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LSU Tigers football
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The LSU Tigers football team, a.k.a. "Fighting Tigers", represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. LSU entered the 2008 season with 693 victories, the 12th most in NCAA history, and the 4th most of any SEC team, behind only Alabama (787), Tennessee (771), and Georgia (714). LSU also entered the 2008 season with a 0.640 all-time winning percentage, the 14th best in the NCAA, and the 4th best in the SEC, behind only Alabama (0.706), Tennessee (0.697), and Georgia (0.644).
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Encyclopedia
The LSU Tigers football team, a.k.a. "Fighting Tigers", represents Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States in NCAA Division I FBS college football. Current head coach Les Miles has led the team since 2005. LSU entered the 2008 season with 693 victories, the 12th most in NCAA history, and the 4th most of any SEC team, behind only Alabama (787), Tennessee (771), and Georgia (714). LSU also entered the 2008 season with a 0.640 all-time winning percentage, the 14th best in the NCAA, and the 4th best in the SEC, behind only Alabama (0.706), Tennessee (0.697), and Georgia (0.644). The LSU football team enjoyed recent success as they won the BCS National Championship in 2003 with a 21-14 win over Oklahoma in the Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, and victory in the 2008 (2007 season) BCS National Championship Game versus the Ohio State Buckeyes with a 38–24 score, thus becoming the first team since the advent of the BCS to win multiple BCS national titles.
All-time record vs. annual opponents
Championships
National Championships
The NCAA's website states that "the NCAA does not conduct a national championship in Division I-A football and is not involved in the selection process." It goes on to say that "a number of polling organizations provide a final ranking of Division I-A football teams at the end of each season." LSU officially claims three national championships (1958, 2003, & 2007); however, the school has been recognized as national champions by polling organizations on four additional occasions: 1908, 1935, 1936 and 1962. (The NCAA officially changed the "I-A" designation to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in 2006.) In the 2007 season, LSU became the first collegiate football program to win the BCS National Championship Game twice.
Conference Championships
LSU has won a total of 13 conference championships in three different conferences. Since becoming a founding member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 1933, LSU has won ten conference championships, fourth most in the SEC.
Divisional Championships
Since the SEC began divisional play in 1992, LSU has won or shared the SEC West title 7 times, and is 3-1 in the SEC Championship game.
Seasons
- The Tigers did not field a team in 1918 (World War I).
Bowl games
LSU has played in 40 bowl games, compiling a record of 21-18-1. Note that in the table below, the year references the season, and not the actual date the game was played.
Famous moments in LSU football history
- 2008 - The Comeback -- The Tigers trailed in a makeup game from Hurricane Gustav 31-3 midway through the third quarter against Troy. The Bayou Bengals came back in a nearly half-empty Tiger Stadium with 37 consecutive points and rally to win 40-31.
- 2008 - BCS national championship -- #2 LSU defeats #1 Ohio State University in the BCS national championship 38–24, becoming the first school to win two BCS national championship titles and improving their BCS record to 4–0, the best of any team. They also became the first two loss team to ever play in the BCS national championship.
- 2004 - Sugar Bowl -- LSU wins the BCS national championship by defeating #1 BCS ranked Oklahoma 21–14.
- 2002 - "The Bluegrass Miracle" -- #16 LSU survived an upset bid from unranked Kentucky by winning the game 33–30 on a miraculous 75-yard Hail Mary pass as time expired. Kentucky fans, believing they had won, had already rushed the field and torn down one goal post.
- 2001 - SEC Championship Game -- #21 LSU staged an upset victory over #2 Tennessee, winning 31–20. The victory earned LSU a spot in its first Sugar Bowl since 1986, and knocked the Volunteers out of national title contention.
- 1997 - #1 Ranked Florida Taken Down by LSU -- After nine straight losses to Steve Spurrier-led Florida, #14 LSU shocked the #1-ranked Gators 28–21 in Tiger Stadium, making the cover of Sports Illustrated. It was the first time LSU beat a #1 ranked team.
- 1995 - Bring Back The Magic Game -- Wearing its white jerseys at home in Tiger Stadium for the first time since 1982, LSU upset #5 Auburn, winning the game 12-6 as LSU DB Troy Twillie intercepted Auburn QB Patrick Nix's 11-yard pass into the end zone with no time remaining.
- 1988 - "The Earthquake Game" -- Unranked LSU staged a near literal earth-shattering upset victory over #4 Auburn in Tiger Stadium, winning the game 7-6 with 1:41 remaining on a TD pass from QB Tommy Hodson to TB Eddie Fuller. The reaction of the crowd was so immense that it registered as an earthquake on a seismograph in LSU’s Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex.
- 1972 - Jones to Davis;. "The Night The Clock Stopped" -- #6 LSU survived an upset bid from unranked Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium by winning the game on a TD pass from QB Bert Jones to RB Brad Davis. Ole Miss fans say the 1972 contest featured a few seconds of free football. The Tigers trailed the Rebels 16–10 with four seconds to play. After a lengthy incompletion by Jones, the game clock still showed one second remaining. The Tigers used the precious second to win the game on the "last play," 17–16. The home-clock advantage inspired a sign at the Louisiana state line reading, "You are now entering Louisiana. Set your clocks back four seconds."
- 1966 - Cotton Bowl -- Unranked LSU upset #2 Arkansas, winning the game 14–7 and snapping Arkansas' 22-game winning streak.
- 1959 - Billy Cannon's Halloween Night Run -- Late in the game between #1 LSU and #3 Ole Miss, LSU was trailing 3–0. Then Billy Cannon returned a punt 89 yards for a TD, breaking seven tackles. The Rebels then drove down the field but were stopped on the LSU 1 yard line as the game ended resulting in a 7–3 victory for LSU in Tiger Stadium.
- 1959 - Sugar Bowl -- #1 LSU wins the 1958 national championship, beating #12 Clemson 7–0. The only score was a pass from Billy Cannon to freshman Mickey Mangham, one of the smallest players on the team.
Rivals
Tulane Green Wave
LSU's oldest rival is Tulane; the first LSU-Tulane football game was played in 1893 and for the first fifty or so years of Tiger football, no team was more hated by LSU fans than the Green Wave. The series, in which they battle for the Tiger Rag, was played continuously from 1919 to 1994. The intrastate rivalry featured two teams which were geographically close (Baton Rouge and New Orleans are roughly 80 miles apart) and drew on socio-political tensions between the state's capital and seat of government and its biggest and most culturally important city. As opponents in the SIAA, Southern Conference and SEC, the Tulane rivalry flourished for many years but slowly declined after Tulane left the SEC and de-emphasized athletics. Until 1949, the series was very competitive, with LSU leading 23–18–5; since 1949, LSU has dominated, going 45–4–2. The two teams renewed the annual series in 2006.
Ole Miss Rebels
LSU's traditional SEC rival is Ole Miss. Throughout the fifties and sixties, games between the two schools featured highly ranked squads on both sides and seemingly every contest had conference, and at times national, title implications. While the rivalry died down from the seventies to the nineties, the rivalry has again been gaining steam and publicity, due to mostly the 2003 Season when Ole Miss could have been a top ten team and go to the SEC Championship while LSU would have gone to the national championship depending on who won the game. A trophy has now been named for the LSU-Ole Miss rivalry known as the "Magnolia Bowl". Recently, the second to last regular season game has been between these two colleges. There is still a strong rivalry between both schools.
Auburn Tigers
While Auburn's rivalries against Alabama and Georgia may overshadow its rivalry with LSU, in recent years, LSU's biggest rival has been the Auburn Tigers. The two share more than just a nickname, as they have both enjoyed success in the SEC's Western Division and plenty of memorable match ups. Either Auburn or LSU has won at least a share of the SEC Western Division championship for five of the last six years. The home team won every game from 2000 through 2007, until visiting LSU defeated Auburn in 2008. Both the 2007 and 2008 games saw LSU win dramatic, come-from-behind victories with last minute touchdown passes.
Alabama Crimson Tide
LSU and Alabama have played every year since the 1960s, with LSU currently holding a 5-game winning streak against the Tide until this year, in which Alabama won by virtue of an overtime interception. Alabama holds a historic edge in the series, 43–23–5. Many trace the origins of the rivalry back to a 15-game undefeated streak Alabama had in Tiger Stadium, which is generally considered to be one of the most hostile atmospheres in college football. From 1971 to 1998, the Crimson Tide went 14–0–1 in Baton Rouge. While their rivalries against Auburn and Tennessee may overshadow their rivalry with LSU, the significance of this rivalry increased after Alabama hired former LSU coach Nick Saban in 2007. Prior to the initial Saban season, Sports Illustrated ranked the game #13 in its "Top 20 Games To Watch In 2007" list. The media has given the Alabama-LSU game the moniker "Saban Bowl." The 2007 game saw the LSU Tigers win a dramatic come-from-behind victory, with a final score of 41–34. Alabama won the 2008 game, 27-21 in overtime.
Arkansas Razorbacks
After the Razorbacks left the Southwest Conference in 1990, Arkansas joined the SEC in 1991 and began a yearly rivalry with LSU. Spurred by both the SEC and the schools, LSU and Arkansas have developed a more intense football rivalry. The winner takes home the Golden Boot, a trophy in the shape of the states of Arkansas and Louisiana that resembles a boot. The game, played the day after Thanksgiving, is usually the last regular season game for each team and is broadcast on CBS. In 2002, the rivalry gained momentum as the game winner would represent the Western Division of the SEC in the SEC Championship Game. Arkansas won the exciting game on a last second touchdown pass by Matt Jones. In 2006, the Razorbacks, who had already clinched the SEC Western Division and were on a 10-game winning streak, were beaten by LSU in Little Rock. In 2007, Arkansas stunned top-ranked LSU in triple overtime, giving them their first win in Baton Rouge since 1993, and again defended the Golden Boot trophy with a last minute touchdown drive in 2008.
Traditions
Geaux Tigers — A common cheer for all LSU athletics, Geaux Tigers, pronounced "Go Tigers", is derived from a common ending in French Cajun names, -eaux. Acknowledging the state’s French heritage, it is common for fans to issue LSU newcomers an endearing “French” name. Intended to be more humorous than grammatically correct, coaches are especially targeted. Gerry DiNardo became “Dinardeaux”, Nick Saban became “Nick C’est Bon”.
Tailgating — Throngs of Tiger fans from across the region descend on LSU's campus for every home game, setting up motor homes and tents for Louisiana's biggest party other than Mardi Gras.
The LSU Band's Pregame Show — The LSU pregame show was created in 1964, and revised over the next nine years into its current format. The marching band lines up along the end zone shortly before kick off. Then the band strikes up a drum cadence and begins to spread out evenly across the field. When the front of the band reaches the center of the field, the band stops and begins to play an arrangement of "Pregame" (Hold that Tiger). While it does this, the band turns to salute the fans in all four corners of the stadium. Then the band, resuming its march across the field, begins playing "Touchdown for LSU." At this point, the LSU crowd chants "L-S-U, L-S-U, L-S-U..." The band also plays "Pregame" before it enters the stadium, while literally running down the hill into Tiger Stadium.
White Jerseys — LSU is notable as one of the few college football teams that wears white jerseys for home games as opposed to their darker jerseys (in their case, purple). Most other NCAA football teams wear their darker jerseys in home games, even though football is one of the few college sports that do not require a specific jersey type for each respective team (for instance, college basketball requires home teams to wear white or light-colored jerseys while the away team wears their darker jerseys), and is similar to the NFL in letting the home team decide what to wear. The tradition started in 1958, when Coach Paul Dietzel decided that LSU would wear white jerseys for the home games. LSU went on to win the national championship that year. Since then, LSU continued to wear white jerseys at home games. Then in 1982, new NCAA rules prohibited teams from wearing white jerseys at home. Because of this, LSU wore purple jerseys during home games from 1983 to 1994. In 1995, LSU's new coach, Gerry DiNardo, was determined to restore LSU's tradition of white home jerseys. DiNardo personally met with each member of the NCAA Football Rules Committee, lobbying LSU's case. DiNardo was successful, and LSU again began wearing white jerseys at home when the 1995 season began. In LSU's first home game with the white jerseys, unranked LSU prevailed in a 12-6 upset victory over #6 Auburn. In 2000, LSU's new coach, Nick Saban, altered the tradition of the white home jerseys: now LSU only wears white jerseys for the home opener and for home games against SEC opponents. For non-SEC home games other than the home opener, LSU wears purple jerseys at home.
The rule allowing LSU to wear white at home has one stipulation: the visiting team must agree. On two occasions, LSU was forced to wear colored jerseys at home. The first time was in 1996 against Vanderbilt, who was still angry at LSU for hiring Gerry DiNardo, who left Vanderbilt to become LSU's head coach after the 1994 season. LSU wore gold jerseys for that game (a 35-0 LSU victory), and fans were encouraged to wear white in an effort to "white out" the Commodores. The second time was in 2004, when Oregon State did not to suffer in its black jerseys in the humid weather of Louisiana in late summer.
Chinese Bandits – Whenever LSU forces a turnover or gets the ball back via a defensive stop, the LSU band plays the Chinese Bandits tune. Tiger fans bow to the defense while the tune is played. The term "Chinese Bandits" originated as the nickname that LSU Coach Paul Dietzel gave to the defensive unit he organized in 1958, which helped LSU to win its first national championship. The next season, the 1959 Chinese Bandit defense held their opponents to an average of only 143.2 yards per game. No LSU defense since has done better.
Geaux to Hell Ole Miss — When LSU is playing their rival, Ole Miss, LSU fans shout "Geaux to Hell Ole Miss. Geaux to hell" frequently, and signs with the same saying can be seen throughout the stadium. Ole Miss fans typically respond with "Go to hell, LSU!" Both schools fans have been to known to shout these sayings during games where the two teams are not competing against one another, especially during the National Anthem.
Hot boudin - LSU's famous cheer before games and during about famous food in Louisiana. It goes " Hot boudin, cold cous-cous, come on tigers, push push push."
H style goal posts — LSU's Tiger Stadium uniquely sports "H" style goal posts, as opposed to the more modern "Y" style used by most other schools today. This "H" style allows the team to run through the goal post in the north endzone when entering the field.
Yard lines — Tiger Stadium also is notable for putting all yard line numbers on the field, not just those that are multiples of 10. However, the 10-yard-line numbers are the only numbers that get directional arrows, as the rules make no provision for 5-yard-line numbers.
Tiger Bait - LSU fans will yell "Tiger Bait, Tiger Bait" at visiting fans who wear their team colors.
First Down cheer - When the Tigers earn a first down, the Golden Band from Tigerland plays the "Geaux Tigers" cheer, during which the student section yells "Kick their ass!" in unison. The band also has a specific cheer for second and third downs.
Hall of Famers
The following LSU players and coaches are members of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Players
Coaches
Individual Award Winners
Players
- Billy Cannon - 1959
- The WCFF All-Century Team
- Tommy Casanova - 1969 to 1971
- Ben Wilkerson - 2004
- Rudy Niswanger - 2005
- Josh Reed - 2001
- Rudy Niswanger - 2005
- Glenn Dorsey - 2007
- Glenn Dorsey - 2007
- Glenn Dorsey - 2007
- Glenn Dorsey - 2007
Coaches
- Paul Dietzel - 1959
- Nick Saban - 2003
Heisman Trophy Voting History
LSU All-Americans
Head coaches
| Coach | Alma Mater | First | Last | Years | Games | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct. |
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| | 1893 | 1893 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | | | 1894 | 1895 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0.833 | | | 1896 | 1897 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.875 | | | 1898 | 1900 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0.600 | | Wisconsin | 1899 | 1899 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0.333 | | | 1901 | 1903 | 3 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0.682 | | | 1904 | 1906 | 3 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0.562 | | | 1907 | 1908 | 2 | 20 | 17 | 3 | 0 | .850 | John W. Mayhew | | 1909 | 1910 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0.333 | | | 1909 | 1909 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.800 | | | 1911 | 1913 | 3 | 25 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0.680 | | | 1914 | 1916 | 3 | 22 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0.659 | Dana Bible | | 1916 | 1916 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.667 | | | 1916 | 1922 | 3 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0.550 | | | 1917 | 1917 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 | | | 1920 | 1921 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 0.706 | | | 1923 | 1927 | 5 | 45 | 23 | 19 | 3 | 0.544 | | | 1928 | 1931 | 4 | 37 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 0.635 | | | 1932 | 1934 | 3 | 31 | 20 | 5 | 6 | 0.742 | | | 1935 | 1947 | 13 | 128 | 83 | 39 | 6 | 0.672 | | | 1948 | 1954 | 7 | 75 | 35 | 34 | 6 | 0.507 | | | 1955 | 1961 | 7 | 73 | 46 | 24 | 3 | 0.651 | | | 1962 | 1979 | 18 | 203 | 137 | 59 | 7 | 0.692 | | | 1980 | 1980 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | | | 1980 | 1983 | 4 | 45 | 22 | 21 | 2 | 0.511 | | | 1984 | 1986 | 3 | 36 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 0.750 | | | 1987 | 1990 | 4 | 46 | 27 | 18 | 1 | 0.598 | | | 1991 | 1994 | 4 | 44 | 16 | 28 | 0 | 0.364 | | | 1995 | 1999 | 5 | 58 | 33 | 24 | 1 | 0.578 | | | 1999 | 1999 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | | | 2000 | 2004 | 5 | 64 | 48 | 16 | 0 | 0.750 | | | 2005 | Present | 4+ | 53 | 42 | 11 | 0 | 0.792 | Totals | 1893 | Present | 112 | 1132 | 702 | 383 | 47 | 0.641 |
Poll History
Associated Press Poll History
The AP Poll began in 1936.
| Year | AP Pre-Season Ranking | AP Final Ranking |
|---|
| 1936 | 13 | 2 | | 1937 | 6 | 8 | | 1938 | NR | NR | | 1939 | | NR | | 1940 | NR | NR | | 1941 | | NR | | 1942 | | NR | | 1943 | | NR | | 1944 | | NR | | 1945 | | 15 | | 1946 | | 8 | | 1947 | | NR | | 1948 | | NR | | 1949 | | 9 | | 1950 | | NR | | 1951 | | NR | | 1952 | | NR | | 1953 | | NR | | 1954 | | NR | | 1955 | | NR | | 1956 | | NR | | 1957 | | NR | | 1958 | | 1 | | 1959 | 1 | 3 | | 1960 | | NR | | 1961 | 5 | 4 | | 1962 | 5 | 7 | | 1963 | | NR | | 1964 | | 7 | | 1965 | 8 | 8 | | 1966 | | NR | | 1967 | | NR | | 1968 | 18 | 19 | | 1969 | | 10 | | 1970 | 12 | 7 | | 1971 | 9 | 11 | | 1972 | 11 | 11 | | 1973 | 16 | 13 | | 1974 | 9 | NR | | 1975 | | NR | | 1976 | | NR | | 1977 | | NR | | 1978 | 13 | NR | | 1979 | | NR | | 1980 | | NR | | 1981 | | NR | | 1982 | | 11 | | 1983 | 12 | NR | | 1984 | NR | 15 | | 1985 | 13 | 20 | | 1986 | 15 | 10 | | 1987 | 6 | 5 | | 1988 | 18 | 19 | | 1989 | 7 | NR | | 1990 | | NR | | 1991 | | NR | | 1992 | | NR | | 1993 | | NR | | 1994 | | NR | | 1995 | | NR | | 1996 | 19 | 12 | | 1997 | 10 | 13 | | 1998 | 9 | NR | | 1999 | | NR | | 2000 | NR | 22 | | 2001 | 14 | 7 | | 2002 | 14 | NR | | 2003 | 14 | 2 | | 2004 | 4 | 16 | | 2005 | 5 | 6 | | 2006 | 8 | 3 | | 2007 | 2 | 1 | | 2008 | 7 | NR | | NR = Not Ranked |
Coaches Poll History
The Coaches' Poll began in 1950.
| Year | Coaches
Pre-Season Ranking | Coaches
Final Ranking |
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| 1950 | | NR | | 1951 | | NR | | 1952 | | NR | | 1953 | | NR | | 1954 | | NR | | 1955 | | NR | | 1956 | | NR | | 1957 | | NR | | 1958 | | 1 | | 1959 | | 3 | | 1960 | | NR | | 1961 | | 3 | | 1962 | | 8 | | 1963 | | NR | | 1964 | | 7 | | 1965 | | 14 | | 1966 | | NR | | 1967 | | NR | | 1968 | | NR | | 1969 | | 7 | | 1970 | | 6 | | 1971 | | 10 | | 1972 | | 10 | | 1973 | | 14 | | 1974 | | NR | | 1975 | | NR | | 1976 | | NR | | 1977 | | NR | | 1978 | | NR | | 1979 | | NR | | 1980 | | NR | | 1981 | | NR | | 1982 | | 11 | | 1983 | | NR | | 1984 | | 16 | | 1985 | | 20 | | 1986 | | 11 | | 1987 | | 5 | | 1988 | | NR | | 1989 | | NR | | 1990 | | NR | | 1991 | | NR | | 1992 | | NR | | 1993 | | NR | | 1994 | | NR | | 1995 | | 25 | | 1996 | | 13 | | 1997 | | 13 | | 1998 | | NR | | 1999 | | NR | | 2000 | | NR | | 2001 | | 8 | | 2002 | 13 | NR | | 2003 | 15 | 1 | | 2004 | 3 | 16 | | 2005 | 6 | 5 | | 2006 | 9 | 3 | | 2007 | 2 | 1 | | 2008 | 6 | | | NR = Not Ranked |
See also
External links
- , official sports site of LSU
- LSU News, Blogs, Links and More
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