re: Florida at home always takes me back to 1997

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Anyone else remember pre-game when the LSU fan stole the gator fans' sign and got chased around before other LSU fans pulled him to safety in the student section? Made the reveille I recall.

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That guy is a poster here JPinLondon, and I was his lesser known accomplice who ran a little interference on those two douchebags that brought over the sign. When he saw the guys bringing over the sign, he looked at me and said something to the effect of "there is no way they are going to get away with that in Tiger Stadium", we proceeded to get around them and without him telling me, he goes down behind them, give me a look and makes a break for it and snags the sign from behind. He runs towards me and I am able to slow the guys down a little while he makes his way to student section, where the jumps for safety, and the sign was torn to shreds. The two guys stop real quick, some words were exchanges, and they cowered back to their seats.

He was eventually given a piece of the bedsheet which he still has today. I'll text him to see if he can chime in on the subject.

I do think that eposide set the tone for the crowd. It was loud in there, louder than any other game I've attended.

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Close, but you missed it by a week.

October 18, 1997

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The Rant investigative team is out! Yep, Oct 18, 1997 was the date of his Christian ceremony in BR and I'm sure the one he officially recognizes. But, on October 11, 1997 they had the Indian ceremony and reception in New Orleans. Of all things, why would I make something like that up?



Only point was it was one of the best decisions I've ever made to go to the LSU - UF game, instead. I think I still have the grass and ticket stub from the game (and like many others an autographed Faulk SI).

I was not there - I was in Lafayette with the best woman I ever had. Both LSU and I had very happy endings - I should have married that woman!

Same, signed by Kevin Faulk.

I wasn't at the game, but I went in 1999 for my first ever visit to Tiger Stadium. I remember everyone being amped up to think we could win again as big underdogs. Sat in that driving rainstorm all night while my dad and uncle kept asking me if I wanted to leave. Also remember Mike the Tiger and the LSU cheerleaders sliding in the wet grass on the west side of the stadium.

Went to the game. Woke up the next morning with bruises all up and down my shins from jumping up and down and not realizing I was hitting the seat in front of me.

That's one of those games where you start the conversation like,"I remember what I was doing when..." That game felt like we would win even before it started. Tiger stadium was just magic that night. The fans were the best and loudest as ever. Players rode the wave to victory. Fun night.

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Anyone else remember pre-game when the LSU fan stole the gator fans' sign and got chased around before other LSU fans pulled him to safety in the student section? Made the reveille I recall.

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"Work 'em silly, Gators" That douche made the same sign for many games. Glad it was stolen. The student section basically disintegrated it.

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One of the great moments in Tiger Stadium history. I remember them chasing him until he got close enough to throw the sign (written on a sheet) into the student section. Students shredded it and were throwing the pieces back at the florida fans. The UF fans were complaining to the cops who were laughing at them.
I honestly believe that was the play of the game and sparked the Tigers to victory

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I do think that eposide set the tone for the crowd. It was loud in there, louder than any other game I've attended.

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siliconvalleytiger, EvrybodysAllAmerican & gizmoflak... thanks for remembering me "Protecting This House"!!. It was quite an adrenaline rush, but I can tell y'all the details if you are interested:

-- I spotted them coming over from around the East Side, ~35 yard line, near the top (pre-east-side-upper-deck)

-- I told my friend Nick (nicklsu on The Rant) that "there's no way they are coming over to the LSU Student Section to taunt us... where the f#ck do they think they are... Vanderbilt??"... But closer and closer they got, I was watching every step they made as they rounded the North Endzone.

-- I mean, seriously, we may have lost nine in a row to Florida, including a couple humiliating games, BUT this was STILL the LSU STUDENT SECTION

-- PLEASE?!?!?!

-- We were in our normal seats, around the middle of the Student Section, maybe 1/3 of the way between the goal post and the band (band was in a different location in '97 than now); I grabbed Nick P. and said "back me up"

-- we scurried onto the lower ring walkway and I scooted through the Student Section; I calmly passed the (possibly jort-clad) invaders, eyes-down, so as to not let them know I knew they existed.

-- I got behind them and they didn't notice me, I was maybe 20 feet back... I trotted down to their location... they were standing on benches with an empty bench between them

-- I hopped over the higher bench, landing on the empty bench and amazingly, they still didn't notice me - I assume the 10,000 angry students were more on their mind - plus Nick was distracting them also, in front but not too close to cause them to react.

-- so now, I approached from behind and I had a big smile because I knew it would be EASY (since I was STILL undetected)

-- I snatched the sheet/sign from behind with every bit of strength I had, but it came out of their grasp so very easily (I thought they were clutching it tightly, but apparently not)

-- I started running, behind them and up... I got a huge lead as I bolted for the safety of the student section (that element of surprise is mighty advantageous)... I became aware of my insurmountable lead on them and I assumed they'd not be charging the students, so I turned around, taunted them and waved the sign at them

-- then someone lifted the rope and I all but dove into the student section and tossed the sheet into the air and it was promptly shredded.

-- they next part ranks slightly behind my wedding day, graduation day, the final space shuttle launch that I watched from KSC countdown clock, and a few other special moments in my life... some huge guy puts me on his shoulders and walks me down to the corner of the student section and you guys all gave me a friggin' awesome standing and screaming ovation... damn that was cool, thanks!!

-- back in our seats, a cute girl hugged me and handed me a piece of the sign; a few months later, that fragment was hung around my neck for my graduation

John P
Mechanical Engineering
May 1998

I thought it might be something like that which is why I didn't call you a big fat liar.

Besides, who would make that up?

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quote:I was there. Everyone I know was there

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I was home screaming at the television.