest Tiger Stadium come-

Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran for two touch-

that gained 634 yards, an LSU single-game

back ever against an SEC opponent. Arden

downs as the No. 5 Tigers held off the No. 7

SEC record.

Key sacked Auburn’s last threat.

Gators to go to 6–0.

Oct. 22, 2016: LSU 38, Ole Miss 21

Oct. 13, 2018: LSU 36, Georgia 16

Oct. 26, 2019: LSU 23, Auburn 20

Fournette took flight once more with a school-

In a preview of what was to come, Joe Burrow

In the season’s closest game, No. 2 LSU got

record 284 yards rushing as the No. 25 Tigers

led the No. 13 Tigers to a rout of the No. 2

321 yards in the air from Burrow with touch-

pulled away from the No. 23 Rebels.

Bulldogs. He threw for 200 yards and ran for

downs rushing and passing while holding No. 9

66 yards and two scores.

Auburn to 287 total yards.

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

77

Nov. 27, 2021: LSU 27, Texas A&M 24

OCT. 26, 2019

Max Johnson threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Jaray Jenkins with 20 seconds left to stun the No. 14 Aggies and send Orgeron out a winner.

Sept. 10, 2022: LSU 65, Southern 17 Brian Kelly’s first game in Tiger Stadium was LSU’s first football game against Southern.

Jayden Daniels had 155 total yards and four total touchdowns in brief action.

Oct. 22, 2022: LSU 45, Ole Miss 20 Daniels racked up 369 total yards (248 passing, 121 rushing) and five touchdowns as the Tigers stunned the No. 7-ranked Rebels.

Nov. 5, 2022: LSU 32, Alabama 31 (OT) The weight of the No. 15 Tigers’ win over the No. 6 Crimson Tide wasn’t lost on Kelly: “To come here and restore the pride and tradition of this program means so much.”

Sept. 23, 2023: LSU 34, Arkansas 31 Nov. 30, 2019: LSU 50, Texas A&M 7

Daniels threw for 320 yards and four touch-

ABOVE: Joe Burrow runs into the end zone for a touchdown in a 23–20 win over Auburn on Oct. 26, 2019. H ILARY SCHEINUK / THE ADVOCATE

Eager to avenge the Aggies’ 74–72 seven over-

downs, then led LSU on a 72-yard drive for

time victory in 2018, Burrow and the No. 1

Damian Ramos’ game-winning 20-yard field

OPPOSITE: Joe Burrow gestures to the crowd after coming out for Senior Night

Tigers leaped to a 34–0 lead in the final home

goal with :05 left.

introductions in his “Burreaux” jersey on Nov. 30, 2019, against Texas A&M. H ILARY SCHEINUK / THE ADVOCATE

game for the Heisman winner.

Nov. 11, 2023: LSU 52, Florida 35 Dec. 19, 2020: LSU 53, Ole Miss 48

Daniels rebounded from a concussion at

The Tigers finished a pandemic-plagued sea-

Alabama to become the first FBS quarter-

son on a high note as Kayshon Boutte had

back with 350 yards passing (372) and 200

an SEC record 308 yards receiving and the

rushing (234), a performance that won him

defense forced six turnovers.

the Heisman.

Oct. 13, 2021: LSU 49, Florida 42

78

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

Tyrion Davis-Price broke Fournette’s record

* In 2023, LSU forfeited 37 wins from 2012–15,

with 287 yards rushing and three touchdowns

including two bowl victories, because of NCAA

as the Tigers outlasted the No. 20 Gators.

sanctions.

NOV. 30, 2019

100 YEARS IN DEATH VALLEY

79