Thirty Years Ago Today

It's funny you mention this, my neighbor was out walking his dog last night, here in Orlando, and stopped to talk about the upcoming Cap One bowl, and the subject of fan turnout came up. I told him that I was going to the game but wasn't sure how many LSU fans would actually show up. He said LSU fans travel well. He remembered them playing in that Tangerine bowl in '79 and was there and apparently the fans were out in force for Cholly Mac's last game. Hope we don't get outnumbered by Penn State.

I remember it. I was a freshman that year.

I was a freshman that year we opened with Rice and lost late in the fourth quarter to USC. Drew Dossett was highly recruited out of Shreveport's Jesuit High and was playing for USC and was quoted that he felt like he would play against LSU because they would blow us out. He didn't see the field that night.

I remember being excited just because the game was on TV. Raycom, or something along those lines, if I remember correctly. I don't mean to sound like Dandy Don going on about the old days, but it was a big deal for those of us did not go to games in person to be able to see the Tigers back then.

Although they finished with only a 7-5 record, that '79 team was really good. They lost to power house Bama and USC teams by 17-12 and 3-0 scores and if memory serves, their schedule was murderous that year.

I was there.

A night or two before the game I was sitting on a stool in the hotel bar when I saw Mac walk by. I yelled "Coach Mac" and hurried in his direction to shake his hand. We shook, he looked at me in my intoxicated state and asked, "Are you ready to play, son."

True story.

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A night or two before the game I was sitting on a stool in the hotel bar when I saw Mac walk by. I yelled "Coach Mac" and hurried in his direction to shake his hand. We shook, he looked at me in my intoxicated state and asked, "Are you ready to play, son."

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Great story. Miss old Charlie. He was a gem.

I had finished undergrad and Grad school at LSU was at the U of South Carolina in more Grad school (A professional student) it was my first LSU game on TV that season and I missed it so much. Yeah I yelled Help Mac Pack.

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December 22, 1979. Cholly Mac's final game as Tiger head coach, a 34-10 victory over Wake Forest in the Tangerine Bowl (later to become the Citrus Bowl and later the CapOne Bowl).

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He was a great guy loved by all. Of course, the fans today would have run him out on a rail for being mediocre and not winning championships.

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December 22, 1979. Cholly Mac's final game as Tiger head coach, a 34-10 victory over Wake Forest in the Tangerine Bowl (later to become the Citrus Bowl and later the CapOne Bowl

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I remember it well. COLD NIGHT!!!!Charley MAC!!!!!!!!!

Guys, I was there too, a freshman at LSU in 1979. Now are you ready for this. I live in Houston. Last weekend I took my wife to a very old run down antique shop. The owners are the Stantons. There is Ed Sr. Ed Jr and Trey who now plays basketball for LSU. Ed Stanton Jr was an offensive lineman, best friends with Bradley (wrote the book "It never rains in Tiger Stadium). Anyway we got to taking and he showed me the game ball from the last game in Tiger Stadium from 1979 signed by all the players including McClendon. He told me about the players carrying McClendon off the field. This old football was dirty and deflated. I plan to make an offer on it this week but I don't think he will sell it.

Merry Christmas and cheers to the the great days we shared at LSU!

G