Tiger Pride 2023 - 225 Magazine

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F r o c k C a n d y F r o c k C a n d y

CHEER FOR CHEMISTRY CHEER FOR CHEMISTRY

Football would not be possible without the chemicals produced by our industry. Petrochemicals and petroleum are everywhere in football, from the construction of stadiums to the protective gear worn by players. Whenever you are cheering on your favorite team this football season, remember that petrochemicals and petroleum are the real MVPs!

Protective Padding

Great tackles wouldn’t be possible without our players’ protective padding, and polyethylene, from ExxonMobil, is a crucial ingredient.

Bleachers

How could we watch the game without a place to sit? Bleachers are made of aluminum and Atlantic Alumina is the state’s main producer.

Grass Field

Field Paint

There couldn’t be a game without the field lines! The paint for these lines are made with acrylic polymer emulsions, produced by Westlake Chemical.

Football Helmet

So many chemicals go into protecting a player’s head! Polycarbonate plastic and PVC are used on the helmet’s outer shell, produced by Formosa Plastics, Shintech Louisiana, and OxyChem, and polyurethane foams, made by BASF, are used on the inside.

Jersey

How do we know which player is which? Our favorite team jerseys are made possible thanks to synthetic fibers, made by BASF, that allow moisture absorption and elasticity!

Jet Fuel and Gas

Thanks to companies like Phillips 66, CITGO, and Shell, players can go from city to city to play—and we can enjoy an exciting away game!

Artificial Turf

Polyethylene and polypropylene make up the synthetic turf for many fields. ExxonMobil produces these important chemicals.

A beautiful grass field can’t be maintained without fertilizers and water purification (sulfuric acid). Companies Cornerstone Chemical, Phillips 66, and Nutrien keep the fields green!

Features

A15 How local poodles are getting Tiger-themed trims

A18 Who is turning school spirit into culinary art

A22 Why LSU Colorguard is essential to game day

A33 Which artist is tracking down athlete autographs

A39 How our experts think the team will perform this season

A47 Which standout duo also happens to be roommates

A59 Where to find LSU-themed gifts and sneakers

Departments

A15 Spirit A39 Outlook A47 Team A59 Style A68 Calendar

A70 Framed

2023 Tiger Pride

IT'S A MOMENT Baton Rouge likely won't forget for a long time: bandmates from LSU and Southern University taking the field to perform together at halftime during last year's Tigers-Jaguars matchup. Photo by Jacob Reeder

/ Courtesy LSU Athletics

Gunite pools starting at $49,000

Season’s greetings

IT'S ABOUT TO be the most wonderful time of the year in Baton Rouge.

Get your vocal chords—and your tailgate gear—ready. Soon, weekends will revolve around LSU football.

In 225 Magazine’s annual Tiger Pride edition, we dive into all there is to look forward to this season.

Our two guest columnists—veteran radio host Matt Moscona and local sports journalist Mark Clements— both have high hopes for this season.

“The only game where the Tigers figure to be an underdog is at Alabama,” Moscona writes.

In fact, Clements adds that this year’s team has “several stark similarities to the 2019 national title-winning Tigers.” Turn to page 39 for our season outlook.

And believe it or not, there are still a handful of Tigers on this season’s roster from that 2019 national championship team. One of those is Josh Williams, a former walk-on who's now one of the team’s top tailbacks.

“Each year, I’ve gotten more (playing time) and I’ve played better. I want to continue to show that I’m a hard worker and play with all my might,” he says.

He tells 225 about his journey starting on page 52, including what he’s learned from his teammates over the years.

After all, LSU players quickly become family.

“That’s my brother,” Will Campbell tells 225 of Emery Jones Jr. The o ensive linemen combined to start 11 games together during their true freshman seasons—and they also happen to be roommates.

“It’s really fun when you’ve got somebody who has the same goals as you and is the same age,” Jones adds.

Turn to page 47 to see how this duo is making memories on game day and beyond.

Of course, there’s more to Tiger pride than what happens on the field.

Local creatives let purple and gold inspire everything from paintings to hand-made cakes to poodle haircuts, as you’ll see in our “Spirit” section starting on page 15.

Because no matter where you’re seated in the stadium or who you’re next to at the tailgate, you’ll be surrounded by the passion and pageantry of LSU Football.

Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Chief Content Officer: Penny Font

Editor: Jennifer Tormo Alvarez

Managing Editor: Laura Furr Mericas

Features Writer: Maggie Heyn Richardson

Digital Staff Writer: Olivia Deffes

Digital Content Editor: Dillon Lowe

Staff Photographer: Collin Richie

Contributing Writers: Andrew Alexander, Mark Clements, Cynthea Corfah, Elle Marie, Matt Moscona, Zane Piontek

Contributing Photographers: Jordan Hefer

ADVERTISING

Chief Digital Officer and Sales Director: Erin Pou

Account Executives: Manny Fajardo, André Hellickson Savoie, Jamie Hernandez, Kaitlyn Maranto, Hillary Melara, Cassidie Tingle

Digital Operations Manager: Devyn MacDonald

Advertising Coordinator: Brittany Nieto

Customer Success Manager: Paul Huval

STUDIO E

Director: Taylor Gast

Multimedia Strategy Manager: Tim Coles

Corporate Media Editor: Lisa Tramontana

Content Strategist: Emily Hebert

Account Executive: Judith LaDousa

MARKETING

Marketing & Events Coordinator: Taylor Falgout

Marketing & Events Assistant: Cadon Ardoin

Events: Abby Hamilton

ADMINISTRATION

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher

Business Associate: Kirsten Milano

Office Coordinator: Sara Hodge

Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

Director of Creative Services: Amy Vandiver

Art Director: Hoa Vu

Senior Graphic Designers: Melinda Gonzalez Galjour, Emily Witt

Graphic Designer: Ashlee Digel

Design Consultant: Carlin Mumphrey

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience Development Director and Digital Manager: James Hume

Audience Development Coordinator: Ivana Oubre

Audience Development Associate: Catherine Albano

A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC

Chairman: Julio Melara

Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto

Vice President-Sales: Elizabeth McCollister Hebert

Chief Content Officer: Penny Font

Chief Digital Officer: Erin Pou

Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone

Chairman Emeritus: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. Circulation/Reprints

COLLIN RICHIE

passion

of LSU football

LSU student Matt Wallace gives us an inside look at what it’s like to be part of Team Mike.

Shell + LSU Create National Model

$27.5

AS THE FOUNDING PARTNER of the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation, Shell demonstrates its commitment to Louisiana’s future.

TOGETHER, Shell and LSU will serve as a national model for energy-related collaboration within the energy transformation.

“Cooperation among industries and academia represents the pathway to answer the challenges of the future.”

SELDA GUNSEL President, Shell Global Solutions US

Funds helped found the LSU Institute for Energy Innovation.

BATON ROUGE RESIDENTS REACH CAREER GOALS THROUGH FREE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM

Brittany Robinson was attending Baton Rouge Community College in 2013 when she had a family event and didn’t have childcare for her son forcing her to drop out. Five years later, she saw an advertisement on social media for the free North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI) spearheaded by ExxonMobil. After graduating from NBRITI in 2019, she is now an electrical apprentice at ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge Refinery. Her son cheered for her as she walked across the stage to receive her diploma.

“I always wanted to jump into an electrical career and follow in the footsteps of my dad, who is an electrician,” Robinson says. “The NBRITI program gave me a great opportunity to advance my career. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about going back to college, but I’m so glad and thankful that it worked out the way it did.”

The successful job training initiative spearheaded by ExxonMobil and supported by more than 30 contractor firms has graduated nearly 500 skilled workers since 2012. More than 90 percent of graduates are employed in industry with many working for the firms who are part of the initiative.

“The success of the North Baton Rouge Industrial Training Initiative (NBRITI) is not only helping to meet our area’s demand for a skilled workforce, but also changing the lives of its

graduates, who have opportunities for lifelong careers and future educational training,” said ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Workforce Development Manager Baraynia Robillard.

ExxonMobil Machinery Apprentice Kevin Turner was working as a mechanic in 2018 when he heard about NBRITI from a coworker. “Someone told me if you could work on a car, you could be a millwright or a machinist,” he says. “Working in industry is different than working on commissions and different than working outside – the lifestyle, the salary.”

While it was difficult to open a schoolbook and study for a test rather than earn overtime hours at his mechanic job, the end result was well worth it, says Turner, who currently works as a machinery apprentice for ExxonMobil. “I had a great support system and just had faith that if I put in the work, it would pay out in the long run. Things in life that you want, typically they don’t come easy,” he says.

NBRITI provides basic craft training in electrical, instrumentation, millwright,

pipefitting and welding at no cost to accepted students. For one year, students attend classes three nights per week at Baton Rouge Community College’s North Acadian campus. By offering evening classes, participants can work full-time jobs during the day.

“I’m appreciative that the Baton Rouge Community College instructors and our NBRITI contractor mentors take ownership for not only teaching students the skills they need to succeed, but also guiding them in preparation for an industrial career,” says Robillard.

Students learn through fast-tracked classroom and hands-on training, which also includes life skills and workforce preparation. Graduates earn nationally recognized credentials from the National Center for Construction Education and Research and welding graduates finish with American Welding Society certifications.

The program works to place all students in full-time positions in their respective fields upon graduation. An informational open house is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit mybrcc.edu/nbriti.

TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH

INSIDE: Mike the Tiger / Colorguard / LSU-inspired art

Gd Hair day

How an LSU-loving couple turned an amateur grooming job into a game-day tradition

BY OLIVIA DEFFES

PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

TOM AND NANCY

Hazlett’s standard poodles Tiggy and Louie may not be decked out in stripes, but their fancy hairdos have certainly landed them in the LSU hall of fandom fame.

The fuzzy pups, whose names are short for Eye of the Tiger and Louisiana Saturday Night, can be found on campus most LSU game days. The Hazletts guide them around, sporting their iconic groom: the letters “LSU” shaved into their flu y, beige hair. The Hazletts start them out around the John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum and make their way around tailgates through the shade of the stately oaks. Fans stop to pet and pose with the pooches. The dogs have even been featured in many of LSU’s homecoming day parades.

“When it’s hot, we’ll go out for two hours,” Nancy says. “But if it’s a nice day, we’ll be out for five hours. I don’t think there’s anywhere we haven’t walked on campus.”

The tradition all started about 20 years ago with the Hazletts’ first poodle, Ben Jammin’ on De Bayou, or Ben. The name was a nod to the time the Hazletts spent in Jamaica and their home in Louisiana. For holidays, Nancy would shave icons, like a shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day or a heart for Valentine’s Day, into Ben’s hair. (Poodles, in fact grow hair and not fur.) After 9/11, Nancy shaved “USA” on Ben’s side.

When fall came, they decided to take him tailgating.

Tom and Nancy remember getting plenty of compliments that day. And the rest is hairy history.

Over the years, Nancy and Tom have housed five standard poodles. After Ben came Makin’ Roux for De Gumbo, also referred to as RouxD. Later came Against All Odds, or Ollie. Along with Tiggy and Louie, all five pups have made an appearance on LSU’s campus for game days.

Both Tom and Nancy agree that parading their pups has helped reignite their passion as Tiger fans. But, the pair also says they have a

history of loving LSU long before they owned the poodles.

“We’ve been down here since ’79 (and) then our kids went to LSU, so we’ve been ingrained in it for a long time,” Tom says. “So we would have been (fans), but I think this has kept us certainly active.”

When these pups aren’t strutting through tailgates on an LSU game day or having a grooming session at the dog spa the Hazletts have built onto their home for the pups, Tiggy and Louie have another important job as therapy dogs.

Tom and Nancy have made sure all their poodles have been certified therapy animals, starting with Ben. The couple and the dogs participate

in animal therapy events through the Tiger Human Animal Therapy Service (Tiger HATS), which is sponsored by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. The events have brought the pups to hospitals, nursing homes and even the LSU Library during exam weeks. Tom and Nancy schedule their volunteering on weekdays so it won’t interfere with their other job on Saturdays in the fall.

Not only have these dogs brought joy to others, but they also are a constant light in Tom’s and Nancy’s lives. The pair love caring for their fur babies, and their children even refer to the dogs as their parents’ “empty nest children.”

AT-HOME GROOMING

The amount of money that Tom and Nancy Hazlett save on taking their poodles to groomers helps them fund their own equipment and, of course, helps them buy “shampoo by the gallon.”

Apart from all of their many appearances over the years, the Hazletts also adore cuddling up with their dogs on the couch for afternoon TV or watching them run around the backyard as they try to catch butterflies, turtles and other outdoor creatures.

“They keep us happy and content, and we hope they feel that as well,” Nancy says. “We are proud of them, as they have represented their breed well.”

And, after each day is done, whether the Tigers win or lose, the couple always welcomes their beloved poodles into their bed for extra snuggles. Find them on Instagram at @lsupoodles

Nancy and Tom Hazlett with their standard poodles Tiggy and Louie

MYOPIA IS RAPIDLY GROWING IN CHILDREN

The number of children who are developing myopia (nearsightedness) is growing faster than ever, and more kids are getting nearsighted at a very early age.

WHY IS THIS A BIG CONCERN?

Children who develop myopia early in life tend to have a greater risk for eye conditions later in life; including cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachment. Research shows that early detection is the key to reducing your child’s risk of serious eye problems. If your child experiences any of the symptoms below or is already near-sighted and wearing glasses, we can help!

• Consistently sitting close to the TV or holding a book too closely

• Squinting, blinking or closing one eye repeatedly

• Tilting the head to one side to try to see better

• Frequent eye rubbing while doing activities

• Sensitivity to light and/or frequent headaches

• Losing his or her place while reading

• Avoiding reading and other close-up visual work

• Becoming irritated when doing visual work

• Poor hand-eye coordination

Meet Milind

His parents discovered he needed glasses at his pediatrician’s appointment and scheduled an eye exam with Dr. Amin immediately. After a thorough examination, Dr. Amin discovered that Milind needed glasses. Knowing the life of a busy middle schooler who participates in sports, Dr. Amin and his parents agreed to enroll him in the Brilliant Futures program at TRIO Eyecare. Milind now has the freedom of not wearing glasses while playing sports, and also knows he is seeing great while slowing his prescription down. He is living his best life, just ask Milind!

Purple + gold never looked so good

A local baker’s LSU-inspired cakes are made with artistry

ON AMELIA ALEMÁN’S cakes, flowers stretch skyward from a buttercream base, their random, varying heights mimicking the natural world. The sides of the cake, thick with frosting, are plied with similar foliage, along with swirls of soft-hued buttercream that crest like waves. Random arrangements of exotic fruit round out the pastry’s inviting surface, giving it a look that falls somewhere between arboretum and fancy hat.

No surprise then, Alemán’s LSU-themed cakes diverge from Crayola purple and yellow and Tiger cartoons. Instead they favor an explosion of flowers, icing whorls and fresh and candied fruit.

“I like to use flavors like fresh peach and blueberry,” Alemán says about a cake for an LSU grad. Between the layers, she piped Honduran cajeta (goat milk caramel), and iced the cake with Chantilly cream. In a cake with lavender and orange icing, she infused the batter with Earl Grey tea and lavender. Showered with flowers she says remind her of the LSU Quad in the spring, the designs are a subtle study in school spirit.

Alemán, 26, was inspired to start baking after studying abroad with LSU in Paris in 2019. During

a class at a French pastry school, she took part in a baking demonstration. An interior design major, Alemán says it awakened a passion that showed her baking’s tidy fusion of art and science.

The El Salvador native draws on her family’s culinary heritage, as well. Growing up, she’d watch her grandmother prepare sweet cornbread over an open fire hearth with no temperature gauge. During the pandemic, Alemán baked constantly, perfecting French tartes aux pommes (apple tarts), croissants, macarons, cakes and other pastries.

These days, Alemán works full time in event planning and bakes on weekends. She fills orders for specialty cakes and pastry boxes stu ed with rotating patisserie. Customers can pick up weekly boxes at Everbowl in the Village at Willow Grove.

She plans to go to culinary school, and her dream is to study pastry in France. In the meantime, she’s exercising her creativity in Baton Rouge, concocting unexpected flavor combinations for clients.

“I wouldn’t make a cake that you’d find in a bakery,” she says. “I don’t like to do the same thing over and over.” Find her on Instagram at @ameliaa_aleman

MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

Big cat

on

campus

What’s life like for LSU’s celebrity mascot? Mike’s ‘best friends’ tell all

BY OLIVIA DEFFES

passion

NO MATTER THE sport, he’s always at the game. When he’s not cheering on the team, he can be seen prowling around LSU’s campus plotting his next antic.

He’s Mike the Tiger. LSU’s loveable yet mischievous mascot has been around since his 1959 debut. In all those years, he’s definitely earned his stripes as one of LSU’s most loyal fans.

Although he spends most of his time roaring for the Tigers, he’s grown quite a fanbase of his own. Students, sports lovers and even opponents and rival fans can’t seem to get enough of LSU’s mascot and resident ball of energy.

“There’s never a dull moment with Mike. You’ll never see Mike standing still,” LSU student Matthew Wallace says.

Wallace knows the mascot well. He is a member of Team Mike and served as its captain for the 20222023 season. As captain, Wallace handled the logistics of getting Mike scheduled for events and led creative duties like dreaming up ideas for Mike’s costumes, skits and videos.

Tryouts usually occur in April for Team Mike, which is part of LSU’s spirit squad. During auditions, full-time students who apply can try on suits, learn Mike’s walk and demonstrate how they’d emulate his character.

After three days of tryouts, a group of about five students is selected to carry out the tigersized role of making mascot magic happen for the upcoming school year.

Who are those students?

It’s mostly a mystery. Though members may tell their peers that they are part of Team Mike, they keep the true extent of their roles under wraps.

“It’s very traditional for mascot programs to keep (the details) hush hush,” Wallace explains. “It’s more or less like a good bit of disillusion when talking to people (about it), because we’re not Mike. Mike is his own separate person.”

According to the online tryout informational presentation, though, Team Mike is “responsible for performing as, handling

and scheduling Mike the Tiger.” Members of Team Mike have student athlete status, which means they participate in practices and workouts to ensure they have the utmost energy for all mascot duties.

“Mike’s always running around,” Wallace says. “If you lose him, you’re going to have to catch him really quickly. So you want to make sure you can keep up that stamina. Being part of Team Mike, we are o ered a strength and conditioning coach on campus. He’s been a real big help keeping us in shape and making sure we’re able to keep up with Mike.”

In order to ensure Mike always has a consistent look, members should also have a height of around 5’7” to 6’3” and should be around 145 to 200 pounds, though there is really no specific weight, height or gender requirement.

Mike is an in-demand guest for plenty of events throughout the year. Team Mike commits to assisting the feline for five to seven hours a week. This entails being the mascot’s chau eur to and from events, guiding Mike through hectic crowds on campus or in stadiums, coming up with

fun things for Mike to do and being the mascot’s right-paw man.

Team Mike must attend all home football games and the Mike Camp in August. The group participates in an average of two additional events per week, which include athletic events like games and tournaments away from home, campus events like graduations and ring ceremonies, and community events like hospital and school visits, which they help organize and plan for the big cat celebrity.

Apart from his fuzzy face, Mike is also known for his trendy outfits and costumes fashioned after pop culture icons, popular memes and other LSU legends. Who could forget when he almost showed up the ever-fashionable Kim Mulkey, sporting his own butterfly sequined blazer and pink feathered jacket? A true fashion icon.

“In recent years, he seems to have gained the title of being one of the best-dressed mascots out there,” Wallace says. “Traveling with Mike, you always get compliments from other handlers

of mascots about Mike’s outfits, which are pretty much facilitated by Team Mike.”

Wallace says Team Mike is always thinking of costume ideas. Just like any celebrity, Mike has his own tailor and seamstress who works hard to get him into the best outfits that fit a larger-thanlife cat like him.

Team Mike’s outfit ideas are sent to Sheri Kirley, who works with her mother, Kim, to give Mike flashy, custom designs that keep him looking his best.

Of course, Mike’s popularity goes beyond his getup. He captivates crowds with his playful and cheeky personality. He can be seen busting out dance moves on the sidelines, photobombing fans and cheering on LSU with the most enthusiasm and energy.

And wherever Mike is, members of Team Mike are always in tow.

So, next time you see the fanatic tiger, just know that it takes a small village—or in this case, Team Mike—to keep this mascot looking his best. lsusports.net/ spiritsquads/mascot

“ There ’ s never a dull moment with Mike. You ’ ll never see Mike standing still. ”

MATTHEW WALLACE , 2022-2023 Team Mike captain

Spin moves

It wouldn’t be game-day without LSU Colorguard

BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

AHOME GAME in Tiger Stadium is a tapestry of sensory experiences that tethers fans to decades of memories. Tiger Band marches down Victory Hill, pausing to play the four notes that trigger the tune known simply as “Pre-game.” In their seats, fans sing along to Garth Brooks’ “Callin’ Baton Rouge” as it booms over the loudspeaker in anticipation of kick-o . And at halftime, the 325-member Tiger Band marches in crisp formation while mesmerized fans look on.

This experience wouldn’t be the same without the LSU Tiger Band Colorguard, whose sea of purple and gold flags creates an essential Death Valley backdrop. Like everything associated with Tiger Band on game day, the Colorguard somehow makes its coordinated movements look easy.

“It takes a lot of practice,” says Colorguard co-captain and LSU senior Aleah Bourgeois. “It takes years of working on technique. You can’t just start spinning a flag and doing all these big tosses. I tell all the girls, ‘It’s physics.’”

Indeed, catching and releasing a 6-foot pole weighted by a 32-by-46-inch

silk flag is something to get used to, especially when doing it in formation while in full makeup and a purple and gold lycra pantsuit.

The 32-member Colorguard has been part of Tiger Band since 1971. But if fans assume its changing halftime shows are choreographed by a team of coaches, they’d be wrong. That responsibility falls to the team’s two student co-captains. Bourgeois and sophomore Alex Kling fill the roles this season.

Co-captains receive the music for the halftime show from Tiger Band a few days before each home game, says LSU Colorguard Instructor Johnette Folse.

“They’ll get the music the weekend prior to a game and stay up here on a Sunday to create the six-minute show,” Folse says. “In a show, you’ll notice the guard

spins the whole time. They’re just continuously going in the background, and don’t stop.”

It takes a lot of strength, says Folse, who is starting her seventh season as Colorguard instructor and is the group’s sole administrator. Members must catch their flags firmly in the correct spots every time because a missed hand position might result in a drop, Folse says.

Once the captains create a halftime routine, they spend the rest of the week teaching it to the others and rehearsing during daily, and sometimes twice daily, practices. On game day, they arrive early for one last practice before finishing their hair and makeup, and donning their uniforms.

Three years ago, a new look was introduced for the Colorguard, with lightweight lycra replacing the dark purple crushed velvet

“It’s a tradition I can’t imagine not doing.”

—LSU Colorguard co-captain ALEAH BOURGEOIS

Tiger Pride Spirit

KEY TERMS

GIVE ME A GRINDER

The terms used for the spins and tosses performed by color guards vary significantly, says LSU Colorguard Instructor Johnette Folse. “It just depends on the school and the part of the country,” she says. “There’s constant debate, sometimes even among our members.”

Grinder

A figure-eight movement while holding the flag. Also called a carve, stir, figure-eight or witch’s brew.

Pull hits

A two-handed toss and catch of the flag after it rotates a full 360 degrees. Also called a cracker jack, pole hit or pop toss.

Thumb flips

A one-handed turn of the flag resembling baton twirling. Also called a palm roll.

Speed spins

Continuous spins of the flag. Also called double spins.

Horizontal toss

The flag is oriented horizontally and tossed from the waist into the air, still in a horizontal position. Also called flat toss, helicopter toss or parallel toss.

pieces the guard wore for many years.

Closer to kicko , the musicians, Golden Girls and Colorguard march to the Greek Theatre, their traditional game-day staging ground before marching to Victory Hill.

Competition is tough for open Colorguard spots, Folse says. New members vie for them in the spring. High

school seniors from around Louisiana and the nation, many from well-established programs, try out.

Like the other components of Tiger Band, Colorguard is demanding, especially when trying to also juggle schoolwork, Bourgeois says. The Thibodaux native is a premed biology major herself, graduating in December.

“There have been times

over the years when I thought about quitting,” she says. “But then I stopped viewing it as an activity and more as a legacy. I think about our alums, and how a spot on the field was marched (by someone else) before we were here. It’s a tradition I can’t imagine not doing.”

JORDAN HEFLER

Funding SUCCESS

Tiger Athletic Foundation President Matt Borman leads the charge to support LSU Athletics

By Andrew Alexander

LSU ATHLETICS REACHED impressive heights this past year, winning a division title in football and national championships in women’s basketball and baseball.

Behind the scenes, Matt Borman spearheads fundraising e orts to help make those achievements possible. Borman came on board two summers ago as the new president and CEO of the Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF). He arrived in Baton Rouge with his wife and two children after a half decade serving as the deputy athletic director at Georgia. Despite overseeing historic fundraising for Bulldog athletics, he says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity when LSU came calling.

“LSU—the reputation and brand— is a step above any institution in the country, in my mind,” Borman says.

Part of the allure of TAF is its long-standing track record of success. With no major changes needed within the organization, Borman’s been able to ensure his team is taking advantage of every opportunity to raise dollars for LSU Athletics, some of which help fund major construction projects, like improved athletic training space at the football operations building.

“That’s going to be a space that can really impact our football student athletes and all student athletes on a day-to-day basis in their

performance,”

Borman explains.

“It’s going to have more space for medical treatment. It’s going to have some new technologies that help recovery. We’re really excited about that.”

Since Borman took the reins at TAF, the NCAA’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rule that allows student athletes to be compensated has become an important piece of college athletics.

“Even though we cannot participate in fundraising for

NIL directly, it’s really important, short term, for us to try and connect (interested) donors with an avenue to give and support that space,” he says.

One challenge Borman is trying to dispel is the perception that contributing to TAF is only for wealthy individuals. Any Tiger fan can get involved, he says, with donations starting at $100 a year. Borman’s team prides itself on o ering exemplary customer service to all donors, regardless of gift size.

“(We’re) trying to get through that barrier and trying to get the

masses involved, all Tiger fans,” he explains.

Apart from Phil’s Oyster Bar, being able to play golf in the winter and accessible beaches just a few hours away, Borman says the best part of his new role in Baton Rouge has been working with so many passionate LSU fans, who root for the Tigers through all the wins and losses.

“We definitely want to take advantage of the times when things are going really good,” he says. “But we appreciate the fans even more in the times where maybe they’re not.”

COLLIN RICHIE

“LSU—the reputation and brand—is a step above any institution in the country, in my mind.”

—Tiger Athletic Foundation

President MATT BORMAN

Tiger Pride Spirit

At Missouri

October 6-8, 2023

At Alabama

November 3-5, 2023

Vegas Kickoff Classic (2024)

August 30 - September 2, 2024 Scan

HOME away from home

How to make the most out of on-campus housing: A guide for new students and parents

BY OLIVIA DEFFES

AT LSU, MOST first-year students are required to live on campus. While living away from home and starting a new school can be a shock to the system, LSU’s Residential Life team aims to make dorm or apartment life a breeze.

The campus has about 3 million square feet of student housing to choose from. Throughout the year, the Residential Life sta works to ensure students are getting the most out of their on-campus experience.

“All of us work to make sure that the (average) 153 hours that students spend outside of the classroom each week sets them up to succeed when they’re inside the classroom,” Residential Life Communications & Development Associate Director Catherine David explains.

Residential Life also employs student workers to help provide incoming Tigers with the perspective of a current student. Communications Intern Ainsley Coleman will be a junior this fall. Through orientations and tours, she now gives students tips and tricks from her own personal experience.

For new students starting in the fall, the housing journey really begins with Move-in Day in August. Though some past move-in days have been crowded and clustered, David says Residential Life initiated a new, more e cient model in 2020.

“It used to kind of be like the wild wild west,” David jokes. “COVID helped us reevaluate.”

Now, students and their families go to one main lot on River Road behind the softball stadium on Move-in Day. There, they will be checked in by members of Residential Life and asked to wait inside their cars in neat lines for further instructions. Cars are then released to their buildings when there are open spaces for them to unload.

Catherine David, Residential Life communications and development associate director

Tiger Pride Spirit

Have a hassle-free Move-in Day

David and Coleman share tips and advice

Less is more

Packing less than you think you need will pay off in the long run. The duo urges students and their families to edit their lists down to the essentials.

“Get all your things together that you’re going to pack, and then leave like 30% of it,” David says. “That’s the biggest mistake I think I see—too much stuff.”

As an LSU student, Coleman tells her tour groups to pack their favorite items instead of their whole room at home. She says students can always make a trip back home for more items or get their families to ship items to them if needed.

Enjoy the day

Move-in Day at LSU is a big deal, and though Residential Life tries to ensure it runs smoothly, David and Coleman know emotions can run high. Whether it’s frustration related to unloading belongings or sadness over leaving home, the duo encourages students and their families to make the most out of the big day. “When we’re talking to parents and students, we always tell them to just take a deep breath and relax,” David says. “And, just try to enjoy the day.”

ROOMMATE ETIQUETTE

Pack smarter, not harder

To ensure shorter and more efficient trips to the car, stow as many items as possible in rolling suitcases or large, zippered bags with handles. David and Coleman agree that IKEA’s large, blue shopping bags are ideal. (They’re even waterproof.) Residential Life also offers wheeled carts during the day to keep the move-in process rolling.

Living it up

Organizational tools

Coleman helps run Residential Life’s Pinterest page and has recently been adding plenty of storage ideas. For most, living on campus means having a smaller living area than at home, so it’s good to know how to find clever ways to make it all fit.

Simple luxuries

Though some items are prohibited from the on-campus dorms and apartments, air fryers, coffee makers with automatic shut-off, microwaves, slow cookers with automatic shut-off, rice cookers and mini fridges are all welcomed. Coleman says her air fryer was one of her dorm musthaves. Beta fish are also popular. Students are allowed to own fishy friends in a 20-gallon tank or less.

Personalized items

When living with roommates, it can be easy to mix up certain items. During her freshman year, Coleman says she and her roommates decided on a different color for their towels and toiletries to keep them separate. Monograms are a good option for students who want to match their decor with their roommates’. David and Coleman also say it’s common for students to bring a few personal items—for example, they say every Texas Tiger will have their state flag proudly displayed to showcase a piece of home.

When living at LSU, most students will have roommates. Though some choose to room with friends, others may be grouped with random roommates that have similar interests. No matter if you know your roommate or not, David and Coleman recommend discussing topics like wake-up times, guests and sharing the space. Both acknowledge that these conversations may seem unnecessary or awkward but promise that having them early can help avoid conflict in the future.

LEAVE IT AT HOME

Once you jump the hurdle that is Move-In Day, it’s time to unpack and decorate. David encourages students to make their spaces their own but warns that bringing too much decor can be overwhelming, especially during moveout. Though you can see pictures online of dramatic dorm redesigns, David and Coleman agree that LSU students seem to be returning to simplicity. Photos, faux greenery, posters or tapestries, and funky lighting like neon signs and LED strip lights make for an easy, on-trend accent wall.

Residential Life gives students a detailed list of things that aren’t allowed due to potential hazards. These prohibited items include candles, hot plates, electric skateboards, space heaters, drones and more. David and Coleman urge students and their families to check out this list before packing to ensure all items they bring are approved.

HARVEST DAYS

Saturday, Oct 7 & Sunday, Oct 8 9 am until 4:30 pm

Living history demonstrations will interpret activities that took place on Louisiana farms during harvest time in the 1800’s. Artisans will demonstrate skills related to the harvesting, hunting, fieldwork, and other 19th century duties. Activities will include open-hearth cooking, soap making, and wagon rides and much more!

HAINTS HAUNTS & HALLOWEEN

Sunday, Oct 29

2 pm until 4:30 pm

Remember the sights, sounds, and activities of an old-fashioned country fair. Join the sta and volunteers of the Rural Life Museum as they provide a safe and fun Halloween event for families. Storytelling, cake walks, games, and trick-ortreating are some of the events kids will be able to participate in while on the museum grounds.

RED ROOSTER BASH

Thursday, Nov 16

Cocktail hour begins at 6:30pm

An annual Barbeque event for the Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum. Come join the fun and take your chance at winning fantastic door prizes, while listening to lively music and enjoying delicious barbecue fare. Red roosters will be immersed throughout the decor.

Advanced registration is required. Registration and ticket information available in September.

4560 Essen Lane 225-765-2437 LSU.EDU/RURALLIFE

A RURAL LIFE CHRISTMAS

Sunday, Dec 3

10 am until dark

Ring in the Christmas season with a 19th century Louisiana celebration. Musical groups, demonstrating artisans, storytellers, and costumed re-enactors will be present to set the holiday mood. This event will conclude with a bonfire and a very special surprise that will be announce closer to the day! Scan to learn more & purchase tickets.

AT LOUISIANA’S PREMIER SUPPLY CHAIN EVENT

Supply Chain Baton Rouge 2023 (SCBR2023) is an exclusive event for manufacturers and distributors in the Capital Region to connect for an action-packed day of knowledge-sharing and networking. Alongside other business leaders, you’ll gain insight into industry trends, engage in topical conversations about business development, and learn how sustainable practices can be a key driver of success. Don't let problems in your supply chain hold you back—learn from industry experts who have conquered them. Early bird registration is now open through September 24th.

Signature style

Chuck Braud goes the extra mile to make his autographed sports portraits personal

BY ZANE PIONTEK // PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

CHUCK BRAUD WISHES he had quit his old job 10 years sooner.

Since he was a student at Denham Springs High School, Braud has kept a steady interest in drawing and painting. But until recently it was little more than a hobby, relegated to the rare spare moments left over from his demanding career as a commercial truck driver and transportation supervisor.

“(I) just felt like I was wasting a talent God gave me and had a bigger purpose than spending 50-plus hours there, when I could spend it in the studio painting,” he says.

Around December 2021, Braud made the switch he’d been longing to make for years: a full break from that 20-year trucking career. Now, he is comfortably established as a professional sports portraitist, with his autographed paintings of the likes of LSU alums and NFL athletes Joe Burrow and Devin White selling usually somewhere in the midthousands—and selling well.

Making such a stark and impactful left turn couldn’t have been easy. But when asked how he felt about the decision, Braud’s answer is swift and certain:

“That (transportation) job was nothing but stress, and I haven’t had any since.”

A large portion of Braud’s workload is devoted to commissioned paintings, often from athletes—or as gifts from their loved ones—to commemorate career achievements.

He says White ordered several paintings after his Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, while the in-home murals Braud painted of former LSU safety and current Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen were a surprise gift from Queen’s mother.

Former commercial truck driver Chuck Braud pivoted to a career in the arts in 2021.

But Braud didn’t always have the connections that today make him such a ready contact among the sporting elite. His first networking ventures were enabled by the fortuitous placement of a temporary gig in food service at LSU, which positioned him right next to a popular gathering place for the school’s athletes. Any time

Braud spends anywhere from seven to 30 hours painting a piece, although a few special projects have taken even longer.

Braud painted LSU baseball star Dylan Crews after the team's championshipwinning season.

he saw the chance to make an introduction, he jumped on it–and he says it never even occurred to him to be intimidated.

“Only di erence is bank accounts," he says. “They’re just normal people, too.”

When he’s not working on commission, Braud’s job gets a little trickier. He’s made a practice of getting every piece autographed by the subjects depicted therein, and when they don’t come to him, he’s assiduous in tracking them down.

Braud has done three paintings depicting New Orleans-born actor Anthony Mackie, who has appeared numerous times in recent Marvel movies. For two of those pieces, Braud tracked Mackie down at a New Orleans Comic Con to get them signed.

But it’s not always so simple. He says his most challenging autograph hunt came with a series of paintings of each car to race in last year’s Indy 500. To get those signed, he spent three weeks running around the

speedway, doggedly hunting down the drivers. And since he couldn’t get priority parking, he says he had to haul the large paintings four-at-a-time over long distances to even get them to the track.

The time Braud spends autograph-hunting is a drop in the bucket compared to the hours he puts into his paintings. Depending on size and complexity, he devotes anywhere from seven to 30 hours on a piece. His most ambitious project was a painting of the late, iconic Kobe Bryant cradling an NBA championship trophy in his custom Je Hamilton logo jacket. For that one, he says he “stopped counting at 50.”

“I was wanting to paint (Kobe) for a while,” he says, “just because of all the details on the jacket and stu . It was a good challenge, it was fun.”

But in contrast to his exhausting career in the transportation business, Braud says his new line of work hardly feels like a hustle. chuckbraud.com

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On the hunt: Braud is devoted to tracking down and getting the autograph of every athlete or person he paints.

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Dre your

TECH

Wear your pride all season long with downloadable digital wallpapers

Photos

NO ONE HAS school spirit quite like LSU fans have school spirit. Scan the QR code on this page, or navigate to 225batonrouge.com/ lsu-wallpaper, for this year’s batch of purple and gold imagery (plus some Southern gold and blue, too). You’ll be able to click the images to save them to your desktop or phone.

FOR DESKTOP

Scan this QR code to download your favorite LSU wallpapers.

by Jordan Hefler

CIS WELCOMES NEW CARDIOLOGISTS TO BATON ROUGE

Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS) is welcoming three new cardiologists to its practice in Baton Rouge: Dr. Phillip Smith, Dr. Shashi Gavini and Dr. Ryan Gullatt. These physicians bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team in line with CIS ’s mission to provide the highest quality care available. Read on to learn more about each of their specialties.

Dr. Phillip Smith joins the team as an interventional/structural cardiologist. He specializes in treating the valves and structural conditions of the heart. For instance, when heart valves become damaged or diseased, the heart muscle must work harder to pump the blood, and sometimes valve replacements are needed. Other structural or congenital conditions, such as holes in the heart or septal defects, also require expert diagnosis and treatment of a trained structural heart physician. Dr. Smith is specifically trained to diagnose and treat these types of conditions.

Dr. Shashi Gavini joins CIS as a general cardiologist, with a focus and interest on women’s health. Heart disease is the top cause of death in women, accounting for one in three deaths each year. The symptoms of heart disease in women may be subtle, such as pain in the neck, jaw, arms or upper back, nausea, shortness of breath or fatigue. It’s also important to know unique risk factors to women, such as how menopause and pregnancy can affect blood vessels and heart health. It’s true that disease looks and feels different in women, which is why a physician trained in these gender differences can be helpful for your overall care. This is where Dr. Gavini will offer her expertise in helping women understand their risk.

Dr. Ryan Gullatt joins the team as an electrophysiologist. Cardiac electrophysiologists, often referred to as EPs, are cardiologists who have additional medical training in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders. In layman’s terms, you can think of an electrophysiologist as an electrician, specializing in the heart’s electrical function whereas a cardiologist acts more as a plumber, focusing on the vascular function of the heart.

Therefore, Dr. Gullatt specializes in treating conditions such as atrial fibrillation and arrythmias.

CIS strives to bring the very best physicians to your community, along with advanced technology and compassionate care, to better treat cardiovascular disease. CIS treats the whole vascular system, including your heart and your legs. To schedule an appointment, please call the CIS office at 225.308.0247 or visit cardio.com.

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INSIDE: Pundit predictions

Game Game Game Game by by

Veteran sports radio host Matt Moscona walks us through the season

EXPECTATIONS SURROUNDING LSU football are always outsized. With Brian Kelly beating Alabama and winning the SEC West in Year One, those expectations only grew bigger. Add Kim Mulkey and Jay Johnson winning national titles in their second seasons, and anything short of raising another championship flag in the north end zone of Tiger Stadium will be a disappointment.

But Kelly has the squad and schedule to do it. ESPN ranks LSU 32nd in returning production—but 10th o ensively. With home games against Florida, Auburn and Texas A&M, the only game where the Tigers figure to be an underdog is at Alabama.

History is on the Tigers’ side, too. Beginning with 2003, LSU has been in the national title hunt every four years: 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019. Can Brian Kelly keep the national championship train rolling through Baton Rouge?

SEPT. 3 vs. Florida State (Orlando)

It’s the showcase game of college football’s opening weekend. In the College Football Playoff era, no two-loss team has made the CFP. Either the Tigers or ’Noles will leave themselves no margin for error after this one. As for those returning production rankings? FSU is No. 1 in the country.

SEPT. 9 vs. Grambling

Fifty years ago, this game might have been competitive. Though fans will be excited for the first home game of the season, expect an exodus after the halftime show.

SEPT. 16 at Mississippi State

The Bulldogs have beaten LSU in Starkville only twice since 1985. That’s a tough SEC debut for MSU’s new coach Zach Arnett.

SEPT. 23 vs. Arkansas

One casualty of the conference’s realignment is LSU’s November date with the Hogs. Jayden Daniels and Arkansas’ K.J. Jefferson are likely the two best QBs in the SEC. The two vets could put on a show.

SEPT. 30 at Ole Miss

The Rebs will be fresh off a visit to Tuscaloosa. LSU drew the long straw on this trip to Oxford.

OCT. 7 at Missouri Tennessee rotates off, and Missouri rotates on. This should be a gimme for LSU before the real meat of the schedule.

OCT. 14 vs. Auburn

Head Coach Hugh Freeze makes the West’s other Tigers the league’s biggest wild card. What they lack in talent, they’ll make up in coaching.

LSU was just 3-2 against Ole Freeze during his five years in Oxford.

OCT. 21 vs. Army

In recent years, Army has taken both Oklahoma and Michigan to overtime and hung 56 on Wake Forest. Scheduling a triple option team in the middle of the season is a questionable decision.

NOV. 4 at Alabama

The Tide will want revenge after their OT loss in Baton Rouge. But this Alabama team has plenty to prove after replacing both coordinators and a Heisman-winning QB. The Tigers could wrap up the West title on their rival’s home field.

NOV. 11 vs. Florida

Billy Napier’s squad will be fortunate to reach bowl eligibility in 2023. Don’t help them get there.

NOV 18 vs. Georgia State A breather before…

NOV. 25 vs. Texas A&M

LSU was in last year’s CFP conversation until the Aggies embarrassed them at Kyle Field. This may not resemble the Joey B-led 50-7 beatdown in 2019, but it’s hard to imagine the Tigers taking their eye off the ball in this one.

Matt Moscona is the awardwinning host of After Further Review, heard weekdays on ESPN Radio in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Alexandria, Lafayette and Lake Charles. JORDAN

About our expert

Does 2023 = 2019?

How Brian Kelly has assembled a title-contending team reminiscent of LSU’s historic 2019 campaign

BY MARK CLEMENTS // PHOTOS BY JORDAN HEFLER

THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL landscape can change so much from year-to-year.

Rules may get tweaked. Some coaches will be fired while others are hired. Even the o -field dynamics like NIL deals and the transfer portal have major on-field impacts.

So it’s never truly fair to compare two football teams from two di erent seasons—especially when one of those squads is considered by many to be one of (if not the) greatest team in the history of the sport.

But while delving into the makeup of LSU’s 2023 roster, I noticed several stark similarities to the 2019 national title-winning Tigers.

I know, I know. Stick with me here.

Let’s go ahead and get the obvious out of the way: No team is going to replicate what we watched Joe Burrow and co. put together during that glorious championship run.

That group broke countless records, won what felt like every award under the sun and have since gone on to become household names in the NFL. An undefeated season with that kind of production likely won’t be reproduced for quite some time.

But let’s set aside those lofty goals and expectations for a second and have a little bit of fun.

About our expert

Mark Clements is an award-winning journalist who has covered LSU football for over a decade.

The striking similarities

1. COACHING CONSISTENCY

One of the factors that made the 2019 national title run feel so seamless was the foundation the coaching sta established prior to that season. Both o ensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda had been with the program for multiple years, while Ed Orgeron was entering his third full season as head coach.

As we head into 2023, the Tigers will not only return head coach Brian Kelly, o ensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and defensive coordinator Matt House, but the team will carry over 10 of the 12 coaches from last year’s SEC West champs. That may feel small. But don’t underestimate the benefits of consistency and camaraderie.

2. A GRAD-TRANSFER QUARTERBACK

This one is probably the most obvious. Burrow and current LSU

leading the Tigers through an encouraging first season. Their first-year numbers at LSU even look similar. In 2018, Burrow completed 219 of his 379 passes (57.8%) for 2,894 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. By comparison, Daniels finished last year 266-of-388 (68.6%) for 2,913 yards with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions.

We saw what Burrow did the following year. Can Daniels, who currently has the thirdbest Heisman odds on most sportsbooks, channel his inner Joe this fall?

3. STACKED WIDE RECEIVER ROOM

It’ll be hard to top the output from the 2019 group that finished No. 1 in the nation in total yards and No. 2 in passing yards. But ironically, this 2023 crop of talent has earned more preseason recognition than that recordsetting group did four years ago.

Digging back through old articles from summer 2019, you won’t find a ton of pundits hyping up Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Je erson and Terrace Marshall. For example, sports analysis site Athlon Sports had the Tigers’ receiver room as the 11th best in the nation that preseason, while Bleacher Report left them o its list altogether.

On the flip side, LSU lands toward the top of most wide

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels had a similar transfer journey as Heismanwinner Joe Burrow.

receiver lists heading into the fall. Recruiting site On3 has the team as the third best unit in the country and CBSSports also put LSU in its top 10.

Led by last year’s SEC catch leader Malik Nabers, University of Louisiana at Lafayette transfer Kyren Lacy and uber-athletic junior Brian Thomas Jr., the Tigers’ receiver room is as chockfull of talent as 2019’s group.

4. KEY RETURNERS IN PIVOTAL POSITIONS

As good as LSU’s skill position players are, the foundation of any successful team comes from the more under-the-radar guys who make up the bulk of the squad. It’s these player who push a team to the next level. And it helps when they have experience.

Heading into 2019, LSU returned left tackle Saahdiq Charles (10 starts in 2018), right tackle Austin Deculus (12 starts) and center Lloyd Cushenberry III (13 starts).

This fall, the Tigers bring back left tackle Will Campbell (13 starts in 2022), right tackle Emery Jones Jr. (12 starts) and center Charles Turner III (12 starts).

Four years ago, tight end Thaddeus Moss emerged to catch 47 passes for 570 yards and four touchdowns, many of which came in crucial moments of marquee games.

Rising sophomore tight end Mason Taylor is already a year ahead of the curve heading into the fall after hauling in 38 catches for 414 yards and three touchdowns, most notably snagging the game-winning two-point conversion against Alabama.

Punter Zach Von Rosenberg anchored the 2019 special teams unit as a fifth-year senior, averaging 45.7 yards on 51 punts. Similarly, fifth-year senior punter Jay Bramblett is back in 2023 after booting 49 punts for an average of 44.5 yards per punt a year ago.

LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to be a major contributor to the Tigers' o ense this season.

WE CAN STITCH JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

TOGETHER WE ROAR.

With our medical team behind them, every Tiger gets the outstanding care that sets them up for greatness.

room to GROW room to GROW

Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr.’s roommates-turned-brothers friendship is helping make them a double threat on the football field

BY MARK CLEMENTS

INSIDE: Josh Williams / Harold Perkins

IN

MANY RESPECTS, Will

Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. are just your average college kids.

Most weekends consist of hanging out with friends, playing video games—but don’t ask them which one is better at UFC 4—or in true Louisiana fashion, catching fish or frogs out on the lake.

That is, unless it’s an LSU football Saturday night. In that case, the roommates are out on the field, likely making school history.

Last year, the true freshman duo combined to start 11 games on the o ensive line together, locking down the left and right tackle positions, respectively.

The Tigers went 9-2 in those contests, and it marked the first time in LSU history two true freshmen served as the primary starters at left and right tackle.

“It’s really fun when you’ve got somebody who has the same goals as you and is the same age and is going through some of the same stu as you at the same

time,” Jones tells 225. “They’ve got older guys who will help give us pointers and stu like that, but … It’s fun getting better with one of my brothers.”

Campbells echoes that sentiment.

“That’s my brother,” Campbell tells 225. “I mean, I’d do anything for him. And I know he’d do the same for me. It’s a relationship that you need—we know that we’ve got each other’s back no matter what the situation is. Every day we go in there to work, we lift with each other, we run right next to each other. We’re pushing each other to go do drills and just trying to make each other the best player that we can possibly be. And you know, he might beat me in UFC, but ask him who can run faster?”

The friendly banter is par for the course for these two.

They initially met in high school during the recruiting process and hit it o pretty quickly. Campbell was an early enrollee at LSU, so he arrived on campus in the spring. Jones, a Baton Rouge native who

DIGITS

Emery Jones Jr.’s freshman play time 886

Number of offensive snaps he saw action on (plus 89 on special teams protection unit)

9

Number of games played against SEC foes—during which Jones played every offensive snap

That’s my brother. … I’d do anything for him. And I know he’d do the same for me.

—WILL CAMPBELL on his LSU teammate and roommate Emery Jones Jr. (pictured)

Tiger Pride team

was already signed to LSU, would visit campus regularly and inevitably hang out with Campbell and a few other teammates.

The rest is history—literally.

Campbell and Jones have already accumulated more than 1,700 snaps of experience between the two of them, all before even playing a down of football as sophomores.

Based on their performances, you’d hardly know they were newcomers.

Both Campbell and Jones earned a multitude of honors their first year in college, including Freshman All-SEC (Coaches), Freshman All-America (College Football News) and True Freshman All-America (ESPN).

Additionally, Campbell was named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, was a Second Team All-SEC player and finished the season as LSU’s O ensive Lineman of the Year. Having the bookends of the o ensive line secured for the foreseeable future is one of many reasons why experts and fans are optimistic about LSU’s chances to return to the College Football Playo sooner rather than later.

So what do Campbell and Jones think it will take to get them there?

“Doing what we do,” Campbell says. “Just go out there and dominate on both sides of the line of scrimmage. We’ve got some of the most dynamic playmakers in the country on both sides of the ball, so we just need to play—that’s all we’ve got to do. Just go out there and play LSU football just like we practice every day. I think we’ll be perfectly fine if we just do that.”

From walk-on to winner

BY MARK CLEMENTS

JOSH WILLIAMS HAS just about seen it all. He only turned 23 this summer, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another college athlete who has had as unique and impactful a journey as Williams—both on and o the field.

By now, most LSU fans have probably heard about his early LSU years: a classic, feel-good tale of a walk-on who earns his scholarship through hard work and dedication.

But Williams never wanted that to be the end of his story. He always knew there was more to be written. And ever since his arrival on campus in 2019, the chapters have continued to pile up.

“I didn’t buy into the whole walk-on lifestyle or think that I’m not good enough to play,” Williams tells 225. “I basically asked the coaches, ‘What do I need to do to get on the field?’ I worked my tail o … and I got more opportunities to go on the field and more shots to run the ball more. Each year, I’ve gotten more (playing time) and I’ve played better. I want to continue to show that I’m a hard worker and play with all my might.”

The 5-foot-9, 205-pound, tailback has slowly seen his productivity rise each year throughout his college career, and he’s also one of just a handful of Tigers still on the roster from the 2019 national championship team.

Williams was a scout-team player back then and didn’t record an o cial stat for LSU, but he still played a pivotal role in helping the starters with their weekly game preparation.

More importantly, though, Williams got to see what it looked like to be a part of a title-winning team. He would watch the team leaders and learn their tendencies: how they carried themselves, how they held each other accountable and how they built a bond throughout the group.

The following two seasons wouldn’t be quite as enjoyable, as LSU rattled o consecutive underwhelming 5-5 and 6-7 records. But Williams still made an e ort to soak it all in, learning just as much from the low points as he did from the highs.

“Being here for the natty and also having the chance to experience the not-so-good years is a big deal, because I got to see the duality of it,” Williams says. “I got to see what works and what doesn’t work. For that 2019 team, we had multiple leaders on the team, not just one. It wasn’t about the coaches telling us what we needed to do. It was the players telling other players what they need to do. The years where we didn’t do as well, I felt like we weren’t as focused on football. Maybe the o -the-field issues or academics weren’t there … it’s taking you away from football.”

Whether it’s on the field, in the classroom or across the globe, Josh Williams has made his mark as a Tiger. And he’s not finished yet

The program has since done a 180 under Brian Kelly’s leadership, and Williams has played a big part in that success despite battling a slew of four- and five-star prospects for playing time.

The Houston native, who ranked as a two-star recruit out of high school, carried the ball 97 times for 532 yards—the most among Tiger tailbacks—to go along with six touchdowns last season.

He added another 21 catches for 132 yards through the air, while also proving to be a reliable pass blocker for quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“He’s a very underrated player. But people around him know he’s a good football player,” Daniels tells 225 of Williams. “He’s going to do the right thing all the time on and o the field. It’s inspiring to see somebody who came from (a walk-on) and being counted out, and now he’s making plays on the biggest stage. It’s very inspiring for him to do that.”

As if all that wasn’t impressive enough, Williams also graduated early this past December with a marketing degree and a 3.4 GPA, earning SEC Academic Honor Roll for the third consecutive year.

He hopped straight into LSU’s MBA program and plans to finish at the end of the fall semester.

Williams’ experiences don’t end in Baton Rouge. He was one of 11 LSU football players who traveled to Dakar, Senegal, this summer for a study abroad program.

The trip was part of an African American social studies class, with the aim being to “purposely explore the course themes of race, sports and

“ I want to continue to show that I ’ m a hard worker and play with all my might. ”

—LSU running back Josh Williams

civic engagement in a Senegalese context.”

When asked about the trip today, Williams lights up. He calls the whole experience amazing, another humbling learning experience on his journey.

“Just to see how those guys live and to see what they consider a problem and to see their perspective on life is very heartfelt and a perspective-changer,” Williams says. “You know, we’ve got little kids cussing out their mom because they didn’t get the new iPad or the new Jordans or they didn’t get McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A. And these kids are literally begging for clean water. They’re walking around on dirt roads, but no shoes, no shirt, and they’re sweating.”

Williams says he still keeps in touch with some of the kids he met in Senegal, messaging them throughout the week or playing video games with them whenever he can find the time.

It’s an image that seems to perfectly sum up Josh Williams. In just four short years he’s gone from a quiet, unknown name having to fight for a spot on the roster, to becoming a team leader, a college grad and an international traveler, sharing everything he’s learned with others around him.

He really has seen it all.

JORDAN HEFLER

Williams during last year’s Tiger Stadium showdown against Ole Miss

Tiger Pride Team

PERKSMajor

Following a phenomenal freshman season, linebacker

Harold Perkins Jr. has captured national attention

By Mark Clements

HONORS

• 2022 First-Team All-SEC

• 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team

• 2022 Football Writers Association of America’s Freshman All-America Team

• 2x SEC Defensive Player of the Week

• National Defensive Player of the Week (Week 10 vs. Arkansas)

• 2023 Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team

• First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll

He really had a great freshman year, and he’s taken another step this year. He’s been phenomenal during camp. He’s a player that makes everything easier for you because he’s another guy that the (opposing) offense has to account for. That leaves me with one-on-ones that I gotta win. It’s great playing with guys like that.

—LSU defensive lineman

Mekhi Wingo on his teammate Harold Perkins Jr.

DIGITS

Team leader Harold Perkins Jr. led the team with 13.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and 14 quarterback pressures last year. Some more of his impressive numbers:

72 TOTAL TACKLES

4 FORCED FUMBLES

1

INTERCEPTION

WHAT THE PUNDITS SAY

“Harold Perkins is a firework player. He is must-see TV every single time he laces him up.”

— On3’s national college football analyst J.D. PicKell

“This guy is electric and will be all over the field this fall.”

— 247Sports’ national college football writer Brad Crawford, who ranked Perkins as the fifth-best player in college football for the upcoming season

“I don’t care where you want to put Perkins. In the box, off the edge, heck, put him in the locker room at the start of the play. He’ll find a way to come off the snap like he’s shot out of a cannon and destroy a ball-carrier. … You could make a strong case that he’s already the best defensive player in the sport. He’s certainly one of the most explosive.”

— Connor O’Gara, Senior National Columnist for Saturday Down South

World-Class Care for Local Student-Athletes

AFTER HOURS CLINIC

A walk-in clinic for orthopaedic injuries. Weeknights 5 - 10 PM, Saturday 10 AM - 8 PM, Sunday 12 - 6 PM.

MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURY TREATMENT

Board-certified orthopaedists in every sub-specialty to treat injuries that happen on or off the field.

Provides on-site athletic training services to local high school athletes.

A complimentary walk-in clinic available every Friday night of the regular football season from 9 to 11 PM.

SPORTS MEDICINE

Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Stephen Etheredge

Provides evaluations and specialized treatment plans for athletes of any age or skill level. For an appointment, call 225.408.7875.

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WITH C3 LOGIX

Baseline and post-concussion technology developed by neuroscientists and sports medicine specialists. Utilized by collegiate and professional teams across the country.

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL CLINIC

INSIDE: Purple and gold for game-day and at home

shoe game

Get custom kicks like the LSU athletes from this local footwear designer

BY CYNTHEA CORFAH // PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE

CALLING ALL COMIC FANS!

THE 6TH ANNUAL

RETURNS TO THE MAIN LIBRARY AT GOODWOOD ON Saturday, August 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, August 6, 2-7 p.m.

THIS YEAR’S SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Worldbuilding 101 with Black speculative fction author Milton Davis

• Drawing workshop with Keith “Cartoonman” Douglas

• Acrobatic performances by The Acadian Circus

• Live video game tournament

• NERDSoul with Blerd-ish on Black representation in pop culture

• Trapped in Anime and 8BitofFun on content creation

• Teen Film Festival

• Our cosplay pros: Miss Oolala, Gamma Rae, LigerZero, and Lady Luna Loveless

• Food trucks, photo booths, board games, video games, and much more!

EVER WANTED A particular pair of shoes you just can’t buy o the shelves? The kind of shoes that are handpainted in your favorite colors, inscribed with your initials and decorated with your signature symbols? Now, you don’t have to look far.

Enter Brad Duncan, a purveyor of these types of professionalgrade custom shoes. The owner and designer behind Duncan’s Custom Kicks, he uses bare white sneakers as the canvas for his shoe paintings and transforms them into one-of-a-kind, wearable pieces of art.

“I found something that I’m really passionate about,” Duncan says. “This is something that excites me. It’s therapeutic. The end result of putting a product that you made on someone’s feet— you can’t put a price tag on that.”

After getting lost in a rabbit hole of custom sneaker designers and painters on Instagram, the Baton Rouge native was inspired to pick up a paintbrush to decorate his very first pair of custom sneakers. They weren’t just any sneakers, either. He and his wife were struggling with fertility and su ered from multiple miscarriages. Once they discovered she was pregnant in 2022, he celebrated the milestone with a pair of baby-sized sneakers. The rainbow-colored shoes represented their “rainbow baby,” a term used for a child born after a family has lost one or more children to misscarriage, stillbirth, death during infancy or other a ictions.

The meaningful rainbow Air Force 1s unlocked his passion for art and footwear. Professionally, Duncan is the vice president of sales at Brock Services, an oil and gas maintenance company. His new hobby allowed him to express his creativity and dive deeper into his love for sneakers in a way he could have never imagined.

“I grew up watching Michael Jordan in the Concord 11, white with black patent leather shoes,” Duncan recalls. “I begged my mom to get them. Back then, you couldn’t order shoes online. You had to stand in line outside of the

“The end result of putting a product that you made on someone’s feet—you can’t put a price tag on that.”

Brad Duncan, owner and designer of Duncan’s Custom Kicks

Tiger Pride Style

store. I was like, ‘Mom, I have to skip school.

The Michael Jordan 11 is coming out, and I have to play basketball in them.’ That was my earliest memory of loving shoes.”

Since the beginning of his journey, Duncan has received an outpouring of support. After the rainbow shoes, he started creating custom designs for friends and family. Eventually, with the help of some well-connected neighbors and family friends, word spread about his creations to people working in LSU Athletics.

Within just a year of starting his business, Duncan started making custom Nike and Jordan shoes for people like LSU Gymnastics Coach Jay Clark; LSU Women’s Basketball player Angel Reese; LSU Football Coach Brian Kelly; former LSU Football player Jack Bech; LSU Football wide

receivers coach and passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton; LSU Football director of player development for Jordan Arcement; LSU Football special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach John Jancek; and personal injury

attorney Gordon McKernan.

“The thing I like is going to a gymnastics event and seeing the coach in something that I made. (It’s like seeing) your artwork,” Duncan says. “Then at one event, (Clark) was talking to the

president of LSU and he was showing his shoes. He doesn’t know that I saw that, but to me, that’s so cool that somebody thought that something I created was cool enough to tell somebody else and show it o . That’s where I get my excitement.”

It takes roughly 15 to 30 hours for Duncan to complete a pair of readyto-wear custom shoes.

The process typically starts with an all-white pair of Jordan 1s or Air Force 1s as the foundation. Once the shoes arrive at Duncan’s home studio, he begins by removing the “factory finish,” or the clear coating shoes are covered with to protect the shoes and their color, with acetone. Then he sands the surface of the shoes down to help them receive paint. He puts on an adhesion promoter to support wear and tear, then starts building up

of LSU football

Duncan’s custom shoes start at $500, including the shoes and custom design. Inquiries for orders can be made through Instagram.

coats of colored paint to create a rich, factory-quality shoe design.

For McKernan’s custom black and gold “Got it Done - Air Gordan 1s,” Duncan used a wood burning kit to etch textured lines into the Jordan 1 Low sneakers. He first drew the lines with a pencil, then traced them with a wood burner to give a crocodile feel. He added the Gordan McKernan logo on the side in gold and included it on a matching shoe tag, made by local business Geaux Magical, for added flair.

Of course, he had to create something special for local women’s basketball legend Reese. As a collaboration with her NIL partner McKernan, Duncan made the basketball star custom Air Jordans fit for a champion.

These shoes are all about the details. The Nike check is covered in sparkling pink glitter and the sides are marked with a sparkling pink “BB” for Reese’s nickname, Bayou Barbie. The Jordan logos on the front and back of the shoes are painted pink, and the round edges

are outfitted with pink and black elephant print, a fresh take on the classic Air Jordan pattern.

The shoe tags even have special meaning. On them, a pink capital “C” is crossed out, a symbol meaning “you can’t see me,” a competitive hand gesture (started by WWE wrestler John Cena) she made at the final game against Iowa before LSU took home the NCAA National Championship. On the other side of the shoe tag is McKernan’s logo in pink.

“I’m just trying to be unique and give these kids a chance to build their brand as they’re coming up in the infancy stages of their careers in the marketplace,” Duncan says.

The self-taught artist still considers himself just getting started with his sneaker side business. He wants to expand to customizing more golf shoes and dreams of one day seeing a player wearing his creations at the Masters Tournament.

Find him on Instagram @duncanscustomkicks.

Tiger Pride Style

RAISING CANE'S RIVER CENTER

EXHIBIT HALL (UPPER LEVEL)

FREE PARKING IN WEST GARAGE

APPLY ON SITE

HOME game

Small ways to incorporate a love for purple and gold at home

STYLED BY ELLE MARIE

Geaux Tigers wristlet, $10 Magnolia Creative Co. small tray, $35 Home Malone coaster, $10 Magnolia Creative Co. glass, $28 Home Malone tea towel, $16 From Hey, Penelope, heypenelope.com

Tiger Pride Calendar

Tiger Pride Calendar

lsu football schedule

FLORIDA STATE Camping World Stadium (Sunday) Orlando, FL

Sept. 3

Sept. 9

Sept. 16

Sept. 23

GRAMBLING STATE Tiger Stadium

MISSISSIPPI STATE Davis Wade Stadium

Starkville, MS

ARKANSAS Tiger Stadium

Sept. 30 OLE MISS Vaught-Hemingway Stadium

Oxford, MS

Oct. 7

MISSOURI Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO

Oct. 14 AUBURN Tiger Stadium

Oct. 21 ARMY Tiger Stadium

OCT. 28 BYE WEEK

Nov. 4

ALABAMA Bryant-Denny Stadium

Tuscaloosa, AL

Nov. 11 FLORIDA Tiger Stadium

Nov. 18

Nov. 25

GEORGIA STATE Tiger Stadium

TEXAS A&M Tiger Stadium

Dec. 2 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Tiger Pride framed

In every issue of 225, you’ll find a cut-out print on this page. FRAMED celebrates life and art in Baton Rouge, each one featuring a local photographer, place or graphic designer. Tear it out to hang in your cubicle, or frame it for your home gallery wall. Show us where you hang them by tagging them on social media with #225prints.

GET FEATURED We love spotlighting local photographers, artists and designers for this page! Shoot us an email at editor@225batonrouge.com to chat about being featured.

ART BY CHUCK BRAUD / chuckbraud.com