Twelve weeks ago, on Labor Day Sunday, I was sitting in the press box of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome watching a flat LSU team fall to Florida State. The season ended this past Saturday much like how it began with me sitting in the Kyle Field press box watching the same flat LSU team fall to Texas A&M.
It was my fourth time seeing LSU play the Aggies.
The first was in the 2011 Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas. LSU, in that game, beat up on Ryan Tannehill, who is now the starting quarterback of the Tennessee Titans. That was a quick but fun trip. I went with Jeff Stewart and Jake Deville. We drove in, hung out at Third Base Grill across from Six Flags, went to the game, and then drove back home the next morning.
Later that year, LSU played Texas A&M during the regular season in College Station. It was the first time the teams played as SEC West rivals. Jake and I drove in the day before the game and went hang out at the Northgate section just off of campus. The game itself was at 11 a.m. that Saturday morning. Our seats were at the top of the nose-bleed section of the end zone, and we had to climb some steep steps to get up there. While walking to our seats, I told Jake if I die at least I would be close to Heaven. Eventually, when we got to our seats, we got to experience the Aggie yell and war chant for the first time. Believe me, it is not that impressive. What was impressive was LSU beating up on the eventual Heisman winning quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Two years ago, I went back to College Station for the LSU game and was able to have a media credential. I picked up Jason Bergeron that Saturday on the way in Houston and again went hang out at Northgate. That experience, though, was stoic in a sense because of COVID restrictions. The press box looked like a ghost town. What stands out are two guys talking about a true crime podcast and some girl speed typing. In the press box, there were signs letting us know the press box sways during the war chant. Well, it did not that night because the seating capacity of Kyle Field was limited. That, and the game itself, was a let down. Another let down was the menu. It was ham and turkey sandwiches.
On the return trip this past weekend, I went with fellow LSN sports writer and radio host Raymond Partsch III. It was a quick trip much like the bowl game. We drove in that afternoon, parked, and walked to the stadium. One thing though, we got the full Kyle Field experience from the press box at night. And, yes, the press box does sway during the war chant. I do not understand the physics of it, but it does happen. Adding to the experience was the menu with pasta bolognese. That was much better than the game.
During the game, I realized the last true road game I went to that LSU won in any sport was Syracuse in 2015. So, I am self imposing a road game ban on myself- until LSU plays Missouri in Columbia next fall.
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