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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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CONTENTS

Publisher: Julio Melara Executive assistant: Millie Coon

THIS MONTH FIND OUT:

EDITORIAL Editorial director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Managing editor: Benjamin Leger Staff writer: Kaci Yoder Staff photographer: Collin Richie Copy editor: Robin Mayhall Contributing writers: Andrew Alexander, Sarah Barnett, April Capochino Myers, Amanda Capritto, Mark Clements, Lee Feinswog, Adrian E. Hirsch, David Jacobs, Tracey Koch, Elle Marie, Kayla Randall, Maggie Heyn Richardson, Jeff Roedel, John Wirt Contributing photographers: Allie Appel, Kristina Britt, Miriam Buckner, Chloe Enos, Stephanie Landry, Sean Richardson, Amy Shutt, Tate Tullier

A12 How Mike’s popular

“meat art” is made

A19

How Fournette & Guice became brothers

A31

Why Brandon Harris welcomes the pressure

A45 Who is the man behind Les Miles?

A53

Why Chidi Okeke left Nigeria to play ball

PLUS

ADVERTISING Advertising director: Jill Stokeld Senior account executive: Rei Heroman Account executives: Katie Baron, Manny Fajardo, Blythe Johnson, Elizabeth McCollister, Ambrey Nicholson Marketing director: Jennifer Guillot Advertising coordinator: Lydia Spano Community liaison: Jeanne McCollister McNeil

A8 Fall schedule A10 The other “Voice of the Tigers”

A17 Season preview A20

How LSU became known as the DBU

A23

ADMINISTRATION Chief financial officer: Jonathan Percle Chief innovation officer: Curtis Heroman Business manager: Adam Lagneaux Business associate: Danielle Daly Office coordinator: Debbie Lamonica Courier: Jim Wainwright Receptionist: Cathy Brown

The art of tailgating

A29

Leonard & Lyric on social media

A36

Gameday style ideas

PRODUCTION/DESIGN Production director: Melanie Samaha Art director: Hoa Vu Graphic designers: Tammi deGeneres, Melinda Gonzalez, Rachel Parker, Emily Witt

A50 LSU-inspired

artwork

A58 Picture This

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Audience development coordinators: Kenna Maranto, Brittany Titone

ON THE COVER With Leonard Fournette ranked by Sports Illustrated as the best current player in college football, you can bet that LSU’s star running back is poised to have another amazing season. This photo by LSU Athletics’ Steve Franz was taken during the Auburn game last year—when Fournette rushed 19 times for 228 yards and three touchdowns, by the way.

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

A publication of Louisiana Business Inc. Chairman: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. President and CEO: Julio Melara 9029 Jefferson Hwy., Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

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THE PRESIDENTIAL PHENOMENON IT’S BECOME A widespread superstition every four years when the LSU vs. Bama football showdown arrives: In every presidential race since the 1980s, the outcome of the game predicts the outcome of the election. Legend has it that if LSU wins, a Republican will take the presidency, while a Bama win means a Democratic victory. With another election upon us, take a look at past results.

–KACI YODER

2012

Game winner: Alabama (21-17) Presidential winner: Barack Obama (D)

WELCOME TO DEATH VALLEY ... ... AND WELCOME TO 225’s 2016 special section,

Tiger Pride. As we were putting together this year’s issue, we thought a lot about that Tiger pride—the feeling that brings people of different backgrounds together with a common goal of cheering on their football team. Where does that feeling come from? It starts with stories: our favorite LSU memories, from the classroom to the stadium. In the next 60 pages, we focus on the stories of this football team. Superstars Leonard Fournette and Derrius Guice share how they challenge and inspire each other on and off the field. Offensive lineman Chidi Okeke tells us about his journey from Nigeria to the United States to pursue American sports and a brighter future for his family. Brandon Harris opens up on the pressure and criticism he faces as quarterback. You’ll also find the stories of people whose lives have been changed by LSU football: Michael Bonnette, who’s spent 16 years handling communications for the team; tailgating groups who only want to be in one place on fall Saturday mornings; and artists who have let their passion for LSU sports inspire their work. And in between it all, we address the question we’re all wondering: Is this our year? Radio host Matt Moscona shares his predictions for the season ahead. Get ready for fall 2016. Here come the Fighting Tigers.

REN SCOTT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

2016 SCHEDULE SEPT. 3 SEPT. 10 SEPT. 17 SEPT. 24 OCT. 1 OCT. 8 OCT. 15 OCT. 22 NOV. 5 NOV. 12 NOV. 19 NOV. 24

WISCONSIN AT GREEN BAY | 2:30 P.M. JACKSONVILLE STATE | 6:30 P.M. MISSISSIPPI STATE | 6:00 P.M. AUBURN AT AUBURN MISSOURI* FLORIDA AT GAINESVILLE SOUTHERN MISS OLE MISS ALABAMA ARKANSAS AT FAYETTEVILLE SOUTH ALABAMA TEXAS A&M AT COLLEGE STATION

HOME GAMES ARE IN BOLD • ALL START TIMES TBA, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED • *HOMECOMING

SAY WHAT?

“Bold predictions: LSU will win the SEC ... and play for the national championship. I just can’t get over the talent coming back in Baton Rouge.” —ESPN’s Ed Aschoff

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

2008

Game winner: Alabama (27-21) Presidential winner: Barack Obama (D)

2004

Game winner: LSU (26-10) Presidential winner: George W. Bush (R)

2000

Game winner: LSU (30-28) Presidential winner: George W. Bush (R)

1996

Game winner: Alabama (26-0) Presidential winner: Bill Clinton (D)

1992

Game winner: Alabama (31-11) Presidential winner: Bill Clinton (D)

1988

Game winner: LSU (19-18) Presidential winner: George H.W. Bush (R)

1984

Game winner: LSU (16-14) Presidential winner: Ronald Reagan (R)

IT’S GAME DAY. Wear your pride.

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

An LSU student brings Tiger football to a Hispanic audience

BY ANDREW ALEXANDER

FOR DECADES, LISTENING to the pleasant twang of the legendary Jim Hawthorne over the autumn airwaves was as integral to the tradition of LSU football as consuming bourbon before noon. But many LSU fans don’t know that for the past few seasons, Hawthorne has gotten an assist from another “Voice of the Tigers”—but in another language. Since 2011, Spanish-speaking listeners have been tuning into KDDK 105.5 FM in Baton Rouge and KGLA 1540 AM/105.7 FM in New Orleans every fall to hear broadcasters describe the sights and sounds of LSU football. Mario Jerez, a broadcast journalism senior at LSU, is entering his fifth season as the Spanish Voice of the Tigers. His parents immigrated from Guatemala and attended LSU, raising Mario originally as a Spanishlanguage speaker. “Until I was three years old, I didn’t even know English, but then I learned English and (my family) started speaking exclusively in English,” Jerez says. While Jerez was still in high school at Brother Martin in New Orleans, Ernesto Schweikert, CEO and general manager of KDDK and KGLA, brought Jerez, a lifelong sports fan, up to the New Orleans Saints press box during a game one weekend. Jerez mingled with sports writers and was instantly hooked on pursuing broadcasting as a career. Schweikert offered Jerez the chance to join his coverage of LSU football in 2012. At first, the rookie broadcaster was in training. But when the originally scheduled playby-play announcer was unable to attend LSU’s home opener versus North Texas, Jerez began his career behind the microphone. “I’ve never been so hyped up for something in my entire life,” Jerez says now. “It was an absolutely exhilarating feeling. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.” Play-by-play commentators, whether they speak English or Spanish, serve as encyclopedias of knowledge for listeners. From the rules of the sport, to the rosters of both teams, to background stories

and details, the audience relies on the radio broadcast team to bring the game to life. For Jerez, prepping for the weekly LSU football broadcasts is second nature because of his familiarity with the program. The night before a game, Jerez usually finalizes his broadcast notes by studying tape of the Tigers’ opposition, as well as depth charts, storylines and key players. “I always make sure I have speaking notes, and the rest of the game just kind of flows,” Jerez says. “I think the key thing is to always know what you’re talking about, and the rest will take care of itself.” Game days are low-key for Jerez compared to his English-speaking colleagues. The KDDK/KGLA broadcast typically starts about 15 minutes before the game, with very little pre-game show included. “We always pause and say, ‘Here come the Tigers,’ and the crowd goes wild,” he says. When the Tigers score, Jerez can be heard yelling his signature call, “Toooooouchdown!” often followed by “¡Viva los Tigres!” or “Long live the Tigers!” Two LSU football memories from the past four seasons stand out for Jerez. The first occurred during his rookie season in 2012, when the Tigers topped South Carolina 23-21, thanks in large part to a late touchdown run by Jeremy Hill. Jerez remembers shouting, “¡Se les fue!” or, “He’s gone!” His second standout memory was LSU’s thrilling 10-7 victory over Ole Miss in 2014. “The crowd was really, really loud whenever LSU got the interception in the end,” Jerez says. “It was just crazy seeing the fans storm the field.” The Spanish-language broadcasts attract an estimated 40,000 listeners, according to Jerez. He hopes to see interest in the sport continue to grow within the Hispanic community. “A lot of people [in Latin America] are interested in football,” Jerez says. “Obviously LSU has a really passionate fan base, and people [who] come here and are of Spanish descent end up picking up football and really getting into the game.”

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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Issue Date: Aug(LSU) Ad proof #2

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Mike’s fancy feast

Before each football game, Mike the Tiger gets a nice treat: art in the form of meat. Ginger Guttner, LSU’s vet school public relations director, explains how it’s created. —AS TOLD TO KAYLA RANDALL

N W O D H TOUC

PHOTOS BY STEVE FRANZ / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

E T A G L I A AT

In 2013, Macy Trosclair, one of Mike’s veterinary student caretakers at the time, molded his dinner into the Alabama logo before that football game. … She sent the photo to me because she thought it was funny. We never intended to show it to anyone.

When the new caretakers took over for Macy and her partner, Daniel Cutler, in 2014, I showed the photo of the Alabama logo to the new caretakers, Trevor Davis and Lindsey Clemones. It was Trevor who was primarily responsible for the meat art that everyone [has] enjoyed so much.

Jambala ya lls Ba

ya Jambala

n & Sausaug e k e ic mb Gu

The first gameday meat art that was posted was done on Aug. 31, 2014, when LSU played Wisconsin. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, meat art was created before each football game.

The veterinary student caretakers usually use a photo as a guide, but it’s crafted free-hand.

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

Most meat art takes about an hour, but some of the more elaborate pieces from the 2015 football season took as much as two hours.

Mike eats 20 pounds daily. So, weekly he eats 140 pounds of food.

ONLINE instagram.com/miketigervi facebook.com/miketigervi

• The 39-year-old California native won FootballScoop’s Linebacker Coach of the Year in 2015. • He led top-10 defenses in each of his three years at Wisconsin (2013-15). • His defenses allowed 289.4 yards per game—the best in the nation during that span—and pulled off ﬁve shutouts in three seasons. • At Utah State in 2012, his defense ranked No. 8 in the country in scoring, allowing 15.4 points per game. • At Hawaii in 2010, his defense led the nation with 38 turnovers caused, ranked No. 2 with 23 interceptions and No. 9 with 15 fumbles recovered. —MARK CLEMENTS

–Senior linebacker Kendell Beckwith

“When I saw that Aranda was hired, it was really special because I had seen his defenses before. ... We played [Wisconsin] my sophomore year, and you could tell they had a great defense. ... really aggressive and up-tempo with a lot of moving around.”

–Senior defensive tackle Christian LaCouture

Good read: The Golden Band from Tigerland You’ve seen the Golden Band before, marching from North Stadium Road to Death Valley, the stadium’s reflection glistening in its metallic instruments. But you’ve never seen the band quite like this before. A new book, The Golden Band from Tigerland, takes readers all the way back to the band’s beginnings in 1893. Authors Tom Continé and Faye Phillips chronicle more than a century of history for the award-winning

band, explaining how it grew from a small, military-inspired brass band to an award-winning marching band that has performed in Hong Kong for its New Year’s celebration and Dublin for its St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Assisted by 150 photographs, the book tells the stories of generations of hard-working LSU students who dedicated themselves to lifting the spirits of LSU fans. Find a place for it on your coffee table next month, when it will be released by LSU Press. $39.95; lsupress.org

COURTESY LSU PRESS

STEVE FRANZ / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

Dave Aranda: PLAYERS ON ARANDA: Who is LSU’s new “I watched some of his ﬁlm from Wisconsin, I’ve really bought into it. I’m a huge fan, defensive coordinator? and and I’m ready to learn from him.”

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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The recruiting architect

CLASS OF ’15

2015 Freshman All-American 42 total tackles 5 sacks 1 pass breakup

Austin Thomas’ impact on LSU football is paying dividends on the field

RECRUITING ELITE TALENT each year is what keeps college football programs alive. At LSU, Austin Thomas is the man behind that effort. He tirelessly evaluates prospects, manages recruiting events and maintains LSU’s recruiting database. In nearly three years with the Tigers as the director of player personnel, Thomas was instrumental in constructing three straight top-10 recruiting classes, including the No. 2 class in 2014 and the No. 3 class this past February. The recruiting whiz’s efforts also helped land the nation’s top overall player in the class of 2014: Leonard Fournette. For a short time earlier this year, it appeared that perhaps LSU had lost Thomas’ talent. He briefly left LSU for a position at

A14

Southern California in February. But less than three months later, he rejoined LSU’s staff—this time as both assistant athletic director and director of player personnel. “We hated to see him leave, so we were thrilled when we were able to get him back,” LSU coach Les Miles said in a statement upon Thomas’ return. “He’s played a big role in our recruiting success over the last three years.” The first two recruiting classes Thomas presided over in 2014 and 2015 are heading into their respective junior and sophomore years at LSU. Several members of both classes have already made a significant impact on the field for the Tigers. Here’s a look at how.

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

49 Arden Key

–ANDREW ALEXANDER

57 Davon Godchaux CLASS OF ’14

80 total tackles 8.5 tackles for loss 4 sacks 61 knockdown blocks

DT LB

33 Jamal Adams CLASS OF ’14

2014 Freshman All-American 133 career tackles 10 tackles for loss 4 interceptions

2 Kevin Toliver II CLASS OF ’15

2015 Freshman All-American 33 total tackles 5 pass breakups 1 interception

LB CB

15 Malachi Dupre CLASS OF ’14

7 Leonard Fournette

57 receptions 1,016 receiving yards 11 touchdowns

WR #

CLASS OF ’14

2015 Consensus All-American 2,987 rushing yards 32 rushing touchdowns

75 Maea Teuhema CLASS OF ’15

2015 Freshman All-American 61 knockdown blocks

C Q G

6 Brandon Harris CLASS OF ’14 2,617 passing yards 19 touchdowns

5 Derrius Guice CLASS OF ’15

64 Will Clapp CLASS OF ’14

2015 SEC All-Freshman Team 436 rushing yards 3 touchdowns

2015 Freshman All-American 81.5 knockdown blocks PHOTOS COURTESY STEVE FRANZ / LSU ATHLETICS

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

7/1/16 10:07 AM

THE RULING ON

THE FIELD SPORTS RADIO HOST MATT MOSCONA’S 2016 LSU FOOTBALL SEASON PREDICTIONS “THERE IS AN old saying that success is more about the Jimmys and the Joes than the Xs and Os. And with a nation-leading 18 returning starters, LSU should have the talent to win every game on its schedule. There is another adage about a schedule regarding the importance of who you play and when you play them. That might be more complex for Les Miles’ squad.”

STEVE FRANZ / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

SEPT. 3 at Wisconsin

A novelty game of a lifetime with LSU playing at historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. New Tigers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda faces his former team, which returns its top three rushers and four starters on the offensive line. Still, the nation’s collective eye will be on Leonard Fournette as he begins his Heisman march.

SEPT. 10

vs. Jacksonville State Last year, the Gamecocks blew a late lead at Auburn in the season’s second week, before falling in overtime. Auburn was not good in 2015. LSU will be good in 2016. Don’t expect a similar scare.

SEPT. 17

vs. Mississippi State The last time the Bulldogs visited Baton Rouge, quarterback Dak Prescott led a romp over the home team. Prescott is now with the Dallas Cowboys and MSU may finish last in the SEC West. LSU’s September coast should continue.

SEPT. 24 at Auburn

Leonard Fournette rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn a season ago. His opportunity at an encore will come against former LSU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who left Baton Rouge for the same job at Auburn.

OCT. 1 vs. Missouri

LSU and Missouri tangle for the first time since the Columbia Cats joined the SEC. New head coach Barry Odom inherited a bad football team that averaged an SEC-worst 13.6 points per game in 2015. Good luck scoring on this LSU defense.

OCT. 8 at Florida

The Gators will be coming off back-to-back SEC road games with Tennessee and Vanderbilt. If veteran quarterbacks Luke Del Rio and Austin Appleby struggle early, LSU could become reacquainted with freshman quarterback Feleipe Franks—the top recruit who decommitted from LSU at the last minute to sign with Florida instead.

OCT. 15 vs. Southern Miss

USM beat LSU in Death Valley in 1994. This ain’t 1994. (I wonder what Curley Hallman is doing these days?)

OCT. 22 vs. Ole Miss

All-SEC quarterback Chad Kelly returns for the Rebs, but other familiar names like Nkemdiche, Treadwell and Tunsil are off to the NFL. This should be a perfect final tuneup for LSU before the open date and a matchup with Bama.

NOV. 5 vs. Alabama

On the fifth anniversary of the Game of the Century, LSU will try to do something it has not done since that night in Tuscaloosa—beat Bama. This should be the Tigers’ best chance to beat the Tide since 2011. But after five consecutive losses, I’ll believe it when I see it.

NOV. 12 at Arkansas

The Hogs have capitalized the past two seasons on an emotional bottoming out by the Tigers the week after the Bama game. The result of the Bama game and the corresponding emotional high or low should determine which LSU team shows up in Fayetteville. This series is tied 5-5 in the last 10 meetings.

NOV. 19 vs.

South Alabama

The schedule makers were wise to include a late-season breather. Last season’s four consecutive November SEC games nearly cost Les Miles his job.

NOV. 24 at Texas A&M

Playing a road conference game on a short week is never ideal, but the Aggies have their Thanksgiving tradition and LSU has to play ball. In what feels like an unpredictable season, both coaches could be shooting for an SEC West title—or coaching for their jobs.

Matt Moscona has hosted “After Further Review” on 104.5/104.9 ESPN Baton Rouge since 2010 and is now syndicated on 100.3 ESPN New Orleans. Radio Ink magazine named him one of the U.S.’ Top 30 Local Sports Talkers in 2012, ’14 and ’15. He is also the 2016 Louisiana Association of Broadcasters Prestige Award Winner for Best Sports Show.

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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BROTHERfromANOTHER ASK LEONARD FOURNETTE or Derrius Guice to describe their relationship, and the first words out their mouths are “like a brother.” The LSU tailbacks may be from two different cities and two different upbringings and didn’t meet until Fournette was enrolled at LSU, but their brotherhood started the moment they first shook hands. “Our brotherhood helps us want to learn more from each other,” Guice says. “Us being brothers helps us on and off the field because of our competitiveness. We always strive to do the best thing. I look up to him as a brother, for real.” ESPN.com ranked the LSU backfield players as the best in the SEC heading into 2016, and many believe the 1-2 punch of Fournette-Guice might be the strongest in the entire nation. “We compete every day, and we push each other,” Guice says. “I don’t have any expectations or temptations to be the starter. I just play my role. I like playing behind Leonard.” If the two aren’t making plays on the gridiron, they’re making jokes off it. “I kind of took a liking to Derrius because in practice, he pushes me to go harder,” Fournette says. “He’ll make a run and have me on my toes, so it causes me to push myself. And our relationship outside of football, I just like being around him. There’s not a dull moment with us. We’re always joking and always having fun.” —MARK CLEMENTS

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

LEONARD FOURNETTE AND DERRIUS GUICE CHALLENGE EACH OTHER ON AND OFF THE FIELD

225 PUT THE DUO’S COMPETITIVE NATURES TO THE TEST: Who has the better ‘hit stick’? Leonard Fournette: [laughs] Derrius Guice: Leonard, of course. That’s the human tank.

Who’s got better jokes? Fournette: [laughs] Guice: He’s funnier. This boy is the funniest boy on campus. Don’t let anybody tell you different.

Who’s a better singer? Guice: Leonard. Fournette: I don’t sing. Guice: That boy sings when he jokes. Look, he’s singing right now!

Tell me something about each other that most people don’t know. Fournette: He has nappy hair. Guice: [gives Fournette a look] Oh yeah? Everybody knows that, though! Everybody says he looks like a 30-year-old man, but he’s got the heart of a 5-year-old kid. Most people don’t know that. That boy jokes all day.

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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DEFENSIVE BACK

UNIVERSITY HOW LSU BECAME KNOWN AS THE “DBU” OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL

OVER THE YEARS, LSU has cranked out an array of standout players. Last year, during Week One of the NFL season, LSU led all colleges with a league-high 40 players on active rosters. There is one particular area these players seem to come from: the defensive backfield. Since 1966, the start of the Super Bowl era, 42 LSU defensive backs have been chosen in the NFL draft. Here’s a look at some of the backfield players who have come straight out of Death Valley and made it to the next level.

COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

–KAYLA RANDALL

Tyrann Mathieu, known as the “Honey Badger” during his time at LSU, now plays for the Arizona Cardinals

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

#21

Patrick PETERSON

Cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals

About to venture into his sixth year in the league, Peterson has proven to be a star for the Cardinals. A perpetual All-American, he established himself as the top cornerback in college football in 2010, winning the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back.

#35

Eric REID

Free safety for the San Francisco 49ers

In his three years in the NFL, Reid has been a consistent producer for his team. The Baton Rouge native was an All-SEC, All-American talent for the Tigers.

#24

Morris CLAIBORNE Cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys

#32 Tyrann MATHIEU

Free safety for the Arizona Cardinals

#40 Delvin BREAUX

Cornerback for the New Orleans Saints

As a Tiger, the highly touted cornerback was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Now, he’s making noise for the Cowboys.

Since playing for the Cardinals, Mathieu has been just as valuable to the NFL team as he was for the Tigers. A Heisman finalist, Mathieu will always be remembered as the “Honey Badger,” his nickname for being as relentless as the animal itself—and that honey-colored hair.

IN THE CLEAR

WHAT DOES LSU’S NEW CLEAR BAG POLICY MEAN? WHAT YOU CAN BRING: Clear tote bags smaller than 12-by6-by-12 inches (for reference, the height of that is slightly longer than this magazine) One-gallon plastic freezer bags

After suffering a broken neck in high school and not being cleared to play at LSU, Breaux has risen to become a huge asset for the Saints.

Handheld clutch purses Diaper bags (but only if you bring your baby, and the bag can be no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches)

WHAT YOU CAN’T BRING:

OTHER FORMER TIGERS DBs TO WATCH IN THE NFL:

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P I TA L A C E H T S

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

The

ARTof the

tailgate LOCAL TAILGATING GROUPS SHARE HOW THEY GO ALL OUT FOR GAMEDAY—AND WHAT THE TRADITION MEANS FOR THEM

COLLIN RICHIE

BY AMANDA CAPRITTO

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

A23

How much does tailgating really cost?

The Party Box Club

SETUP $

1,198

499

facebook.com/theoriginalpartybox

Weber Spirit three-burner propane grill from Home Depot

Instant 10-by-10-foot Ozark Trail canopy from Wal-Mart

120

Two six-foot foldable plastic outdoor tables from Wal-Mart SETUP TOTAL $

1,906

PER GAME COSTS Up to $40

Parking on the outskirts of campus

COURTESY THE PARTY BOX CLUB

70-inch LED Vizio TV from Wal-Mart

The Party Box Club’s second RV in the late ’90s. The group is now on their fourth motor home.

TAILGATING FOR: 29 seasons. The group is celebrating its 30th season this fall.

mary food isn’t grilled, tradition dictates that some type of meat or poultry is prepared.

The group’s legendary ceiling fan hangs from the side of the RV.

RESERVED SPOT AT LSU: Corner of Nicholson and South Stadium drives

FAVORITE GAMEDAY GAMES: Because of this tailgate’s location and large crowds, there isn’t much room for games that take up a lot of space, though some of the younger members manage to play a few rounds of ping pong before the large crowds arrive.

THE BEST THING ABOUT LSU TAILGATING IS … “Everything, [but] mostly the community. We’re on our third generation of members, and the torch has been passed seamlessly from generation to generation. Our children have literally grown up doing this on most every fall Saturday for their entire lives.”

DUES/FEES: The group offers a wide range of membership options, from a game-by-game fee of $150 per person to group or corporate season memberships for $2,500. ESSENTIAL GAMEDAY CUISINE: Always something grilled. Even if the day’s pri-

AMENITIES: Licensed bartenders, a cooking team, the usual array of indoor-outdoor furniture and a 60-inch TV and satellite dish.

—OTEY WHITE, LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE PARTY BOX CLUB AND PRESIDENT OF OTEY WHITE & ASSOCIATES

KOCKA Tailgating

PHOTOS COURTESY KOCKA

Cost to park a utility trailer on the outskirts of campus

Average cost of renting a beer keg from Bin Q Liquor

facebook.com/kocka.tailgating

Two 24-packs of Bud Light from Wal-Mart

Two 2-liter Coca-Colas and a handle of Jack Daniels from Wal-Mart

100 chicken fingers with Cane’s Sauce from Raising Cane’s TOTAL PER GAME $

348

KOCKA members at a tailgate

TAILGATING SINCE: Two groups merged in 2013, but Krewe of Crown formed in 2001 and Krewe’d Awakening formed in 1999 RESERVED SPOT AT LSU: The Old Front Nine near Nicholson Drive and Nicholson Drive Extension ESSENTIAL GAMEDAY CUISINE: Beer plus whatever’s on the grill. Some favorites at this tailgate are alligator sauce piquant and pulled pork sandwiches. FAVORITE GAMEDAY GAMES: Beer pong, washers, cornhole

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KOCKA’s personal DJ, Brannon Simar or “Big B”

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

AMENITIES: This shady tailgate sits on a large grassy space under a large oak tree, optimal for cooking out and playing games. It features a personal DJ who begins spinning at sunrise, multiple beer pong tables and the “Eight-Man Funnel of Death.” THE BEST THING ABOUT LSU TAILGATING IS … “LSU is just all that is good about tailgating. We will give [opposing fans] a hard time and call them ‘tiger bait,’ but we are going to feed you and give you a beer to drink. ... I really can’t think of any place I’d rather be than tailgating during football season.” —JAMES ROY, DIRECTOR OF KOCKA TAILGATING AFFAIRS

“We are always there, no matter the opponent, at least 12 hours before the game … Our motto is #GeauxUglyEarly.” —JAMES ROY

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AD WILL RUN AS IS

The Best r s e e e l b ectio t f a IN ALL OF

Krewe des Tigres de la Vieux Ecole

Tiger Country,

PHOTOS COURTESY KREWE DES TIGRES DE LA VIEUX ECOLE

bar none

Krewe des Tigres tailgaters play a game of washers.

TAILGATING SINCE: 2005; Red Stick CrossFit joined as an official partner in 2012 RESERVED SPOT AT LSU: Indian Mounds on Dalrymple Drive DUES/FEES: $200 per person per season ESSENTIAL GAMEDAY CUISINE: Louisiana staples, including fried catfish, jambalaya, gumbo, turtle soup and alligator sauce piquant. Sometimes the group orders from local restaurants, such as Couyon’s, and usually supplements the cooking with platters from Jimmy John’s or Raising Cane’s.

Geaux Tigers!

FAVORITE GAMEDAY GAMES: Beer pong, washers, flip cup, giant Jenga

AMENITIES: 50-inch TV, satellite, 24-by24-foot blow-up tent and several other 12-by12-foot tents, a stocked bar with liquor and mixers, a keg or multiple kegs for large games and two stereo systems THE BEST THING ABOUT LSU TAILGATING IS … “It’s a lot of work, but something we look forward to every year. There is simply nothing like spending gameday with 100,000-plus fellow Tiger fans. We love to show hospitality to friends old and new and even to visiting fans. It is a vivid demonstration of everything that makes Louisiana great: our joie de vivre, our love for our family and friends and our passion for our culture.” —MELISSA CHICOINE, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS AT RED STICK CROSSFIT

facebook.com/redstickcrossfit This group creates an event page each week for the game.

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

Members of Red Stick Crossfit pose for a photo at a Krewe des Tigres tailgate.

PHOTOS COURTESY UNSUPERVISED TAILGATING

Unsupervised Tailgating

Unsupervised tailgaters wear festive purple-and-gold overalls to celebrate the Tigers.

TAILGATING FOR: Nearly 20 years RESERVED SPOT AT LSU: Touchdown Village II, spot 427 DUES/FEES: Unsupervised isn’t a closed group, so there are no official dues or fees. Attendees can contribute to the group’s “operating fund.” Several members, deemed VIP sponsors by the group, chip in to cover preseason operating costs, such as the parking pass and bus maintenance. ESSENTIAL GAMEDAY CUISINE: During the group’s offseason meeting, known as The Summit, members map out the upcoming season and select a game captain and chef for each home game so no menu is ever duplicated. Yearly recurring cuisine includes barbecue, jambalaya and gumbo. The group also tries to fit the menu to the opponent with cuisine like drunken chicken for South Carolina and alligator sauce piquant for Florida. FAVORITE GAMEDAY GAMES: Beer pong, flip cup, cornhole. The group’s PA system has commentators for when the competition gets fierce and needs a play-by-play. AMENITIES: The centerpiece of the Unsupervised Nation is T.U.B.: The

Unsupervised Bus. It’s a renovated 1982 Ford school bus that has been reclassified and registered as an RV. It sports a purple and gold paint job, a bathroom, two AC units, InMotion satellite, two interior televisions, limousine rope lighting throughout, a touchscreen digital jukebox with nearly a terabyte of music, a train horn with a dedicated air compressor and a Mackie PA system with subwoofer. The bus even boasts bench seating that converts into five bunk beds. An exterior-mounted 50inch flatscreen TV and a 20-foot inflatable projection screen for nighttime viewing makes the Unsupervised tailgate a great spot to watch the game if you can’t get into Tiger Stadium. The group also has a unique ice chest: a purple and gold coffin that has been refurbished and insulated throughout. THE BEST THING ABOUT LSU TAILGATING IS … “In Louisiana, we pride ourselves on our cooking, our hospitality, our ability to have a good time and our love of LSU. What better showcase for all these elements than tailgating with good friends, both old and new, before a Saturday night in Death Valley and putting our stamp on all these things we love for the world to see? Geaux Tigers!”

—TROY THIBODEAUX, LONGTIME UNSUPERVISED MEMBER

TUB (The Unsupervised Bus) houses a bathroom, two AC units, limousine lighting and more.

facebook.com/unsupervised

plus1dc.com • 225.383.0664 TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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Issue Date: Aug(LSU) Ad proof #3

O T E V A H T ’ YO U D I D N T YO U D I D , U B , S U E V LO D N A D I D U O BUT Y

! U O Y K WE THAN

Gameday grub

One of the best things about tailgating? The food, obviously. Last fall, we went to campus on a Saturday to see what people were cookin’. Here’s what we found: PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

Mike Barish cooks up Cajun barbecue.

Crawfish bread

Shelby Dorf is not a Louisiana native, but she sure can tailgate like one. Dorf, originally from Missouri, makes this dish by smothering French bread in butter, cheese and spicy crawfish tails before finishing the whole thing on the grill. “The food, the people, the culture here—there is nothing else like it,” she says. “It’s just something you have to experience in person at LSU on gameday.”

Boudin, ham, egg and cheese biscuit

Johnny Prentice makes breakfast and snacks all day long for his tailgates, which attract 20-50 people per game. He cooks each part of this dish on the grill. “The biscuit tastes even better that way than it would out of the oven,” he says.

Fried eggplant sticks, fried shrimp and boudin balls

BEST OF

Daniel Broussard and Billy Jo Broussard have been tailgating at LSU for more than 35 years, and for them, sharing dishes like these on gameday is special. “It’s a way of feeling comfort, a way of feeling appreciated,” Daniel says. “As Louisiana natives, you get to just share who you are by just sharing your food.”

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Last fall, we roamed LSU’s campus to see what people were wearing to the Homecoming game

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

MATTHEW CLARK, 26 “I would say my gameday style is very Tiger-centric.”

ARIANA AUSTER, 3, AND ARABELLE AUSTER, 4 “They love dresses and they love bows, but mostly they like to match,” says Katherine Auster, the girls’ mom.

GREG WHALEN, PARKER COWAN & THOMAS DAVIS, ALL 18 “We all agree that our tailgate outﬁts are fancy, but not too fancy. Sometimes it’s hot, but you suffer for style, right?” Whalen says.

PHOTOS BY ALLIE APPEL

2016 WINNER

Leonard & Lyric LSU’s star running back, Leonard Fournette, and his 1-year-old daughter, Lyric, frequently make waves on social media. Here are some of the pair’s cutest moments on Instagram. — KAYLA RANDALL

back n, she put me t feeling dow e end ar th st I at t as bu on s So up hurt ow gr r he ve ng ha si d loved an up.... Mis e sure she is ak m to is b jo my talk to somebody to

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

•

CUISINE

•

C U LT U R E

The game manager LSU QUARTERBACK BRANDON HARRIS EMBRACES THE HATE, EXPECTATIONS AND SKEPTICISM HEADING INTO 2016 BY ANDREW ALEXANDER

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL pundits often throw around the term “game manager.” It’s a disdainful description for a quarterback who wins despite his own poor statistics and is often supported by a talented rushing attack and strong defense. >>

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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Issue Date: Aug (LSU) Ad proof #3

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

“People say I can’t throw, which I feel like I probably throw the ball better than any college quarterback in college football. I don’t feel like anybody has my talent.” LSU quarterback Brandon Harris embraces the moniker. “Every guy in the NFL is a game manager,” Harris says. “Your job is to manage the game and make throws when asked to do so. Other than that, no quarterback you see in the NFL is playing hero ball. If you’re not managing the game, you’re losing the game.” Harris is entering his junior season as a returning starting quarterback, something LSU has lacked since Zach Mettenberger started in 2012-2013. Skepticism of Harris’ ability to lead the Tigers adequately to a Southeastern Conference or national championship is somewhat warranted. Harris managed LSU to a 7-0 record and No. 2 ranking in the country through October last season. Then the Tigers visited Tuscaloosa and were manhandled by the Crimson Tide, 30-16. It was the first of three straight November losses. Harris admits that three-game losing streak in 2015 was the lowest point of his LSU career. It was even worse than his nightmarish first career start at Auburn in 2014, in which the other SEC West Tigers trounced LSU 41-7. The then-freshman Harris completed just three of 14 passes for a paltry 58 yards that game. At the very least, Harris has come a long way since his freshman year. “We got the opportunity to play Auburn again this past season,” he says. “I don’t like to say there was any revenge, but it felt good to get that win against Auburn. It felt like I had to hear about [the 2014 game] entirely way too much.”

ONE LINE OF thinking has become popular among LSU fans during the past few years of the Les Miles era: If only LSU football could figure out how to be successful at the quarterback position, it could have a really special season—and maybe even win the national championship. The Mad Hatter has routinely pulled in top recruiting classes and established LSU as an NFL player factory. But in the minds of many skeptics, Miles has consistently underachieved on Saturdays the past few seasons. “A lot of people that have said that ... I guarantee they don’t know anything about football,” Harris says. Harris’ declaration is bold, but maybe not far off. The intricacies of LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s playbook, which features a pro-style NFL system as opposed to the popular up-tempo spread offense, are often misunderstood, whether you’re an armchair quarterback or a young football player. The system can be daunting for incoming freshmen quarterbacks. In hindsight it’s evident that Harris and his predecessor Anthony Jennings were thrust into the quarterback position before they fully understood that style of offense. This fall, the Tigers will be led by an upperclassman quarterback with previous starting experience for the first time since the 2013 season, but there are still questions to be answered. Critics of Miles—even Harris himself—point to LSU’s lackluster 0-5 record against Alabama since the Tigers’ last victory in 2011. “I always thought that we’ve beaten ourselves in the past,” Har-

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

ris says about LSU’s current losing streak to the Crimson Tide. “That all goes back to philosophy and execution.” Philosophy and execution have been buzzwords around this program during the past several seasons, as the ratio of pass-to-run plays the Tigers should employ each Saturday is constantly debated. Most agree the Tigers need to operate a more balanced attack that features an increased role for the passing game. The Tigers’ passing attack ranked 105th in the NCAA last season, averaging 180.4 yards per game. On the other hand, LSU ranked seventh in the country in rushing offense last season, averaging 256.8 yards per game. But a team’s philosophy means little if its players cannot adequately execute the game plan on the field. Harris—who in 2015 completed 149 of 277 passes for 2,165 yards,

with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions—believes LSU’s offensive game plan is “a winning formula.” “If we go out there, and we do things that we know we’re capable of doing and things that we’ve been coached to do, we can easily pave the way for what we want to do and accomplish all the goals that we want to accomplish this season,” he says. THE LSU QUARTERBACK position comes with plenty of scrutiny. The fate of a fan base that’s 100,000 strong rests on a 20-yearold’s shoulders. It’s a burden too great for most college students. Harris relishes this burden, invites the skeptics and welcomes the comments he receives from the haters. “I don’t feel any pressure,” he says. “I’ve worked my tail off this offseason. I just have a feeling that people are going to change their perceptions once they see me this upcoming season. I laugh and I TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

A33

CHRIS PARENT / COURTESY LSU ATHLETICS

“If you’re not managing the game, you’re losing the game.”

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

laugh all the time. I hear it all. People say I can’t throw, which I feel like I probably throw the ball better than any college quarterback in college football. I don’t feel like anybody has my talent.” In an effort to increase his durability and strength for the upcoming season, the junior quarterback has bulked up to 220 pounds, nearly 20 pounds heavier than his 2015 season playing weight. Harris will have the chance to showcase his talent this season, with the Tigers quickly emerging as a favorite to represent the SEC in the third College Football Playoffs. Purple and gold cynics dismiss the notion that LSU’s offense will evolve into a balanced attack under Miles or that Harris truly possess-

es the skills necessary to lead the Tigers to championships. The skepticism of the masses does little to faze Harris. He believes in his tremendous arm strength, but at the same time is intelligent enough to realize he doesn’t have to carry a team with talented players surrounding him and a team strategy that values strong defense and a running game. He’s focused on being the game manager LSU needs to lead the college football powerhouse back to gridiron glory. “There are a lot of people doubting not only my ability, but this team’s ability,” Harris says. “When we open up against Wisconsin, I think we’ll shut a lot of people up.”

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

Bonnette’s office is full of files and sports memorabilia from his 16 years at LSU.

THE BONNETTES ARE, simply, the ﬁrst family of sports information in Louisiana. Louis Bonnette retired three years ago after 46 years as the sports information director (SID) at McNeese State. His youngest son, Matthew, replaced him. Even his daughter worked for him while she was in college. His oldest son also worked for him for one school year, but after his freshman year at McNeese, Michael Bonnette transferred to LSU. That move in 1989 put Michael on a path he could never have imagined at the time. Bonnette started as a student worker in the sports information department at LSU, and by 2000 he had claimed the SID title as well as becoming LSU’s sports communications director. Since then, he’s continued to climb the ranks, named assistant athletic director in 2004 and, still working as communications director, ultimately reaching his current position as senior associate athletic director in 2013. He’s been front and center on national TV countless times. His job has taken him all over—exciting for a kid from Lake Charles who grew up “a Brad Wing punt from Cowboys Stadium.” Bonnette is a regular on the ESPN campus in Bristol, Connecticut, and knows New York City—think Heisman Trophy ceremony, NFL Draft and other football functions—better than most. And he’s been well com-

pensated in a job that gets a bonus for football success. “The things that I’ve been able to do because of LSU football,” Bonnette says with a smile and a shake of his head. “I count my blessings every day. The cool places I’ve been and the people I’ve met—it’s all because of LSU people ... the doors that have opened.” Many of those doors have also opened because of coach Les Miles. “I’m known as the guy who’s always following Les. So wherever he goes, I go, because he’s getting in a good door,” Bonnette says. As LSU heads into the 2016-2017 school year, and more speciﬁcally the football season, Bonnette will start his 16th year as the school’s sports information director and (more or less) the guy who keeps Miles in line with the media. The quirky Miles can be a challenge. “But it’s a fun challenge,” Bonnette says. “He wants to win as bad as anybody, but he wants to have fun. It’s OK to have fun, and he realizes that. That’s what refreshing in this day and age. It’s not all about saying the right thing all the time. He’s going to say things, and that’s why people love him.” Conversely, Bonnette has one of those jobs where not everyone loves him. There are the obvious tugs of war with the media, and the business has changed considerably with the advent of social media and

Issue Date: Aug LSU Ad proof #2

LSU

FOOTBALL LSU sports having a website to put out its own stories. “For the most part, Bonnette walks this tightrope extremely well,” says Glenn Guilbeau, who covers LSU for the Gannett News Service. “The best thing about him is he has kept his sense of humor, and he returns calls or texts—most of the time.” Scott Rabalais, a sports columnist for The Advocate, says, “I’ve known Michael since he was a student worker in the LSU sports information oﬃce, and I’ve always known him to be a passionate guy. Passionate about his family. Passionate about LSU, which when you think about it is his family as well. “There are times when we’ve been and are going to be at crossed purposes with each other. That’s the nature of our professions. And it’s as it should be when you think about it. But in the end there is always mutual respect,” Rabalais says. That’s something Bonnette has learned along the way. When he got to LSU, the sports information director was Herb Vincent, who now works for the Southeastern Conference. “I always admired Herb. Even though he was young, everyone looked up to him and respected him,” Bonnette says. “I tried to take everything I learned from my dad and emulate Herb as much as possible.”

Bonnette’s first assignment at LSU was handling publicity for swimming and diving, and the next year, he picked up tennis. When Bonnette was a senior, Vincent took a big chance and gave him SID responsibility for the women’s basketball team. “That would never happen today,” Bonnette admits. It paid off for Vincent and Bonnette, who got to work with the late, legendary women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter. He stayed with women’s hoops after graduating and putting in a year as a paid intern before being hired full-time to a staff that already included baseball SID Bill Franques and men’s basketball SID Kent Lowe. “Michael has continued on the Bonnette family name in sports information in excellent fashion,” Lowe says. “His abilities and his love of athletics helps make our office a special place to be a part of.” In 2000, Vincent left the first time for the SEC (he came back to LSU but has since returned to the SEC), and Bonnette was promoted. “I was hoping and praying I would get the job,” Bonnette says. “And I felt like I’d done everything I could possibly do, but it was if they were going to take a chance on a young guy. And that was Nick [Saban]’s first year, you might recall.” Indeed it was, and being Nick

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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LSU

FOOTBALL

Saban’s SID is not for the faint of heart. “Nick was tough,” Bonnette admits. “But he was driven to win, and I learned a lot from him.” But there was more. “It wasn’t just working with Nick. It was running the whole sports information department,” Bonnette says. “There was a lot of change in a hurry.” Guilbeau says, “He survived Saban, and became a better SID for it.” And then began the Miles era, now in its 12th year. “You step outside this footprint, and he is a rock star. I have been with Les on the streets of Times

Issue Date: Aug.(LSU) Ad proof #1

Bonnette, hard at work in his office.

Square, and people will stop, point, take pictures and say, ‘There’s Les Miles.’ And he loves it. He’s very approachable,” Bonnette says. Bonnette and his wife, Robin, have three sons, all of whom have grown up purple and gold. Payton will be a freshman at LSU this fall, and his two younger brothers, Grant and Max, have been able to take some great trips and be part of big things because of LSU sports. Despite all the perks, a few years ago, Bonnette was thinking it might be time for a personal change. “There was a time when I was getting kind of worn down and thought I was missing too much at home. Maybe I was having a bad day, but I was talking to Robin and saying maybe I ought to try something else, and one of the boys heard me, and he was screaming, ‘No! You can’t leave! Don’t do that to us!’“ Bonnette laughs. “I’m going to ride this as long as I can,” Bonnette says. “I’m having a blast.”

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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PAINTING

THE TOWN LOCAL ARTISTS SHARE HOW LSU FOOTBALL HAS INSPIRED THEIR WORK

JACK JAUBERT

Issue Date: Aug. LSU Ad proof #4

jackjaubert.com “[I played] football for LSU from 1968 to 1971. I was the ﬁrst-string center for the football team in the 1970 and 1971 seasons. The three years following graduation in 1972, I did portraits of the senior players that were in a last-page insidecover foldout of the football program for three seasons. Other than the program foldouts, I did not pursue LSU artwork until I returned to Baton Rouge in 1987. But then it became one of my many passions.”

STACEY UFFMAN BLANCHARD

Lagniappe Frame Shoppe & Gifts | sinkercypressart.com “I started doing LSU art in 2007. I created the Fleur de Tigré for LSU at that time. The response was overwhelming, and I truly was fueled to do more LSU-related art. I became a collegiate licensed artist. LSU fans are the best supporters of what I love and do every day. My passion for Louisiana shows through in every piece I paint.”

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Caminita Wildlife | caminitawildlife.com “I began painting LSU art as a means to accentuate my passion for LSU sports and the institution. This undeniable passion inspires me to challenge my creativity in depicting unique works of art that resonate within those who are truly passionate about LSU.”

CRAIG ROUTH

Routh Studios | routhcollection.com; routhstudios.com “There are so many interesting things about the LSU culture. I just really enjoy creating artwork that captures it. The subject matter is endless. I’ve done everything from whimsical scenes of tailgating to realistic watercolor paintings of famous football plays, including a 2007 Football National Championship painting.”

—AMANDA CAPRITTO

JEFF DUKE

JBJ Creations, LLC | Find JBJ Creations on Facebook “There’s just something about being at craft shows and at football games, set up in a tent with my art. It’s always such a good atmosphere, and it’s a feeling like none other when a person walks into your tent and you can talk for minutes on end about LSU football.”

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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Issue Date: July Aug(LSU) Ad1 proof Ad proof #1 #1

Issue Date: July Ad2 proof #1

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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The 19-year-old redshirt freshman came to LSU boasting a high school career that had him ranked as high as the No. 2 offensive tackle nationally.

Coming to America FOR CHIDI OKEKE, BATON ROUGE IS FAR FROM HIS HOME IN NIGERIA. THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN SHARES HOW HE’S ADAPTED TO LOUISIANA. BY KAYLA RANDALL • Photos by Stephanie Landry

CHIDI OKEKE WAS just 16 when he left home. It was 2013, the year his life would change forever. That was the year Okeke moved from Africa to the United States and discovered an entirely new culture—American sports. Every day he would play soccer outside his home in the streets of Anambra, Nigeria. He also played basketball and dreamed one day he’d get the chance to play sports professionally. He wanted that dream for himself, but also for his family, which had experienced hard times. His father died in a car accident when he was 9 years

old. It was just him, his mother and his nine older siblings trying to survive. If he were to make it in sports, he thought, he could eventually take care of them. The 6-foot-6, 311-pound Okeke is a gentle giant. He is typically more reserved, but when he talks today about his family and where he’s from, you can hear the happiness in his deep voice. “I love them,” Okeke says in his thick accent. “My family, my friends—that’s home.” Gifted with raw talent, quality footwork and quickness for an athlete of his size, he was scouted

TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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Issue Date: Aug(LSU) Ad proof #2

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

“They’re so happy I’m here and doing what I’m doing.” –Chidi Okeke, on his family back home in Nigeria

by the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has provided educational opportunities for hundreds of young Nigerian athletes in the United States and Nigeria since its inception in 2006. The foundation aims to offer improved life prospects for up-andcoming generations of Nigerians, helping them achieve success through education and athletics both home and abroad. It was founded by Ejike Ugboaja, the first African to be drafted to the NBA directly from Africa. Remembering the opportunities he lacked as a young athlete, he was inspired to create the organization the same year he was drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Hundreds and sometimes thousands of young Nigerians train at the foundation’s sports camp each summer. While Okeke attended the camp in the summer of 2013, leaders there quickly recognized he

could be something special. At the end of the summer, he was among a small group chosen to play basketball in the United States at Champagnat Catholic School in Florida. “The foundation has helped me so much, and it helps so many other kids,” Okeke says. “I’m looking forward to doing the same one day. I want to organize some camps for kids in Nigeria who have no opportunity and give back to my community.” Okeke knew his transition to living in the United States would not always be easy. He’d have to overcome a language barrier and other cultural diﬀerences—it’s a sign of disrespect to look adults in the eyes in Nigeria, for instance. He’d also have to overcome being homesick. “I miss where I’m from,” he says. “Everyone loves where they are from no matter what.” To make it in a country across

the ocean from his homeland, he knew he’d have to grow quickly from a boy to a man. Somehow, he didn’t let any of the pressure faze him. He kept pushing on, accepting the next challenge. Once he got to his new school in Florida, both he and his coaches quickly realized he was more suited to play football than basketball. This presented Okeke with one of his biggest challenges yet: learning an entirely new game. Football was a sport he had never played, but his size and athleticism would give him even better opportunities to succeed than he’d had in other sports. “I’ve been playing sports all my life, so I didn’t feel like football was so new to me,” Okeke says. “Once you’re an athlete, any sport you play, you can actually adapt. If you want to do something, you can do

it. That’s my mentality.” It turns out, his mentality was perfect for football. In the fall of 2013, he switched to the gridiron and never looked back. As a senior, he transferred to Faith Baptist Christian Academy in Georgia, where he was considered a five-star prospect by 247Sports. ESPN and Scout had their eyes on him, too, both giving him four stars. He was ranked as high as the No. 2 offensive tackle nationally. While top-ranked recruits always have many options, Okeke chose to become a Tiger because he admired the established culture at LSU and wanted to be a part of it. Today, he is shining on LSU’s offensive line, and the redshirt freshman continues to work toward one day getting a starting gig at left tackle. Knowing his time is now to

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make an impact on the ﬁeld, he puts work in daily to ensure plenty of playing time in the upcoming season, which Les Miles said will happen. While his coaches see his tremendous potential, they also see an unbreakable spirit. It’s a spirit that can be traced all the way back to Nigeria and his proud family. “I was young when I left, and they didn’t know how I was going to do over here, so I told them I was OK and everything was good,” Okeke says. “Right now, they’re so happy I’m here and doing what I’m doing.” He Skypes with his family often, and visits them as much as he can. He went back home earlier this year to enjoy his beloved home and family. And, of course, the food, which is one of the things he misses most. “I grew up eating Nigerian food, and so I feel it’s better than any other food in the world,” Okeke says. Now 19, Okeke has been in the U.S. for three years—and he says he doesn’t plan on going anywhere but up.

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

“Mike the Tiger” by Chelsea Caldwell chelseacaldwell.co May greater glory, love unending, be forever thine. Our worth in life will be thy worth, we pray to keep it true. And may thy spirit live in us, forever LSU. Email submissions for Picture This to editor@225batonrouge.com

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TIGER PRIDE 2016 | The passion and pageantry of LSU football

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