re: For the Old Timers. What was it like living in Tiger Stadium?

Swamp Angel posted "You were there in the old years when ROTC was still a required course for freshmen (and sophomores too, I believe). My dad graduated in 1954. He had stayed with ROTC all four years and was Senior Cadet Colonel his senior year. The Corps of Cadets at the time was larger than A&M had, and was tops in the 4th Army District. Dad was one of five students who were to receive a Regular Army commission rather than a Reserve commission. Unfortunately, he detached the retina in his left eye and was declared 4-F because of it.

I'd sure love to hear some of your tales of The Ole War Skule in it's Hay Day!"

Sorry, but I wasn't a gung ho cadet of the Ole War Skule like your Dad was. I had a low draft lottery number during my Viet Nam War years on campus. I stayed in ROTC all 4 years to earn a commission and get to serve as an officer if I did have to serve in that war vs. being required to serve as just a basic gunt via getting drafted.

The LSU cadet corps was very large during those years. We were part of the Boomer Generation population wise. I don't remember the actual number of cadets. We would completely fill up the LSU Parade Grounds for parade reviews and other ceremonies. t4&8 was always a neck and neck competitor ROTC wise to LSU during those years in addition to sports competition. The competition between A&M and LSU grew exponentially during the summer Boot Camp that we were required to go to between our Junior and Senior years. I feel that the old military competition aspect between the two cadet corps from those times is one of the reasons that t4&8 remains a heated rival for many of the fans to this day.

The LSU Cadet Corps and t4&8 Cadet corps at that time was so significant to the military during those years that Gen. William Westmoreland (Commander of the US forces during Viet Nam and later Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army) visited that boot camp I attended at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. He particularily seemed to seek out LSU cadets and t4&8 cadets for evaluation. When he entered my 8 man tent that I lived in for the entire boot camp he quizzed me and a t4&8 cadet for a good while and did a cursory passby of the remaining 6 cadets in my tent from other smaller schools. Then he also returned to LSU a year later to swear in my cadet class in at our commissioning ceremony as 2nd Lieutenants. The LSU Ole War Skule was very important to our military before my years, throughout my years and for a good while after them.