re: Describe a DEFINING IMAGE of LSU football from childhood

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the USC game in tiger stadium..

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TO THIS DAY, I still feel that was a crummy call, and they stoile the game. Had a split officating crew( 3 PAC-10s and 3 SECs), and I believe that the PAC-10 ref made that call with no instant replay. Not sure though.

There was some talent on the field that night. A few were Marcus Allen, Ronnie Lott, Joey Browner, Jeff Fischer, Anthony Munoz, Charles White, and Paul McDonald. LSU had Steve Ensminger, David Woodley, Carlos Carson (Cenozoic version of Trindon Holliday), Hokie Gajan, Leonard Marshall, James Britt, and Willie Teal. And yes I did have to look some of them up.

That was a serious game. Much later I heard the moral of, "If you think you can or you think you can't, you are probably right." It certainly applied that night. They beleived, and they wanted Mac to look good. LSU had one fine hour that night, and they truly played tht game like there was no tomorrow. As an aside, that was Charley Mac's last season, and that started the great trek of wondering through the desert of coaching ineptiutde. An occasional oasis here and there, but for the most part, it has been a arduous journey. Furthermore, it bears a striking similarity to today. Charley Mac won about 70% of his games, but somehow he rarely beat Bama. Though nobody else beat Bama, he suffered for it the most. And right now I would say that Miles is to Mac as Saban is to Bryant.

Just so you know, I was one of those prehistoric "nega-Tigers" who couldn't wait to see McClendon go. Some fools would be yelling "Help Mac Pack" throughout the game. I have mixed feelings about all that. It's sort of like "buyer's remorse." We all got what we wanted, but it came with a heavy price. I have to be honest. It is one of the reasons why I still support Coach Miles.

For all expressed here, there is no need to tell me what an idiot I am, and how i don't know anything. I have enough family to tell me that. You are well within your right to have an alternate view.

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(Who remembers that Cotton Bowl win over Arkansas in 66, ending their long winning steak?)......

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Watched that game on TVon New Years day, we had no business winning that game, or so America thought. As i rmemeber it, and often injured Pat Screen comes in for an injured Nelson Stokely, plays the game, and performs. Joe Labruzzo, Cut Off native I might add, scores twice. We win 14-7 snapping a Frank Broyles led bunch of pigs winning streak. ARk was national champions the year before and were on their way to a perfect season as the #2 team in the nation.

60's as a kid.
Sugar Bowl victory over Wyoming
68 or 69 Miami Hurricanes came in featuring Ted "The stork" Hendricks" but we lost.

70's Charles Alexander breaking free
77-0 over Rice first game in my first "free" student section game
USC phantom hold

80's Hilliard and James

And still etched in my brain:
'87 LSU v Ohio State
Eric Andolsek (RIP) nose to nose with Spielman at mid-field for the coin toss
13-13 tie but it was a war

The Good - Alan Risher to Eric Martin. No specific game, but it seemed like Eric Martin could turn a 5 yard slant into an 80 yard TD at any time. Plus Herman Fontenot....man...

The Bad - First and only time I sat in the upper deck. Scared to death as a kid way up there, I remember crawling up the stairs like it was a ladder. LSU vs Tenn and Willie Gault. Juan Betanzos kicked a sky kick all night to keep it away from Gault. I think we scored and everyone was fired up so we kicked it deep and Gault ran it back untouched in about 9 seconds.

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walking from the concessions concourse up the small ramp into TS and seeing the entire stadium open up in front me

the sights sounds and smells... sensory overload for a seven year old

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After I read the OP, this was the FIRST thing that came to mind. I'm with ya! So glad I grew up knowing LSU football.

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Gault ran it back untouched in about 9 seconds

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I was in the student section on the 45 yard line.

Gault took it to the far side line and then out ran half the LSU team that had the "angle".

That was the first time I saw WORLD CLASS speed.

Yep...I remember my dad explaining to me why they were kicking it short and how Gault had "world class" speed.

Maybe some Arkansas kid experienced the same thing with Trindon Holiday.

Raining oranges and the Orange Bowl logo at midfield in TS.

I only attended a couple of games prior to being a student.

My defining memory from my childhood is listening to Tiger Tracks.

"This here's Jim Nasium with another Tiger Track! I'm here with running back Dalton Hilliard. Dalton, what do you plan to do on Saturday night."

(Commodores' Sail On plays...)
"Gonna sail on down the line... 'bout half a mile or so..."

"Oh, I hear ya, Dalton!"

Eight years old missing Trick or Treating and riding a train from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. "That number 20 guy sure could run"