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PrintHometown: Baton Rouge
Team: Tigers
Colors: Purple and gold
Tailgating: "We don’t just travel, we take over," said Matt Deville, director of marketing and communications at LSU.
"LSU tailgating is a modified Mardi Gras — lots of color, music, sights, smells, cheers and personalities."
On game day, he said, 150,000 people — easily — can be tailgating on campus, he said. One popular destination is the historic Indian mounds in the middle of campus.
Food: Jambalya, gumbo, boudin (Cajun sausage) and coush coush (a cereal dish) are familiar on LSU tailgate plates.
Attire: "It ain't Ole Miss," Deville said. "We have more colorful fans."
Tailgating "krewes" compete for awards by dressing in their particular style. Krewes are an integral part of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, known for outlandish costumes and masks.
Rituals: "(A famous chant) ties in tailgating, food, the lingo … It goes, 'Hot boudin / Cold coush coush / Come on tigers / Push, push, push!'" Deville said.
LSU fans also incorporate their French heritage, cheering on their team with slogans like "Geaux Tigers."
A live tiger is the symbol of LSU athletics and a crowd favorite. Team Mike parks the tiger outside the opposing team's locker room at every home game. A costumed Mike is part of the cheer squad.
"His enclosure is the biggest, most posh, most ridiculously accommodating habitat that is better than any zoo in the world," Deville said.
Next: University of Mississippi
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