Tiger Spirit Needs to Be Revived.....

"In my father's mind, LSU's football team represented the entire state of LA, and the way the team performed gave the rest of the nation a snapshot of what kind of people we were. Notre Dame's boys might be bigger and stronger than ours, but we weren't afraid to line up against them and see who wanted it more....the Tigers were usually the underdog, just like the state of LA. Our players scrapped and hustled and always showed good sportsmanship, never more so than when we lost. On defense, they fought off larger opponents, swarmed to the ball, made spirited gang tackles; on offense, everyone gave a second effort, including the QB, who wasn't afraid to lower his shoulder and block a player twice his size if that is what it took to win....

My father had no use for showboats or loudmouths. He believeed humility was equivalent to class in a man, and nothing pleased him more than to hear a player deflect praise he'd earned and credit his teammates instead. Players who danced in the end zone after scoring were buffoons. Those that calmly handed the ball back to the official were to be admired....

My small town produced few athletes who went on to play college ball...those who were fortunate enough to play at LSU carried a large part of my father's identity with them...there were great Americans who came from here, like Jim Bowie (Alamo hero), Rod Milburn (the track star who won a gold medal in the 110-meters in Munich), Paul Prudhomme (the Cajun Chef).... remembering all of them would have been easier for my father if they had somehow been connected to LSU football.
-Excerpts paraphrased from "It Never Rains in Tiger Stadium" by John Ed Bradley, former Tiger Center (1979-82), Co-Captain and 2nd Team All-SEC
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Our Tiger players (and fans) need to get back that spirit of the Underdog and play with their heart and soul for their beloved state of LA...

and, for those in-state high-school star players (you all know who you are), please think hard before leaving your home state to compete against LSU....whether you know it or not, you are representing not just the school, but also your state and the citizens of LA.....an honor that will not go unrewarded for the rest of your life!!