LSU+Tiger+Traditions

LSU's Culture is steeped in tradition. They are known for being a rowdy bunch, and their fans are known to be even rowdier then they are!

Here are many examples of their illustrious 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** — LSU football fans from every corner of the region, well over ninety thousand, [|[9]] descend on the Baton Rouge campus for every home game; setting up motor homes and tents for one of Louisiana's biggest parties after Mardi Gras. Visiting team supporters are heckled and LSU fans chant "Tiger Bait! Tiger Bait!", often inciting confrontations between hot-headed followers. Visitors to Baton Rouge who take the jeers and jaunts with a sporting disposition will be invited to join in on the party, the drink, the regional cajun cuisine, the spirit of Saturday night in Baton Rouge, and the vibrant tradition of LSU football.


 * March Down The Hill** – The LSU players, coaches, cheerleaders, [|Mike the Tiger], and finally The Golden Band from Tigerland march down the hill between Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (AKA, the PMAC) prior to each game. Thousands of fans line up on both sides of the road to watch and cheer for their beloved Tigers. The band plays their [|drum cadence] while marching and just before entering the stadium, "Pregame" is played.


 * 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.


 * 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!" Legend has it this was started prior to the 1959 contest when Coach Paul Dietzel, trying to motivate his troops, hired a plane to litter the LSU campus with flyers saying, "Go to Hell, LSU!" When word of this reached Oxford, Johnny Vaught, not to be outdone, responded in kind by littering the Ole Miss campus with flyers saying, "Go to Hell, Ole Miss!" Saturday night, 30 minutes prior to kickoff, Tiger Stadium was already packed with the crowd split down the middle between Tigers and Rebels. Each set of fans were shouting at the top of their lungs to the other, "Go to Hell!" The tradition has stuck ever since.


 * Hot boudin** – LSU's famous cheer before games and during about famous food in Louisiana. It goes " Hot [|boudin], cold coush-coush, come on tigers, push push push." Push is pronounced poosh to rhyme with coush-coush [koosh-koosh]. Coush-coush is a Cajun dish generally served for breakfast. [|[11]]


 * H style goal posts** — LSU's Tiger Stadium 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.

include component="comments" page="LSU Tiger Traditions" limit="10"