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L SU vs. Bam a Rivalr y Spe ci al Edition T hu r s d ay, Nove m b e r 2 , 2 023
TIDE TURNING? LSU looks to repeat 2022 success vs. Alabama.
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THE HATING HATING GAME GAME THE REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
The LSU football offense celebrates a touchdown on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La..
How Nick Saban’s betrayal led to an infamous rivalry BY MACKAY SUIRE @macthetiger Nick Saban sat down in a post-game press conference and began to express the appreciation he had for the football program that had learned to love him. “This has probably been the greatest experience that I’ve ever had as a coach, the five years that I’ve spent at LSU. You can call them golden years for me,” Saban said. It was 2005, and the Tigers had just dropped a six-game win streak to Iowa in the Capital One Bowl. This was the last game of the season, but most importantly, it was the last time that Saban would hold the title of head coach for LSU football. LSU fans didn’t greet Saban with open arms upon his arrival to Baton Rouge in 1999. Similar to the skepticism that Brian Kelly received in his first few months at LSU, fans were concerned that the ex-Michigan State head coach would continue to drive the program into the ground. That fanbase had known heartbreak and disappointment well. The last two years of Gerry DiNardo’s tenure at LSU was filled with a good bit of it. Under DiNardo, LSU finished the 1998 season with just four wins and seven losses. The knife was driven deeper when its 1999 season ended with even fewer wins and more losses. Fans were tired of being the worst, but weren’t really sure what would get them back to being the best. Though they didn’t know it at the time, Saban was the best. In just five seasons at LSU,
Saban had created a Tiger team that was nearly unstoppable. His tenure included 48 wins with just 16 losses, a national championship in 2003, two Southeastern Conference championships, three SEC West championships and a 3-2 record in bowl games. Saban embodied the success that fans had longed for. But just when it seemed it couldn’t get any better, it all came crumbling down. Two days before that Capital One Bowl loss to Iowa, Saban announced that he would be leaving LSU to pursue a head coaching position in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins. “There’s a bright future here, and it’s not easy to walk away from to be honest with you,” Saban said after the bowl loss. But he did. He walked away from a team that had thrived under him to pursue what many college coaches only ever dream of. Saban’s time with the Miami Dolphins, however, didn’t last long. In fact, it lasted only two seasons. Just one year later, in 2007, Saban accepted a position that would ultimately alter the course of his life. “I can’t tell you how pleased and honored I am to be your coach at the University of Alabama,” Saban said in his first press conference for the Crimson Tide. Many say this is when the rivalry was truly born. Saban has led Alabama for the past 17 years, driving them to success season after season and creating a dominant program that other teams fear. He fueled the hatred that most LSU fans still have, even all these years later.
But what makes Saban so despised by that LSU fanbase? He didn’t just leave LSU. He left LSU and brought success to an SEC opponent, ten-fold. It was the ultimate betrayal, and it’s been relived over and over again since 2007. Notable Games 2008: Tricky Nick’s Return In 2008, Nick Saban returned to Tiger Stadium for the first time since 2005. He probably knew the facilities better than Les Miles, LSU’s head coach following his departure. Death Valley embodied its name that night as the Crimson Tide ran out onto the field. 93,039 fans were there to witness this game, a school record crowd at the time. A No. 15 LSU team managed to keep up with No. 1 Alabama, even forcing the game into overtime. Crimson Tide’s safety Rashad Johnson all but clinched the win and a berth in the SEC Championship Game after he picked off quarterback Jarrett Lee in overtime on LSU’s third down in the end zone. The Tide took the win just three plays later after gaining possession. 2011: Defense Wins Championships Dubbed the “Defensive Game of the Century,” LSU’s 9-6 win over Alabama showcased the rock-solid defense that both teams contained. For LSU, it was the first game since its 3-0 loss in 1979 to the same opponent with no touchdowns recorded. Besides a touchdown, this game truly had it all, from multiple missed field goals, to interceptions, to a period of overtime. No point was scored by either team until there was just minutes left of the second quarter.
Weeks later, LSU would beat Georgia and clinched the SEC championship title. 2012: No More Tricks for the Mad Hatter Led by quarterback Zach Mettenberger, LSU put together one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Tigers managed to strike first with a field goal in the first quarter. Going into the fourth quarter, LSU led the game 17-14. With less than a minute of the game to go, Alabama running back T.J. Yelton took a swing pass from quarterback AJ McCarron, going 28 yards and finding himself in the endzone. Alabama took the game 21-17. LSU fans blamed Miles for the loss. The coach’s usual tactics were no match for the Tide’s perseverance. 2019: Roll Clyde The most decorated team in LSU football history, and arguably one of the most talented in all of college football, traveled to Tuscaloosa in hopes of continuing its perfect season. And that it did. The 46-41 win was the first time the Tigers had beaten the Tide since that 2012 game. The high scoring matchup consisted of over 500 offensive yards for both teams. Quarterback Joe Burrow seemed to solidify his place as the front-runner in the race for the Heisman trophy, as he answered each and every challenge that Alabama presented. Clyde Edwards-Helaire led LSU’s offense with three touchdowns and 103 rushing yards, piecing together a career performance in what was ultimately one of the most important games of the season.
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ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
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page 3 POLITICS
Civic duty or chore? LSU SG president again declines to support motion critical of Jeff Landry LSU students talk voting BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire
LSU’s Student Body President Anna Catherine Strong didn’t give her signature to a resolution that honors a professor who announced he would step down from the university after Jeff Landry’s election as governor earlier this month, citing its “political language.” It’s the second time Strong has refused to approve a resolution critical of the Republican attorney general. The first resolution condemned Landry for skipping a September gubernatorial forum on campus to attend a campaign event with Donald Trump Jr., which Strong vetoed but the Student Senate overruled. This motion also passes without her approval; if a student body president takes no action on a resolution rubber stamped by the legislative branch, it goes into effect automatically after a few days. The Senate passed the motion unanimously on Oct. 25. The resolution came after LSU professor Robert Mann announced he would step down from the university in the spring following Landry’s outright win in the state’s gubernatorial primary on Oct. 14. In 2021, Landry called for the university to punish Mann after the professor called one of his employees a “flunkie” in a tweet. Earlier that day, Landry had sent an assistant attorney general to a Faculty Senate meeting to voice his opposition to a resolution, authored by Mann and others, that called for weekly testing of unvaccinated students and asked the university to update its vaccine exemption procedure. Mann said he was disappointed in a lack of support from university leaders at the time — and that he didn’t expect stronger backing
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
Louisiana saw a dismal turnout for the gubernatorial primary on Oct. 14. Out of 3 million eligible voters, only 36% showed up to the polls. That’s Louisiana’s lowest voter turnout for a governor’s election in more than a decade. Why? One theory is voter disillusionment drained Louisiana residents’ desire to participate. Another proposed cause was that the election was held on a Saturday, also the date of an LSU home football game. In the absence of one, clear answer students weighed in with their thoughts and feelings on voting. “I just don’t get into politics as much,” said mass communication senior E’Lazia Washington. “I just feel like all of it’s rigged.” Her parents told her that her vote and every vote matters, Washington said, but it’s hard to do something she doesn’t care about. Washington isn’t the only young voter who feels this way. LSU junior Ashleigh Zaidain said she didn’t vote because she didn’t agree with any of the potential Louisiana governor candidates. “I’m independent,” Zaidan said. Even though neither Washington or Zaidain voted in this past election, both are regis-
see REFUSAL, page 4
Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry speaks to reporters on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, during a press conference in Lafayette, La.
see TURNOUT, page 5
BY JACK PRICE @price_jack2024
STUDENT LIFE
Meet and Mingle: Freshmen find friends at UCFY mixer BY CONNOR REINWALD @Conur16 What’s a problem many college freshmen face? Finding friends. To help LSU’s freshman do just that, the University Center for Freshman Year Student Council, with help from the Center for Academic Advising and Counseling, threw an event Tuesday called Meet Your Tiger Match. “We wanted to provide that outlet for people to come and talk, and collaborate here, and CONNOR REINWALD / The Reveille
see MATCH MAKING, page 5
Student leaders open the Meet Your Tiger Match event Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, inside the LSU Student Union.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
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Are you looking to get involved in undergraduate research? BY ARIS WILLIAMS @jonetaw “Undergraduate research” is an umbrella term referring to the activities of an undergraduate student working on a research or creative project under the direction of a faculty member, and can take a variety of forms including paid positions, for course credit and for scholarships/grants. There are many benefits to participating in undergraduate research, as it is known to increase networking opportunities through mentorship, preparing for graduate-level study, defining your career goals and getting the opportunity to apply knowledge gained during your studies to real-world scenarios. It can also help you gain a broader understanding of what the professional world post-college will be like. LSU Discover, the university’s official undergraduate research program, aims to bridge the gap between students and research opportunities. From travel stipends to the undergraduate research conference “Discover Day,” there are plenty of opportunities for interested students to find their place in campus research projects. “Students from any major are encouraged to seek out opportunities to participate in facultymentored research at LSU,” says Sarah Ferstel, Associate Director of Undergraduate Research at LSU. Ferstel also encourages students to utilize the resources provided by LSU Discover. “Our office hosts open office hours, workshops, and has a webpage with helpful information,” she said. “Go to lsu.edu/discover for more information or follow us on social media.” Here is a quick rundown of some ways to get involved with undergraduate research or get your questions about the program answered: LSU Discover Faculty Mentor Database LSU Discover maintains an online portal of faculty mentors that are currently doing research. Upon accessing the database, you filter your search to the college and department you aim to do research with. You can also click on the faculty members’ names to get their contact information and learn more about them. The website can be found here. Attend an LSU Discover Workshop The Discover program hosts multiple workshops to answer questions and share insight. This semester’s workshop lineup can be found here. Stop by LSU Discover’s Office LSU Discover is located in Hatcher Hall on Fieldhouse Drive and hosts open office hours Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can also contact LSU Discover via email,
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An undergraduate researcher stands by her poster at LSU Discover Day.
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An undergraduate researcher explains his poster to a Discover Day judge. phone or follow them on Instagram and X (formerly known as twitter). Contact a Research Ambassador Research Ambassadors are LSU undergraduate researchers who aid other students in getting involved in undergraduate research opportunities. Their duties include mentorship and volunteering at research-related events. Interested students can contact Research Ambassadors directly with questions via email. You can also check out events hosted by Research Ambassadors on their website.
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Discover Day presenters stand beside their posters.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
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REFUSAL, from page 3 from them under Landry’s governorship. “My reasons are simple: The person who will be governor in January has already asked LSU to fire me,” Mann said in his recent tweet. “And I have no confidence the leadership of this university would protect the Manship School against a governor’s efforts to punish me and other faculty members.” The Student Senate resolution, authored by Sen. Corbitt Driskell, who represents the E. J. Ourso College of Business, thanks Mann for his 17 years at the university and expresses “strong support in Professor Mann’s fight for academic freedoms, even if it means going against a tumultuous state government or non-supportive leadership.” “Professor Mann has made a brave step in removing himself from the University in an attempt to remove the distractions of Governor-elect Landry’s hatred and vendetta for the Professor away from LSU and its students,” the resolution reads. “...Mann has released information showing both his lack of support from the University along with showing how other members of the academic
FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille
LSU Student Government president Anna Catherine Strong speaks Oct. 18 during a senate meeting in the Capital Chambers room in the LSU Student Union. community in Louisiana feel the same lack of freedoms.” The resolution was sent to Mann, Landry and LSU President William F. Tate IV. Driskell said the Senate did this “to show them that the student body is picking up on these things.” He said he’s worried by attacks on academic freedom around the country.
Strong said she didn’t sign this resolution for similar reasons she vetoed the last Landry-related motion — because of its political nature. “I didn’t sign that version just because I felt like the political language used in the past was still being subtly worked in,” Strong said, “and I also am waiting to
see if the senate passes a new version that highlights more of Bob Mann’s work as a professor, especially with his research.” Strong said she still allowed the motion to pass through because she “wanted to make sure Professor Mann received some sort of commendation for his work.” She said Mann has been an “incredible
resource for the university, and he will be missed greatly.” Driskell said he thinks the Senate, which ultimately represents the student body, is within its right to take political stances, though he noted he “completely” understands Strong’s decision, citing the fact that she works closely with the university administration.
TURNOUT, from page 3 tered to vote. Washington said it was easy to register, especially since she was with her mother and knew what to do. Zaiden felt the opposite. “I think they make it harder than it has to be,” Zaidain said. Kinesiology sophomore Alexis Granier said she did vote. She said she was raised to believe voting is important as a United States citizen, and that it’s vital to do her duty and vote. Ryan DePriest, an LSU senior, also voted in the recent gubernatorial election. Like Granier, he believed that voting is one’s “duty.” “I mean that’s the way our democracy works, that’s the way we get stuff done here,” DePriest said.
MATCHMAKING, from page 3 be themselves, have fun and make some new friends.” said Tori Mire, UCFY College Council president. “We just thought that it would be great opportunity for people to come and meet people outside of just a classroom setting, because a lot of times freshmen, if they’re not involved in a lot of clubs, it could be easy to get lost in the shuffle.” As students arrived at the event, they were introduced to a “Monster Mash” remix, a giant stack of Chick-fil-A sandwiches and the option of Sprite or water for drink, as well as candy covering the empty tables spread out in the large space. The event was hosted in the Student Union’s Magnolia room. Around 30 people attended, though some left at the start, meaning only three of
FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille
A “VOTE” poster urges students to go vote in the governor’s primary Oct. 10 on the fourth floor of Julian T. White Hall on LSU’s campus. the many tables filled up. “We overshot the amount of sandwiches that we needed, but we were very happy with the people that did come and the turnout we had,” Mire said. This was the first event the UCFY’s College Council had planned and hosted. Some of the students who came were confused about what the night entailed because of the name. A Tigerlink event titled the meeting simply as “Meet Your Match.” “The way my friend described it was speed dating, which was weird,” marketing freshman Sophia Hollaway said. There was no speed dating, as it turned out, but there were games. As the event began, students were handed flash cards and instructed to write their name, ma-
jor, year, favorite food and what their super power would be if they had one. After filling out flashcards students had to find their “superpower partner” and describe how their partner’s superpower complemented their own. One group had time travel and super speed. The time traveler piggy-backed on the super speeder for quick transportation, the students said. Another pair had Batman and ice-powers. The student with ice-powers helped Batman seek vengeance. Once each superhero pair was assembled, a rock-paper-scissors tournament commenced. The goal: to decide which superhero was best. Afterward, the students were pitted against each other in debate. They had to pick a side on
a specific controversy, discuss possible arguments and designate a speaker. Then, the speakers verbally duked it out in the center of the room. Topics included Raising Cane’s versus Chick-fil-A, whether to cook ramen noodles on the stove or in the microwave, hot versus cold weather and Halloween versus Christmas. Another topic was if jambalaya should be eaten with a spoon or fork; everyone agreed that spoons were the superior utensil. The debates were heated, as speakers passionately argued their side. Christmas had family reunions, but Halloween had candy; stove-cooked ramen noodles tasted better, but microwavecooking was more convenient; and Cane’s had better sauce, but Chick-fil-A had more options.
Debate ended only when the speakers ran out of things to say. Afterward, participants were encouraged to introduce themselves to two people they had not previously met and play two truths and a lie. Deep interrogation proceeded at every table. Once all the lies were uncovered, most students left, but a few stayed to play charades. To fill in for the absent, the UCFY college council joined in as the group swung imaginary bats, drove pretend cars and jumped up and down in pantomime. The event ended with food and candy to spare. Those who remained swapped information. “It helped me get out of my comfort zone and make new friends,” said art and design sophomore Jade Young. “I accomplished a lot.”
ENTERTAINMENT
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THIS WEEK IN BR
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Want to see your event in The Reveille? Email information to editor@lsu.edu.
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“Roe” Reilly Theater LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts presents “Roe,” written by the acclaimed Lisa Loomer, who chronicles the personal journeys of those involved in the landmark 1973 case, Roe v. Wade. The show is at Reilly Theatre and starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online.
Public Session Skate Galaxy
SUNDAY AT 2 p.m.
Skate Galaxy will host a mixed music public session from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $8, and skate rental is $4. Food can be purchased inside the skating rink.
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November
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Soulful Sunday Beauvoir Park
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November
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SATURDAY AT 1 p.m.
FRIDAY AT 7:30 p.m.
BY ARIS WILLIAMS @jonetaw
Be Positive presents another installation of Soulful Sunday, with a performance from the Tyler Tisdale Band at Beauvoir Park. Join for an afternoon of libations, live music and food from Chow Yum Phat. The doors open at 2 p.m., and showtime is at 3 p.m. Children enter free and tickets for adults are $10.
Yes, LSU students wear Halloween costumes to class BY JOHN BUZBEE @thebuzzbuz It’s not every day that you’ll find yourself in an auditorium class taking notes with a ghost to your left and Cookie Monster to your right, but that’s a real possibility when you’ve got classes on Halloween. LSU students have been in spirit since the weekend, dubbed “Halloweekend,” haunting the streets dressed as celebrities, cartoon characters, internet memes and movie stars on their way to house parties and local bars. That spirit’s bleeding over in the halls of the university. It has been for years. Math freshman Ian Frick, for example, dressed Tuesday as Kermit the Frog from The Muppets, thanks to a warm, comfy onesie. He reused the costume from a high school choir performance wherein he sang “Rainbow Connection.” “I wanted to be Kermit today,” Frick said, noting that he saw someone dressed as Big Bird on
campus earlier in the day. They acknowledged each other, he said, adding that he has gotten some funny looks, but that there’s a community among those who wear costumes to class. “If you don’t wear a costume to class, you’re not cool,” Frick said. Psychology freshman Rocco Canfield went gallivanting to his classes as Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” complete with messenger bag, tiara and wanted poster. Unfortunately, he said, no Rapunzel comes with the costume. Canfield said he pieced his costume together—it wasn’t a prefab—and said that making his costume is where a lot of the fun comes from, since he likes making costumes anyway. Much of his appreciation for Halloween comes from his mother, he said, and sharing that love brings him happiness. “I don’t think it’s an embarrassment thing,” Canfield said. “People should be confident in their styles.”
History freshman Nicole Seghers dressed as ketchup to earn 10 extra credit points for one of her history classes. She was learning about Charlemagne, she said. Seghers said she wouldn’t have done it were it not for the bonus points. “People are giving me funny looks, but, you know, just smile and wave,” she said. Animal science seniors Keenon Hill and Alicia Voisin were both dressed in matching dairy cow costumes. They said they were dressed up as their professor’s favorite animal and wanted to surprise her. The professor, Voisin said, was donning a Kim Mulkey-inspired outfit. Though some students in that class wore Halloween inspired clothes, the three of them were the only ones to be in costume, Voisin said. There’s no extra credit involved, Hill said, he and Voisin just thought it’d be fun. The two have been friends since freshman year. They’ve been scheming to do the cow costumes since
September. Dressing up for class is a fun thing to do, Voisin said. She felt that more people should be doing it. “It’s fun and more people should be doing it. It brings a better vibe to the day and class,” Voisin said. “It won’t stress you out or anything. It makes more people laugh and enjoy their day.” Distinguished by his top hat, faux paper money, dapper mannerisms and bright red bow tie, history freshman Ethan Broussard dressed as Mr. Monopoly. He could’ve just been mistaken for a well dressed student were it not for his top hat. He was dressed up for a history class offering extra credit like Segher, only he said he’d have worn the costume either way, he said. The idea to be Mr. Monopoly had been premeditated for a while, he said, and he ordered the parts to make it a complete set this past week. “I just wanted to dress up,” he said. “It’s a fun thing to do.”
JOHN BUZBEE / The Reveille
History freshman Nicole Seghers stands in the Quad sporting a ketchup bottle costume on Oct. 31 in Baton Rouge, La.
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Thursday, November 2, 2023
LSU class focuses on bridging Shakespeare and Taylor Swift ter.
BY EMILY BRACHER @emily_bracher_ LSU offered a class this semester surrounding the connections between Shakespeare’s writing and Taylor Swift. Talon Shoemake, who teaches the class, ENGL 2148, said that many called his idea for this class “gimmicky” and that he was trying to lure people in with Swift. The main focus of the class was for him to build a general education class the students would want to take and enjoy. “I know if I can get them in there, I can get them critically thinking about Shakespeare and literature,” Shoemake said. The class is structured thematically, with each unit focusing on one of Shakespeare’s plays and Swift’s songs that fall under a specific topic. The first unit was on “revenge,” and they heavily evaluated “Titus Andronicus.” Before the units begin, Shoekmake said he gives contextual lectures to clarify subjects like tragedy and how a Shakespearean one differs from a Greek one. During a typical day in class, students will come in after they have listened to the song and read the play. Shoemake said he gives a brief overview before they start to make sure everyone is on the same page. “Shakespeare can be like read-
AVA FRANCIS / The Reveille
ing a foreign language, so the summary serves to demystify it and give them a doorway in,” Shoekmake said. For their revenge unit, Shoemake differentiated how revenge was during Shakespeare’s time versus a more modern approach. He said that we have moved on from bodily harm and blood feuds to more contemporary examples,
such as revenge porn. Shoemake even brought in a sex therapist to talk about the psychological kind of ramifications of revenge porn, and the students were able to take that and compare it to an earlier time period. “We’re trying to find continuities and overlap to argue that Shakespeare was a culture maker
in the same way that Taylor Swift is,” Shoemake said. “I’m always trying to find a way to keep them engaged.” For another assignment, Shoemake put his students in groups and assigned them each a character from “Twelfth Night.” Each group had to build a Facebook for said character and had to write and conduct the page in charac-
“It was a way to meld the writing from the perspective of this early modern character in a very modern digital medium,” Shoemake said. Political science junior Hannah Culp found this class through a friend and said that she made sure to schedule it first. Not only is she a huge “Swiftie,” but the course fulfills her humanities credit. Culp said she is a “huge history nerd” and that this class lets her be one. As the smaller class talks about these early topics, she said that they can have active conversations about their interpretations of different characters and stories. Culp said the class itself is thought-provoking because the conversations in the class are natural when it comes time to dissect the material. “We’re just appreciating two great writers instead of just Shakespeare,” Culp said. Shoemake said that he hopes this class and its style will be able to continue. The interest in the class was proven to be high, as it even had a waitlist going into the start of the semester. “I think that it’s a difficult balancing act because I don’t think that it’s for everybody,” Shoekmake said. “But I think that if people are interested in it, they should continue to do it.”
Rev Rank: ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’ re-record album review BY SAM SEDILO @samsedilo Taylor Swift is another step closer to reclaiming her music with the release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” on Oct. 27. When Swift first released the album back in 2014, it was a breakthrough in her music. The country girl was taking her first step toward pop. She was not only reinventing herself through her music, but also her look. From chopping her hair to give her iconic bob, the sparkly skirts and outfits, and finding a place in New York City, the beginning of “1989” was a new chapter in her life. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” gives the same upbeat tempo in some of her most memorable tracks. With the re-recording process with any of Swift’s “Taylor’s Versions” you can hear just how much she has matured from the original to now. While everyone should always be listening and supporting her re-recordings, we will never unhear some of the originals. With the release of any of her re-recordings comes great expectations. Swift brings new style to every re-recording, so it never sound the same as the original, but some of her most anticipated tracks didn’t live up to the hype. “Style (Taylor’s Version)” was probably the track I was most disappointed to hear. Very monotone vocals make the song fall
short of what it could have been. The thought of a stiffened Swift is what I see when I hear the rerecording. “New Romantics (Taylor’s Version)” sadly falls into my disappointed category. There was more that I wanted to hear from Swift, and she just fell short in parts where I wanted more emotion. Though “Style” and “New Romantics” may have not made their mark, some of her most overlooked tracks on the original are now better with the re-recording. Swift elevated “I Know Places” with her best vocals on this track. The power that she puts into her delivery clears the original by a landslide. Also, hearing “Clean” re-recorded not only gives better vocals, but it gives so much more meaning to Swift stepping forward in her career. Being able to finally get the rights to her first six albums allows her to put the people that did her wrong in the past. Not even a day later, Swift released her deluxe version, which included “Bad Blood (Taylor’s Version)” featuring Kendrick Lamar. The re-recording hit even harder than the original, and Lamar coming back to help Swift step forward in gaining the rights to the only feature on “1989” is legendary. With every “Taylor’s Version” comes “From the Vault” songs that did not make the original. With “1989” allegedly having over 150
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unreleased songs on it, Swift’s song choices show a dark time in her own life. During the original “1989” era, Swift was constantly criticized for her looks and her relationships. Constantly being told she was too big, then told she was too skinny, “Slut!” and “Say Don’t Go” highlight those trying times for her. All the headlines and comments made about her fuel the
five vault tracks about what she endured during this time. “Is It Over Now?” describes Swift dealing with the rumors in the most heartbreaking chorus. Her true thoughts are put on display and, at times, hard to hear. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” brings fans back to 2014 in the prime of Swift’s entrance to pop music. Expectations riding high on the re-recording may have not hit
on some of the most anticipated songs, but it brings forward some of her most underrated tracks. While the vault tracks highlight one of the toughest times in her life, “1989” still brings back nostalgia and heartbreak experienced during this time by Swift in a style only she can do. She continues to show her versatility in her music and strength to continue what she does best.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
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Thursday, November 2, 2023
1 3 32 Remember the feeling of last year’s LSU vs. Alabama game? Recall the big catch? Reminiscing about storming the field? LSU will play Alabama this Saturday, Nov. 4 in Tuscaloosa.
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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle by Jacqueline E. Mathews ACROSS 1 Make bootees 5 “Jack __ could eat no fat…” 10 Doesn’t just sit there 14 Zero 15 Watts or Judd 16 Loafer 17 Back in the day 18 Look forward to 20 Disapproving shout 21 Squealers 22 Carnival attractions 23 U-__; movers’ rentals 25 Simple card game 26 Pub mugs 28 Idaho exports 31 Linger 32 Swap 34 Have supper 36 Mocks 37 New Zealand native 38 “See ya!” 39 Big __; London landmark 40 Rosemary & others 41 Sink 42 Boulevard 44 Beauty shops 45 Antlered animal 46 Compare 47 Moth attractor 50 Location of the Pantheon 51 Phone inventor’s initials 54 Parlor 57 Suffix for convert or collect 58 Leave out 59 Provide with shelter 60 Whitney & others 61 Ties the knot 62 Bury 63 Yanks’ foes
Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews
4 20th letter 5 Escargots 6 Hunger signals 7 Becomes inedible 8 “__ my brother’s keeper?” 9 Little twitch 10 Have high goals 11 Neighbor of Nigeria 12 Carryall 13 Chocolate candy store 19 Angry 21 Ridiculously small 24 Televises 25 Dry streambed 26 Pierce 27 VCR insertions 28 Does paving work 29 Not excessive 30 Kimono fabric 32 Small fruit pie DOWN 33 Estes or Lowe 1 Radio tuner 35 Brown shades 2 Advice to Nanette 37 “Blessed are the __…” 3 Babbling unintelligibly 38 Yarn
11/2/23
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
40 Singer Reddy 41 Cake recipe verb 43 Sends in payment 44 Almost boil 46 Off the leash 47 Move smoothly 48 Shade of green 49 Ardent
11/2/23
50 Overwhelming defeat 52 Smooth-talking 53 Mrs. Truman 55 File drawer, perhaps 56 Gov. DeSantis 57 Suffix for lump or bump
SPORTS HOMETOWN HERO
page 11 FOOTBALL
Inside Bama How Andre’ Sam went from FCS walk-on to the glue of LSU’s secondary and LSU recruitment
BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus
On a muggy September evening in Tiger Stadium, LSU football found itself in a precarious situation. The Tigers’ unstoppable offense was stalling. Jayden Daniels just threw an interception, killing a promising drive and giving the ball back to an Arkansas offense growing in confidence after getting points on its previous drive. Looking to capitalize, Arkansas decided to take a shot. Veteran gunslinger KJ Jefferson fired a pass over the middle, causing the crowd of 100,000 to rise, anxiously waiting to see where the possibly momentum-shifting pass would land. Nervous gasps quickly turned into raucous cheers. Andre’ Sam stepped in front of Tyrone Broden, intercepting the pass and preventing Arkansas from taking control of the game early. The play was huge, but Sam had no choice. He had to make the play, but for the sixth-year senior and former walk-on, those moments never phased him. A natural leader Like many talented high school football players, Sam played numerous roles for Iowa High School in Iowa, Louisiana. He earned AllState honors as a wide receiver and kick returner, catching 178 passes
BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8
When Johns joined the Iowa staff in 2014, he instantly noticed how much the players gravitated towards Sam. Only a sophomore at the time, it didn’t take long for Sam to become a leader on the team.
Recruiting can be considered the basis of college football. If a school doesn’t recruit effectively, it would have to focus solely on development, which some programs are better at than others. But with the addition of the transfer portal, there are more recruiting opportunities than ever before. Some schools have had to rely on the transfer portal, and others can rely on strictly their brand and even loyalty to their home state. Alabama is one of the schools where the brand and home-state push build the program to what it is. When it comes to recruiting in Alabama, the Crimson Tide has it on lockdown. In addition, Alabama recruits in Louisiana better than LSU recruits in Alabama. Here is a comparison* of Alabama’s recruiting against LSU’s from the Class of 2020 to 2023: *Offer and visit listings are courtesy of 247sports *Official visit statistics ex-
see ANDRE’ SAM, page 12
see RECRUITING, page 13
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football senior safety Andre’ Sam (14) celebrates a tackle on Sept. 23 during LSU’s 34-31 victory over Arkansas in Death Valley in Baton Rouge, La. for 2,593 yards and 31 touchdowns over his high school career. “I’ve never coached anybody quite like him,” Iowa head coach Tommy Johns said of Sam. “He was one of those guys who would do anything that you asked. You need him to play receiver, he played re-
ceiver. If you needed him to play DB, he played DB. He returned kicks. Whatever the team needed, he was gonna do it.” Not only was he versatile on the field, but arguably Sam’s most prominent traits were his leadership and passion for the game.
FOOTBALL
LSU vs. Alabama preview: Can LSU repeat last year’s success? BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4 “You want to be at your best when your best is needed,” head coach Brian Kelly said heading into this week’s season-defining matchup with No. 8 Alabama, currently sitting at 7-1. The best is certainly what No. 14 LSU will need to knock off Nick Saban and Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday for a primetime matchup that could very well decide the SEC West. LSU’s offense, luckily, has been just that this season: the best. Quarterback Jayden Daniels is in the thick of the Heisman race, the offensive line has been one of the nation’s finest and wideouts Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. lead the country in receiving yards and touchdowns, respectively. Opponents facing LSU this season have had to ask themselves this question: Can you stop LSU’s offense, or can you only hope to outscore them? The Tide isn’t exactly equipped to do the latter, and while its defense is the best LSU
has faced, the Tigers’ offense has so far been matchup-proof. Still, in an LSU-Alabama matchup, you can throw conventional wisdom out the window, especially when as much is at stake as there is Saturday. Alabama starting quarterback Milroe will lead the charge on offense for the Crimson Tide. He hasn’t been elite this season, but he’s been better than he’s gotten credit for, despite having directed Alabama to a national ranking of No. 77 in passing offense. He has been risk-averse, and his deep ball has been one of the Alabama offense’s best attributes. Milroe’s 10.6 passing yards per attempt ranks No. 3 in the country behind only Jayden Daniels and Michigan’s JJ McCarthy. His connection with bigbodied deep threat receiver Jermaine Burton is central to that deep passing success. Burton is No. 5 in the nation with 22.1 yards per reception for a total of 508 yards and five touchdowns.
see PREVIEW, page 13
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football senior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) gets into formation on Oct. 21 during LSU’s 62-0 victory against Army in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
page 12
Thursday, November 2, 2023
On the lookout: 9 Alabama players to watch against LSU BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti The make or break of LSU’s season comes down to Saturday in Tuscaloosa when the No. 14 Tigers battle the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide. For LSU to have a chance at the Southeastern Conference championship game and winning the SEC West, it needs the win against Alabama. Isolating its impact players will be key. Here are some of the top Crimson Tide threats. Offensive Players Jase McClellan With an Alabama offense that relied heavily on the passing game in the beginning weeks, McClellan didn’t get many carries at running back. Now further into the season and against SEC opponents, McClellan dominates with more attempts than before. McClellan has recorded 569 yards in 122 carries. Wins against Arkansas and Tennessee were largely due to McClellan’s explosiveness. He had 115 yards against the Volunteers, and the Crimson Tide will lean on his talents against LSU. He’s also a threat to the Tigers because of his ability to catch out of the backfield. With an average of 71 yards per game, LSU needs to contain him. Jermaine Burton Playing for two powerhouse SEC schools, Georgia and Alabama, Burton is a top wide re-
ANDRE’ SAM, from page 11 “If people knew Andre was doing it, they better do it,” Johns said. “If they need a little kick in the butt, he’ll give them a kick in the butt. If they need a hug to kind of motivate them to get them going, he’ll do that too.” Sam’s attitude and leadership translated to the highest level of college football. In a thin safety room going into the season, he saw playing time right away, rotating in alongside Major Burns and Greg Brooks Jr. The group had early struggles, giving up 45 points to Florida State in the season opener, but just days prior to LSU’s Week 3 matchup with Mississippi State, devastating news rocked the program. Brooks had to undergo surgery for a large brain tumor, later being diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer. Without Brooks, LSU lost a leader and one of its only safeties. There was no more rotation; Sam became an every-down player and slowly started to thrive in that role. “There’s a rotation of one. It’s Andre’ and Andre’,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said after the Arkansas game. “He plays with a lot of energy and we need him out there. I don’t think he takes a play off.” A month and a half later, Sam is tied for fifth in the SEC in interceptions with three and is LSU’s joint second-leading tackler, just one tackle behind Greg Penn III’s
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football junior wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (7) achieves a first down on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. ceiver with skillful technique in every route he runs. Whether it’s using his speed on the long ball or catching short receptions and adding extra yards, LSU has to keep him covered and not allow him to beat out the defensive back. Burton ties for the most receptions on the team with 23. He has 508 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns, the most for anyone on the Tide’s roster. Isaiah Bond Along with Burton, this wide receiver has 23 receptions. Bond is positioned as the slot receiver. He’s fast, physical and can exteam-leading 51. The stats show Sam’s tangible impact on each game, but his presence is felt not only as a playmaker. From communicating calls and assignments to steadily improving as a tackler, Sam brings a much needed sense of stability to the back end of LSU’s defense. “When I’m talking to Dre, I feel comfortable. I feel like he’s a guy that can be counted on,” Penn said. Overlooked Despite his leadership paired with both individual and team success, Sam never received much Division I interest while in high school. Another example of a small-town, talented Louisiana player flying under the radar, Sam walked on at McNeese State after graduating from Iowa High School in 2017. “A lot of people at the time questioned his speed and stuff like that, but I was like ‘Guys, he’s a football player though,’” Johns said. “This guy can make plays, he’s smart and he was on our 4x100 and 4x200 meter relays in high school that were always top two or three in the state track meet.” Even as a walk-on, Sam made an early impression at McNeese. He earned a scholarship within his first semester at the school, and was a two-time First Team AllSouthland Conference player by the time he graduated following the 2021 season. Graduation from McNeese gave Sam an opportunity to transfer and
ploit gaps in coverage. With three touchdowns and 360 yards, Bond is second to Burton in both categories. He is expected to be a punt returner in this game, which should showcase his speed against LSU. Jalen Milroe LSU must keep pressure on Milroe, Alabama’s quarterback. This will force him to make tough throws, and hopefully stop him from escaping the pocket for big run plays. Milroe sits at No. 3 for the Crimson Tide’s offense in rushing yards with 142. He also has 1,617 passing yards. He’s recorded
13 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns. JC Latham Arguably one of the Tide’s highest-impact players, Latham is 6-foot-6-inch, 360-pound right tackle. He no doubt will give LSU pass rushers trouble when the Tigers are attempting to get to Milroe. He embodies the physicality in players that Alabama has been known for throughout its history. LSU linebackers like Harold Perkins Jr. will be key to put pressure on the edge. Defensive players
Dallas Turner Outside linebacker Turner is aggressive and breaks through offensive lines to put pressure on the quarterback. He leads the SEC in sacks and is an elite speed rusher. He’s stronger and more powerful than last season and has recorded 10 quarterback hurries and 11.5 tackles for losses. Right now, he’s No. 18 on PFF’s Big Board for the 2024 NFL Draft. Chris Braswell Braswell has 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Both he and Turner are outside linebackers in the 3-4 defense and will pose huge threats from both sides to LSU’s offensive line, and especially to quarterback Jayden Daniels. Together they’re dynamic playmakers that should make an impact on Saturday. Kool-Aid McKinstry McKinstry has one of the highest forced interception rates in the NCAA over the last two years. At cornerback, he has five pass breakups and was named one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award on Tuesday. McKinstry will aim to stop LSU’s receivers and has the speed to keep them constantly covered. Caleb Down This strong safety is sixth in the SEC for total tackles and tied at second for solo tackles. In his true freshman season, Downs leads the defense with 63 tackles and two interceptions. He was selected to the On3 Midseason Freshman AllAmerican Team.
SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille
LSU football junior running back Tyrion Davis-Price (3) fights through a tackle by McNeese State junior defensive back Andre Sam (21) Sept. 11, 2021, during LSU’s 34-7 win against McNeese State University at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. he landed first at Marshall. He continued to impress, making 53 tackles with eight pass deflections and an interception during the 2022 season. After proving himself at the FBS level, Sam wanted to come back home. He initially transferred to Tulane in January, but after re-entering the transfer portal in May, Sam got the opportunity many football players in Louisiana dream of; a chance to play at LSU. From the moment Sam took his visit, the decision was easy. There was nowhere else he wanted to go. The once overlooked two-way
player now had an opportunity to represent his home state on the biggest stage in college football. “Where I am from, Lake Charles, Louisiana, most kids don’t get the opportunity to wear this jersey,” Sam said after this season’s Army game, expressing what playing for LSU means to him. Sam isn’t overlooked anymore. His impact is felt both as a playmaker and leader, now at the highest level of college football. From small high school stadiums to roaring SEC crowds, Sam continues to be the ultimate team player: someone who can play almost any role for a team and has the com-
petitive edge to bring life to an LSU defense that has faced every kind of adversity imaginable over the course of the season. But as one challenge passes, another appears. LSU now prepares to meet Alabama in Tuscaloosa with a secondary featuring predominantly freshmen, with all four of its transfer corners currently inactive. Sam’s experience and leadership will once again be put to the test, this time in LSU’s biggest game of the season. But as a passionate, football-loving kid from southwest Louisiana living out his dream, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
page 13
Thursday, November 2, 2023 RECRUITING, from page 11 cludes the Class of 2021 because COVID-19 prohibited official visits *Players who transferred after signing are included in the statistics because of initial signing out of high school • Alabama signees with an LSU offer: 76/105 signees (72.4%) • Alabama signees with an LSU offer who are from Alabama: 20/76 signees (26.3%) • Alabama signees with an LSU offer that took an official visit to LSU: 7/76 signees (9.2%) • Alabama signees with an LSU offer that took an official visit to LSU who are from Alabama: 1/76 (1.3%) • Alabama signees from Louisiana: 7/105 signees (6.67%) • LSU signees with an Alabama offer: 37/87 signees (42.5%) • LSU signees with an Alabama offer who are from Louisiana: 17/37 signees (45.9%) • LSU signees with an Alabama offer that took an official visit to Alabama: 6/37 signees (16.2%) • LSU signees with an Alabama offer that took an official visit to Alabama who are from Louisiana: 4/37 signees (10.8%) • LSU signees from Alabama: 2/105 (1.9%) This may look like a lot, so let’s explain. First, LSU offered more players who are also being recruited by Alabama over the past four recruiting classes. The Tigers offered almost as many Alabama signees as recruits they’ve landed themselves, regardless of state. Notable current Alabama players who held an LSU offer are Jase McClellan, Dallas Turn-
er and J.C. Latham. Next, Alabama offered a greater percentage of players from Louisiana than LSU offered players from Alabama. This shows that Alabama sees Louisiana as more of an effective recruiting ground than LSU sees Alabama. Notable LSU players from Louisiana who held an Alabama offer are Brian Thomas Jr., Maason Smith and Will Campbell. Alabama has also hosted more LSU signees for official visits than LSU has hosted Alabama signees. However, in the 2022 class, no LSU signee took an official visit to Alabama. But Alabama has hosted more LSU signees from Louisiana than LSU has hosted Alabama signees from Alabama. Kayshon Boutte and Jacobian Guillory, members of the 2020 class, each took official visits to Alabama. Kaleb Jackson took one as well. Demouy Kennedy, also a member of the 2020 class, was the only Alabama signee from Alabama to take an official visit to LSU. He now plays at Colorado. Many players were recruited by both Alabama and LSU, and for the majority of them, they stayed in their home state rather than going to the opposing state. However, the times where this wasn’t the case is what sets one apart from the other. From the 2020 class to the 2023 class, Alabama signed seven players from Louisiana; Kendrick Law, Eli Holstein and Shazz Preston to name a few. LSU, however, signed just two players from Alabama, and only one, Armoni Goodwin, remains on the team. The other, Eric Taylor, now plays at Mississippi State. When it comes to recruiting
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football senior wide reciever Kyren Lacy (2) celebrates a touchdown with LSU football junior wide reciever Malik Nabers (8) on Oct. 21, during LSU’s 62-0 victory against Army in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football junior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws the ball over his opponent on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. more effectively, many think the concept of winning more football games is the solution. Can this be true? Yes, but where the talent is located also plays a role. In the class of 2024, the current high school senior class, Alabama holds seven players ranked within the top 100 and 12 within the top 200, according to the 247sports composite rankings. Not to mention, Alabama competes with Auburn to keep in-state recruits home; LSU is the only Power Five school in Louisiana. Louisiana, on the other hand, holds two players inside the Top
100, one of which is committed to LSU, Trey’Dez Green, and five within the Top 200. Three of those five recruits are committed to LSU. LSU still recruits Louisiana very well, as 15 of its 26 commitments are in-state recruits (57.7%). Alabama, on the other hand, holds nine in-state pledges out of its 20 commitments (45.0%). But Auburn, the Crimson Tide’s counterpart, currently holds 10 commitments from Alabama in its class of 2024. However, according to 247sports, Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class is ranked No. 5 in the country, as opposed to LSU’s
No. 9 rank. While LSU holds more commitments, the phrase “quality over quantity” can be used. Alabama has shown it can be picky about who it recruits, hence less offers given out compared to LSU. But Alabama’s brand and in-state loyalty has shown to carry more weight than LSU’s. LSU recruiting in-state well is a step in the right direction. There are currently no recruits from Louisiana committed to Alabama. But when it comes to recruiting where the talent is located, Alabama has had the edge.
PREVIEW, from page 11
tence. However, with how bad LSU’s defense has been at points this season, there’s a chance Alabama’s offense could produce one of its best outings of the season. The Tide will certainly seek to establish the run against LSU’s poorly-ranked rush defense, and they’ll take deep shots at LSU’s inexperienced cornerback room of Sage Ryan, Ashton Stamps, Jeremiah Hughes and Javien Toviano. Still, Alabama managed only 24 points when it faced Ole Miss, and the Rebels’ defense looked every bit as vulnerable as LSU’s when the two played. In addition, the Tiger defense has been steadily improving, and Alabama’s vertically-oriented pass game could give passrushers like Harold Perkins Jr. time to get home. As usual, Alabama’s defense is one of the best in the country, making this team reminiscent of past Tide teams with a dominant defense and a middling, runheavy offense. Up front, the Tide get after the quarterback better than almost anyone. Alabama’s 28 sacks rank No. 8 in the country, and the fearsome edge rusher
duo of Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell rank No. 10 and No. 14 in the nation with seven and 6.5 sacks, respectively. The team combines its pressure with solid coverage downfield from cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold and true freshman safety Caleb Downs. As a result, Alabama has stifled opposing pass defenses, allowing the second-lowest opponent passer rating in the SEC. The Tide have been equally effective against the run and in the red zone, ranking No. 13 in the nation in yards per rush allowed and No. 15 in red zone touchdown rate allowed. Daniels and company will face their toughest test of the season. The offensive line, particularly tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., will have to face off against a talented front and help keep the offense away from negative plays and on schedule. Taking down rival Alabama in a repeat of LSU’s upset win from a year ago will require a concerted effort from the Tigers. A win is essential for either team’s less-than-certain campaigns to reach the College Football Playoff.
Milroe also presents a threat on the ground. Taking out sack yardage, he has ran for 354 yards and five touchdowns this year for 7.5 yards per carry. Much of the offense’s struggles can be attributed to Alabama’s offensive line. The unit has allowed 35 sacks, the fourthmost in the nation. Problems have shown up for the offensive line in the run game as well, which is an issue for a team whose identity relies on running the ball. Of the 53 FBS teams that have over 300 rushing attempts, only seven have an average lower than Alabama’s 3.74 yards per rush. Alabama has had some recent success wearing down teams and running out the clock with lead back Jase McClellan, but it still hasn’t been an efficient attack. Alabama’s offense has had major problems with starting slow. Aside from its 40-17 win over Mississippi State, Alabama has scored just 51 first half points since week one compared to 96 in the second half. Against an LSU offense that’s capable of pulling away out of the gate, a slow start could be a death sen-
page 14
Thursday, November 2, 2023
How this year’s Alabama game compares to LSU’s 2022 win BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti Death Valley roared as Alabama took the snap on third-andgoal in overtime. Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young handed the ball off to Roydell Williams for an inside run up the middle into the end zone, and the stakes drastically rose as LSU would need to score on its first overtime drive. Could Jayden Daniels, in his first matchup against Alabama, deliver the equalizer and then the win? The short answer was yes and yes. Sticking to his bread and butter, Daniels kept the ball and ran for a 25-yard touchdown, beating out four defenders. The score was 31-30, and kicking a PAT to go into double overtime was never a consideration for the Tigers. Head coach Brian Kelly had faith in his offense and took the risk to go for two. “From my perspective, it’s really about a gut feeling at the time more so than what’s the perfect scenario,” Kelly said in a press conference on Monday. “I think the feeling was we were executing at a high level at that time. It was time to go for it.” All fans were on their feet with fingers crossed when freshman tight end Mason Taylor caught the game-winning pass from Daniels. The saying “the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward” came true for LSU. The memories of brutal losses to Tennessee and Florida State were wiped from fans’ minds as they stormed the field in celebration and ultimate shock. Defeating Alabama was a defining moment in the Tigers’ long haul for the SEC West title and SEC Championship appearance. When these two teams meet,
it’s anyone’s game, but can history repeat itself two years in a row for an LSU upset? In 2022, No. 6 and 7-1 Alabama was favored by 13.5 points over No. 10 and 6-2 LSU. Now, No. 8 and 7-1 Alabama is favored by three points over No. 13 and 6-2 LSU. But the similarities don’t end there. In back-to-back season openers, LSU lost to Florida State, and many predicted this loss to be its only before facing Alabama. However, the challenges of playing in the SEC surfaced. In 2022, it was a 40-13 massacre from Tennessee and this year a close Ole Miss win handed the Tigers their second loss. For two years in a row, schools named UT seem to be Alabama’s Achilles’ heel, giving the Crimson Tide one loss before the LSU game. In 2022, Tennessee won off a go-ahead field goal in the final two seconds. This season, Texas beat Alabama 34-24 in Week 2. Like last season, Saturday’s matchup greatly impacts the tune of the rest of each team’s season. The winning team will continue its battle toward the SEC Championship game and aim to win out. LSU would likely reach the top 10 with a win over Alabama, similar to how it jumped from No. 10 to No. 7 in this time frame last year. While this rivalry’s importance is the same every year and this matchup’s conditions feel identical to 2022, these two teams are very different now. The Tigers’ offense is superior to last season. LSU is ranked No. 1 in Division I for total offense, averaging 8.1 yards per play. It already has 4,423 offensive yards compared to only 6,344 total for 2022. Because of LSU’s flaws on defense early this season, the offense has had to carry this team.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football freshman tight end Mason Taylor (86) reaches for the ball to make a touchdown on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Daniels has increased his accuracy and confidence on offense since last season’s constant scrambles in the pocket. This Heisman-contending Daniels has 25 touchdowns and over 2,500 passing yards. In 2023, the Crimson Tide defense has improved in talent and overall performance. It ranks in the top 20 for total defense, defensive touchdowns and team tackles for loss. This high-powered defense is going to be gunning for LSU’s offense Alabama’s defense had breakout games against Mississippi
State and Tennessee. Two defenders had over 10 tackles each, and the defense combined for eight tackles for loss, four pass breakups and four sacks against the Volunteers. On the other hand, the LSU defense lost big names in the offseason and has not yet reached the level it was with BJ Ojulari, Jay Ward, Micah Baskerville and Mekhi Garner. While the Tigers’ defense was slowly improving after the Ole Miss loss, injuries sidelined two top defenders: Zy Alexander and Mekhi Wingo. This setback will affect the Tigers in their biggest game, and freshmen will have to step up. Luckily for them, the Bama offense has declined since 2022. It’s hard to replace a quarterback like Bryce Young, and Alabama lost many talented wide receivers in the draft. New starting
quarterback Jalen Milroe and the rest of the offense had a rocky start this season. The offense took many weeks to find its identity after Milroe was benched in Week 3 and then reinserted as the starter. The offensive line is not what it used to be, and the front seven have had major struggles with many missteps. There’s one huge difference that shouldn’t be taken lightly: the location of this game. The 32-31 win was largely due to the Death Valley atmosphere. Playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium will give the Crimson Tide that same leg up. It was anybody’s game last season, and that remains true, no matter the similarities and differences to the Tigers’ onepoint win, on Saturday it’s about whether LSU can fire on all cylinders for 60 minutes.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille
LSU football sophomore wide receiver Malik Nabers (8) pushes through the defense on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU football junior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) strides down the field on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
OPINION
page 15
These problematic Halloween costumes need to go, now SERIOUSLY KIDDING FRANK KIDD
@FK446852315 Editor’s note: The following column is satire. Halloween is a great opportunity to express oneself; however, there are certain pitfalls to be avoided. The recent revelation that doing blackface is bad is a step in the right direction, but many problematic costumes have still gone unscrutinized. Karen The term has become a slur for some of the most marginalized people in society: white women. Wearing this costume is wholly inappropriate. Imagine the psychological impact it’ll have on any so-called K-words who see this. They’ll probably call the police, and they’d be right to do so. Wearing this costume is essentially a hate crime. What else are they supposed to do? Whoever decided that this costume should be sold; I’d like to speak to their manager.
GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS
Sexy Anything Sexy nurse, sexy referee, sexy witch and others are classic costumes. The problem with these is the implication that the people in these professions are ugly. Otherwise, why would you need a sexy version of it? Putting on that nurse costume is essentially saying, “I don’t get medical care anymore, because the thought of seeing a nurse’s ugly face makes me sicker than any disease I could possibly have.” Implying that referees are ugly
ignores the swaths of people who tune into the game just to see those zebras run and make calls. Many people are quite smitten with witches as well, so anyone thinking of wearing one of these costumes should remember that they’re engaging in uggophobia. Shrek The classic animated film has inspired people to dress as the titular character since its release. Every year, Halloween party goers put on a Shrek suit and some even go as far as to paint their faces green and
wear Shrek ears. The costume is incredibly disrespectful to Ogres, especially the ones that use greenface. This one needs to stay in the closet forever. The Riddler One of the most popular Batman villains, the Riddler has become a staple for people who consider themselves clever. They like to go around speaking in riddles they find amusing, but they haven’t considered that people with anxiety may be triggered by simple questions, let alone riddles. They like to present riddles like, “What can you break, even if you never pick it up or touch it?” without considering that the listener wants to break their face. Any of The Scooby-Doo Gang Fred, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Scooby are all problematic costumes. We supposedly live in a world where the police are being demythologized, yet every Halloween, the costumes of volunteer police officers fly off the shelves. Imagine being a high schooler and spending your time cruising around in a van looking to do police brutality. These free-time fascists should have never been on
TV, and they definitely don’t belong on a list of acceptable festive costumes. Hippie Everyone dressing as a flower child should remember that hippies weren’t all about free love and opposition to war; there was a much darker side to the movement. Many of them did hard drugs like marijuana and became hopelessly addicted. This addiction is no laughing matter, as marijuana overdoses account for 900,000 deaths a year in America. Imagine someone walking into a Halloween party with a belt tied around their arm and a spoon in hand while scratching themselves. Everyone else would rightly tell them to go home and find a more appropriate costume. If that same person came dressed as a ganja addict, everyone would cheer. This Halloween should be the most inclusive one yet, but these costumes and others stand in the way. The less they’re seen, the closer society comes to true equality. Frank Kidd is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Springfield, Virginia.
With everything it has to offer, fall is by far the best season ISABELLA’S INSIGHTS ISABELLA ALBERTINI
@BasedIsabella
You didn’t win the lottery, and class didn’t get canceled, but life is better because it’s fall. You can walk outside, and it no longer feels like you’re in an oven. Everything smells like pumpkin spice. You can wear your favorite sweatshirts and not sweat anymore. There are a million reasons why fall is the best season in Baton Rouge, especially for a college student. Midterms are done, and you can look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas. Football season is in full swing, and you’ll no longer melt on the Parade Ground at noon. There’s a chilly breeze that counteracts the still-shining rays of the sun—the perfect weather for being outside. Fall also has many traditions that make it such an enjoyable season. From pumpkin painting to visiting a pumpkin patch, apple picking and getting lost in a corn maze,
fall activities bring us out to nature and take us back to childhood. From the “It’s Corn!” song that went viral last year on TikTok to the ever-resilient trendiness of UGG boots throughout the years, fall has so many symbols that make it such a beloved season. Like the Charlie Brown pumpkin patch episode or Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” there are some things we just fall back to every time fall comes around to fill us with that feeling of coziness and home. Whether you like hot chocolate or pumpkin-spiced lattes, fall is the season to grab a warm drink and curl up with a good mystery book or watch a Disney classic. The food also makes fall the best season. When else can you eat Trader Joe’s apple cider doughnuts? Cinnamon rolls, caramel apples, pecan pies, buttery popcorn, warm doughnuts, sweet potato pudding, cranberry sauce—the list goes on. Fall fashion is also a favorite of mine. You can dress fashionably and without freezing or sweating. Knitted cardigans and sweaters, UGG boots and fuzzy scarfs, your
favorite oversized hoodie or monocolor crewneck, ankle boots with patterned socks and, let’s not forget, beige or tan fedoras. Yes, all this and more makes fall so special. I could write about it forever. And maybe it’s not everyone’s favorite season, but there
really is nothing not to love about fall. So immerse yourself in this too-short season and breathe in the cinnamon-scented candles. Go outside and appreciate the foliage. For, in fall, you can almost feel time slow down and see it pass by as
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the blowing wind ruffles the leaves in the trees and knocks them to the ground, where they crunch delightfully under footsteps. Isabella Albertini is a 23-year-old mass communication junior from Lima, Peru.
GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS
Quote of the Week “A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism.” Georges Bataille French philosopher 1897 — 1962