Listened to the first episode of Hangin' with Hester and Hanny on Monday and Jacob Hester had a funny story that I was unfamiliar with.

For context, Hester and Hanny were talking about recruiting players to schools with either very hot or very cold weather.

Hester said in June 2004 the first day of practice, the team was running 110s. After the first one, Lavelle Hawkins said "It's too hot fam," got on a plane and went back to California, and ended up transferring to Cal.

My LSU fandom didn't start until 2007 so I had never heard this story. Thought it was pretty funny

ETA: Clarified below by longer-tenured Tigers

This post was edited on 7/8/20 at 10:31 am

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Posted by TBoy@LSU

Member since Sep 2012

5485 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 10:23 am to sweetwaterbilly

My son got his autograph at fan day that year. I believe he was gone the next day.

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Posted by lsupride87

Member since Dec 2007

95171 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 10:24 am to sweetwaterbilly

quote:
Hester said in June 2004 the first day of practice, the team was running 110s. After the first one, Lavelle Hawkins said "It's too hot fam," got on a plane and went back to California,

Well, that is slightly fabricated by Hester

Hawkins transferred after his first game

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Posted by Rabid Tiger

New York, NY

Member since Sep 2003

3694 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 10:25 am to sweetwaterbilly

Don't think it was immediately after the first practice. Pretty sure he suited up and played the first game then left. Close enough though

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Posted by sweetwaterbilly

Member since Mar 2017

19351 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 10:30 am to lsupride87

quote:
Well, that is slightly fabricated by Hester

Hawkins transferred after his first game

That makes more sense

Thanks for clarifying. I can only imagine what it's like for a kid coming from a place with mild or dry heat and experiencing that Louisiana heat and humidity the first time.

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Posted by Alt26

Member since Mar 2010

28345 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 10:43 am to sweetwaterbilly

quote:
That makes more sense Thanks for clarifying. I can only imagine what it's like for a kid coming from a place with mild or dry heat and experiencing that Louisiana heat and humidity the first time.

I would imagine most could find a way to fight through the heat alone. It's the heat COMBINED with the oppressive humidity that is brutal. The air is so "thick" that it feels like you just can't breath naturally.

It works both ways though. Hester also told a story about Justin Vincent going on a recruiting trip to Notre Dame in late fall or winter saying the moment he stepped off the plane in the great lakes cold he wanted to turn right around and get back on to fly home because he knew he wasn't going to ND right then and there.

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Posted by Wee Ice Mon

Member since May 2014

1397 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 11:14 am to sweetwaterbilly

I remember Hawkins stating that the fellow incoming receivers from Louisiana were being favored for playing time

Maybe it was Ray Baker that favored the local kids.

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Posted by NattyTiger19

Sugar Bowl

Member since Jan 2020

924 posts

Posted on 7/8/20 at 12:41 pm to sweetwaterbilly

I remember that well. I remember being sorry to see him leave.

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Posted by LSU1SLU