re: What year did you really begin to pay attention to LSU football

1997 when I was 11. Specifically the Florida upset was the game that had me all in for life.

1988

We had relocated to Huntsville, AL from Louisiana because of the 80's. We had been to LSU games and I had watched a few games on TV. But I guess being 12 and having the ability to watch a 3 hour game on TV made a difference. Plus I was having serious identity crises being a transplant. LSU made me proud in 88 beating both Bama and AU. Then basketball took over when football started to suck.

The early 90's were rough. I remember having to listen to most games on the radio and not following very closely for a few years. Ever since 96, I've been all about the football. Every game I either watch, attend or listen to. Been a season ticket holder since 99.

So I was 12, and it was 1988.

:geaux:

Oct 17, 1981 LSU vs Kentucky

My first game in Tiger stadium. 8 years old.

Eric Martin returned a kickoff 100 yards. The experience in the stadium that night was unlike anything I had ever seen and is seared into my soul.

My first game was 1/9/2012

I remember watching as far back as like '89 (im 31)

'95 was really the year I started watching almost every game. Feels like that was the year more of our games started to get nationally televised.

I would go to games off and on with my Dad throughout my childhood. We only had two tickets and I had to share those with my Mom so I wasn't at EVERY game. Then my Dad got sick in the summer of 2002 and was in the hospital waiting for a heart transplant. He received a new heart just as football season started. With he and my Mom at Oschners in NOLA for the next couple of months I used the tickets the entire season that year. This was also my first year of college. It was awesome. No more stress about Dad being sick, and a full seasons worth of tickets for myself and whoever I wanted to bring.

That year also changed the family dynamic towards football games. My parents could see how much fun I was having, Mom was exhausted from the most stressful year of her life, and Dad was hyper focused on taking care of his new heart/second chance at life. My mom hasn't been back to an LSU football game since as she says she decided to "retire" from going to games. She's a fan, but not to the extent we are, so she let it become a father and son thing. My dad never returned to going to every game and they pretty much became my tickets until I moved away in 2013. Now I will drive in for the games I want, and if he doesn't want to go to that game my wife will go with me. If I'm not in town he will bring one of my cousins or uncles with him.

1957 - one year ahead of all the fans that jumped on the band wagon in 58. It was more of a team game then. My favorite - Chinese Bandits.

1995 when I was listening to the LSU Auburn game on the radio. It's hard to believe games weren't televised like they are now. I was always a fan but I just remember living and dying with each play that night. The rest is history. I remember it was a huge deal that LSU was ranked #15 in the country after that win. People were really excited over that ranking.

By 1976 I had designed my own LSU drinking game.
Every time Charlie Mac said "let's give credit where credit is due" on his tv show, I took a shot of kool-aid from my sippy cup.