Have you ever waited for a big event with much anticipation but only have it turn out as a big dud?
That was me Saturday for the big LSU football game against Alabama in Tiger Stadium.
The game between the teams is always big because of the rivalry but was bigger this year because of playoff implications.
There was so much build up before the game. ESPN’s College GameDay was on campus for the first time since 2019. Paul Skenes returned to campus to be the show’s guest picker with his girlfriend LSU gymnast and Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Livvy Dunne at his side.
Governor Jeff Landry, in his infinite wisdom, even rented a live tiger to go into Tiger Stadium before the game just like Mike the Tiger would do years before.
And, it seemed the stars were lining up on the day of the game as Miami and Georgia, two teams ahead of LSU in the playoff rankings, lost.
Saturday was also the first day I tailgated in a year or so. I bounced around to a few different spots and caught up with people I hadn’t seen in a while. While bouncing around, I also walked through campus and the quad. Every time I walk through campus and the quad, I think of all the good times I had there as a student. The last tailgating spot I stopped at Saturday was by the Greek Theater. That brought back other memories because that was one of our old tailgating spots years ago.
With everything going on, it was as if Ice Cube was somewhere singing “It Was a Good Day.”
Then the rent-a-tiger came out.
I was in the press box for the game, and my seat was almost directly over the entrance where the tiger came out. He was in the same cage as before, and it was pulled by the same Ford truck as before.
My inner nerd child was all fired up as the video played on the new screen in the north endzone.
We had made it, and nothing could go wrong.
But, wait, there’s more.
I thought the truck pulling the cage would do like all other times previously and ride around the stadium to shouts of cheering fans and park near the Alabama entrance.
It didn’t.
During the National Anthem, I watched the truck pull forward and then back up and then proceed out of the tunnel it came in through. The whole experience with the tiger was a let down. It’s as if it said “hi” and “bye” and left.
Then the game started. That was a complete letdown from the opening possession. LSU had two weeks to prepare for the game and came out with no energy, effort, or anything.
There was only one thing that could salvage the day from being a total disaster... postgame Whataburger.
But, again, there’s more. With the way traffic was diverted after the game I had to take River Road, I could not even get close to the Whataburger on Burbank Drive. I couldn’t even get close to Jack in the Box. I had to settle for Wendy’s on Essen Lane after being stuck in traffic for about an hour and a half.
Now, days like that help you appreciate the good things in your life. The best thing about the LSU game was the halftime show. It was the usual Veterans Day salute where the Golden Band from Tigerland plays the songs from each of the different branches of the Armed Forces. It’s always cool to see the band form a tank and a submarine. Anyone else think of Gomer Pyle each time you hear The Marines’ Hymn?
The sun still came up Sunday morning, and Saturday’s letdown also didn’t diminish the best part of last week... Donald Trump still won.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.