Trump issues executive order against trans athletes.
Flavortown is a real place, and it’s called Baton Rouge.
BEHIND THE
PAINT
How a group of Christian students started a decadeslong LSU gameday tradition.
FRONT ROW FAITHFULS
Who are the LSU fans that paint their chests? Meet the Painted Posse
BY ETHAN STENGER Sports Editor
Tiger Stadium attracts thousands of people to Baton Rouge each year, but of the 102,321 who pack Death Valley on Saturday nights in the fall, a dozen standalone.
In the front row of the student section stands a line of shirtless LSU students who spell out messages with body paint.
They’re called the Painted Posse, a faith-based, student-run organization that has established itself as a staple on LSU game days since its inception over two decades ago.
But what exactly is the Painted Posse? What drives these passionate Tiger fans to paint their bodies on Saturdays?
“We believe that every good gift is from God, and that includes LSU football,” said Sam Waggener, a former member of the Painted Posse who graduated from LSU in the fall. “So we want to show people that God wants you to have fun.”
The Painted Posse wears their faith on their chest, literally.
People first started painting up for LSU home games back in the ‘90s. In 2003, during the team’s football season, legendary LSU athletics equipment manager Jeff Boss died after a lengthy 10-month battle with brain cancer. He had been a part of the university’s athletics department for nearly a quarter-century and was only 54 years old.
In his honor, a group of Christian friends who had been painting out on Saturdays for a couple of years marked their chests with his initials for the No. 11 Bayou Bengals’ brawl with the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs.
“After the game, the guys kind of convened and they’re like, ‘Wait a minute, there’s someone even more important to us,’” said Jonathan Skipper, a former member of the Painted Posse.
That someone was Jesus Christ. For LSU’s next home game against the Florida Gators, Boss’ initials became a Holy Cross. The rest is history.
“Faith is our foundation, and then LSU is the house that is built on the foundation,” Waggener said.
The Painted Posse had grown a lot since Waggener’s freshman year. Waggener was one of only five people who painted up during his sophomore year when the Tigers hosted the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels in 2022.
In 2024, the Painted Posse averaged 13 per game, including seven core members: Waggener, Carter Grace, Jake Mathis, Skipper, Christian Bouler, Jayden Slaughter and Brayden Blackburn. With Waggener graduating and multiple students on temporary leave while studying abroad,
the Painted Posse has shrunk to four core members this spring: Mathis, Bouler, Slaughter and Blackburn; the crew expects numbers to return to normal next semester.
The group has its fair share of guests who join them on Saturdays, including many Painted Posse alumni returning who want to paint up one last time.
They aren’t picky; the Painted Posse lets everybody paint out, regardless of where you come from or whether or not you are Christian.
“We’re all coming from different corners of campus and life in general,” Mathis said.
Most of these corners converge at LSU’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry. It’s how the Painted Posse has nearly tripled in size in just under two years.
The barrier for entry is low, and for good reason. The group is always looking to grow. Skipper didn’t need much convincing; he was interested right from the start.
“The second they asked me, I was like,’ This sounds awesome,’” Skipper said. “Like painting your chest for a football game? That sounds amazing.”
The Painted Posse gives its members a sense of community under God.
“Ever since that first game, I never really turned back,” Mathis said. “I’ve seen myself making so many meaningful connections, both with the guys in the group, people associated with LSU to other extents, and really, it’s been an opportunity I would not trade for the world.”
The Painted Posse is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s a
chance for these LSU students to represent the university and their Christian beliefs on a national stage.
The group finalizes their game day lineup by Wednesday so that they can agree on the phrase they will paint on themselves.
“We have done jabs at the opponent (Pick A Mascot), their rivals (Go Navy for the Army game last year) and even just recruit names (Bryce Underwood),” said Logan Pergola, a member of the Painted Posse. “[It] really depends on the game and what mood we’re in.”
LSU cognitive neuroscience and criminology sophomore Emily Thornton paints the base of a member of the Painted Posse Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La. (Payton Prichard)[/caption]
On the big day, the members meet at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry six to seven hours before kickoff. Mats are rolled out on the floor as volunteers begin painting the guys for the next two hours.
The Painted Posse then begins its parade towards Death Valley, walking through the tailgates on LSU’s campus while taking pictures with fans and performing chants.
Once they reach Victory Hill, just down the street from Tiger Stadium, the boys line up down the center of the road. They begin the final home stretch of their theatrical march down North Stadium Drive toward the venue.
For most games, the Painted Posse are the first in line before gates open two hours before kickoff.
When the No. 15 Tigers hosted the No. 11 Crimson Tide, the Painted Posse arrived at Tiger Stadium four hours before kickoff. Around 50 fans lined up ahead of them, all willing to let the Painted Posse cut the line to be in their trademarked front row and spread their love for Jesus.
“The mission is definitely to spread Christ’s love through being the best fans of the university,” Grace said. “So displaying the cross is No. 1, and No. 2 is just being a great representation of the university and being the most passionate LSU sports fans.”
When they put on the paint for Saturday, the Painted Posse became unmistakable LSU celebrities — almost like an alterego. The paint gives the posse a superpower on Saturdays that is stripped away come Sunday.
“When I’m in there, I’m Superman; when I’m out here, I’m Clark Kent,” Skipper said.
But that’s not why they don the paint. The posse paints their bodies for something bigger than themselves — for the Holy Cross marked over their hearts.
“I think the biggest thing is to share the love of Jesus Christ with everybody, and it’s also to support the LSU Tigers in any way we can,” Skipper said.
The Painted Posse will make their first public appearance of the spring when LSU baseball hosts Purdue Fort Wayne at Alex Box Stadium on Friday.
So the next time you watch a Tigers’ home game on television, wait and watch closely until the broadcast cuts to the raucous crowd.
You might spot LSU’s No. 1 fans.
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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT THE REVEILLE
The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Reveille is free from multiple sites on campus and about 25 sites off campus. To obtain additional copies, please visit the Office of Student Media in B-39 Hodges Hall or email studentmedia@ lsu.edu. The Reveille is published biweekly during the fall, spring and summer semesters, except during holidays and final exams. The Reveille is funded through LSU students’ payments of the Student Media fee.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU animal science freshman Olivia Cate touches up the collar of a Painted Posse member Sept. 21 at the LSU Baptist Collegiate Ministry on Highland Road in Baton Rouge, La.
NEWS FAREWELL FAFSA?
How eliminating the Department of Education would impact LSU
BY LIV TEES Staff Writer
As President Donald Trump’s campaign promise to eliminate the Department of Education gets closer to being fulfilled, LSU’s Department of Political Science Chair Robert Hogan said the potential elimination could alter the landscape of higher education in devastating ways.
Programs like the Pell Grant and FAFSA loans could cease to exist, closing the door to higher education for lower and middleincome students. With many oncampus jobs using government funds to pay student employees, the work-study program may also be affected if the department is dismembered. Without this aid, students may have to seek offcampus employment to pay for groceries, rent and other necessities, he said.
“College is already unaffordable for a large number of people, and it’s going to become unaffordable for a whole new group of people,” Hogan said.
The Department of Education handles various issues unique to education policy and is partly responsible for creating a direction or agenda for American education policy, according to Hogan. It awards around $120 billion to student aid programs, including Pell Grants, work-study, TEACH
grants and federal family education loans to universities nationwide, according to its 2023-2024 budget summary.
“There’s really a belief that the Education Department is trying to require certain things or they’re trying to set the agenda of what people study and learn about,” explained Hogan.
Hogan suspects that Trump’s decision to dismantle this “fed-
eral overreach” may stem from the conservative ideology that our government should be much smaller.
“It’s not pushing the agenda that he thinks should be pushed,” Hogan said.
The Department of Education was officially founded in the late 1970s under the Carter administration in response to the Space Race between the U.S. and Rus -
sia, as the government looked to push math and science in elementary schools in pursuit of conquering the final frontier.
Additionally, the government wanted areas of high poverty to succeed – thus creating the Pell Grant. The Pell Grant specifically targets families below the poverty line and is based exclusively
POLITICS
Trump issues ban
Trans athletes barred from participating in women’s sports by executive order
BY COURTNEY BELL & GABBY GRAY Deputy News Editor & Staff Writer
As people around the country came together Wednesday to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning transgender women and girls from competing in women’s sports.
The “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports” order says institutions who don’t comply will be ineligible for federal funding in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
“In recent years, many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in women’s sports,” the order reads. “This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.”
The White House invited young female athletes to gather around the president to witness the signing as well as Louisiana politicians like Gov. Jeff Landry and Rep. Julia Letlow. For Letlow, a former collegiate track
TRANS ATHLETES, page 4 see EDUCATION DEPT., page 4
LSU to modernize key IT system, enhancing digital security
BY QUINN MARCEAUX Staff Writer
LSU is making significant updates to its identity access management system, shifting from a legacy mainframe-based system to a modern, cloud-based one. The transition is part of the university’s broader modernization efforts aimed at enhancing security, streamlining user access and improving system efficiency.
IAM is a crucial component of digital security, responsible for managing user identities and controlling access to various university resources. It ensures that students, faculty and staff have appropriate permissions based on their roles. For instance, a student’s credentials grant access to myLSU, Moodle and email, while faculty members may have different access privileges.
“Basically, it is the cornerstone for granting individual access into a digital environment by creating identities for them,” said the LSU Director of IT Se -
curity and Policy Sumit Jain.
The new IAM system, called Okta, is expected to be fully implemented by the end of March according to Jain. This upgrade aligns with LSU’s transition to Workday Student, another cloud-based platform replacing legacy systems. Current students will experience a new interface for password management, but no action is required on their part. Incoming students will be onboarded directly into the new Okta system.
One of the key changes includes retiring the eight-character password requirement in favor of the more secure 15-character minimum. The system will also introduce a streamlined, self-service password reset process, reducing reliance on IT support. Additionally, account deactivation for graduates will be more efficient, enhancing security and optimizing resource management.
“We will still have our IT service desk providing assistance for any problems encountered with the new system just like
they do today, but we are moving to a more self-service model. This will make it easier on all of our users,” Jain said.
Importantly, this transition will not affect third-party applications such as Moodle or Outlook. LSU IT will provide con-
tinuous updates and guidance via email over the next several weeks to ensure a smooth transition for all users.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille Memorial Tower sits past the buildings and trees on Oct. 2, 2023, near Lockett Hall in Baton Rouge, La. see
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
The LSU Information Technology Services building sits Feb. 5 in Baton Rouge, La.
HEALTH
Student Health Center’s Consent Carnival spreads sexual awareness
BY SARAH WALTON Staff Writer
The LSU Student Health Center held its first Consent Carnival Wednesday, centered around making learning about sexual health fun and interactive. Set out across Tower Drive, the Consent Carnival was full of students, faculty and other members of the LSU community teaching and learning about sexual health.
Partnering with multiple oncampus organizations and departments to make the event possible, the Student Health Center connected with students to spread information about sexual health and consent. Answering questions about being sexually active, the center shared information on the contraception methods they offer, especially birth control for students, and held free STI testing.
One of their tables was a condom bar, which included a wide variety of protection, such as glow-in-the-dark, non-latex and internal condoms, as well as dental dams and flavored-and-unflavored-lube.
Carlie DiLorenzo, the wellness coordinator for the Health Center, wanted to host an event to, “take sexual health education, but make it fun.”
“And what’s more fun than carnival games?” DiLorenzo asked.
When talking about consent, DiLorenzo said that a lot of the time people aren’t fully aware of what it is, explaining that consent
is broader than just a “yes.”
“There’s non-verbal cues,” DiLorenzo said, “there are verbal cues like saying ‘yes,’ but it is also context and I really want [students] to know what is involved in consent – how it’s ongoing, reversible – and just so they’re educated on it so they can make sure they are getting and giving consent.”
One group spreading information about consent was student organization Feminists in Action.
Amanda Meaux, an anthropology junior and FIA’s director of volunteering and community engagement, was sharing information, talking about reproductive care and offering protection.
Meaux said some of the most important things that FIA does is give access to resources and teach people about sexual health, including dispelling misconceptions about consent.
“When people say, ‘no means no,’ it can also be, ‘I’m unsure,’ ‘I don’t know,’” Meaux explained, saying if there was not “100% enthusiasm,” there is not consent.
On the table, there was a white board asking the question, “What’s an example of asking for/ giving consent?” Some of the answers were, “Verbally saying yes while sober,” “Checking in in the middle, not just the beginning,” “Being comfortable with what’s going on” and “Authentic yes.”
The row of carnival tents housed other organizations and games with sexual health triv-
ia. Tower Drive was packed full with students waiting to play the games.
Student Government held axe throwing, where students could throw axes, answering trivia questions if they landed the axe on the target.
The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX was at the carnival, offering information about what they do while facilitating a ring toss game. The employees spent time telling students about how the office protects students against any type of discrimination, violence and misconduct.
The Women’s Center, an office offering study spaces, period products and safer sex products, held a balloon popping trivia game. For the game, students would battle each other to blow up their balloons first. After one popped, the student was asked a trivia question to win a prize.
Campus Life had a sexual health spin-the-wheel game with trivia and prizes and a bean bag toss with an interesting twist: instead of just throwing the bags, the attendant would read out a relationship situation and students would choose between a red and green bag, depending on if the situation was a red or green flag.
DiLorenzo said she was happy with the turn out, and that she is glad so many students are getting informed. The Health Center’s next event will be on Feb. 13 with Cupid’s Consent Corner at Tower Drive.
EDUCATION DEPT., from page 3
on financial need. LSU received a little more than $288 million of federal aid in 2024 specifically for this grant, according to the LSU Operating Budget.
During the early 2000s, the Bush administration’s “No Child Left Behind” program, which placed accountability standards for student performance, was favored by many conservatives.
“Conservatives were really
into that, and they liked a sort of muscular education department if it was doing what they thought it should be,” Hogan said. “But now it has moved into the realm of seeing the Education Department as the boogeyman and it needs to be gutted.”
In addition to federal aid, Louisiana offers financial assistance to college students through the TOPS program. This aid comes as GPA-based scholarships to Louisiana residents to help
TRANS ATHLETES, from page 3
and field athlete, this order was a personal matter.
“Only biological females should compete in women’s sports,” Letlow posted to X, formerly Twitter, after voting for the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act,” which would prohibit transgender students from participating in sports that align with their gender identity.
Also in support of the act was U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican Louisiana representative and an outspoken supporter of Trump.
“This is a great day for women in America,” Johnson said in a press conference after the bill was passed in the House.
Last week, Johnson once again spoke on the issue in a post to X after Trump signed the executive order.
“Common sense is back in the White House!” Johnson posted in praise of the order.
In signing this order, Trump fulfilled one of the “20 core promises” he made during his campaign for reelection. The promise stated he and Vice President Vance would “keep men out of women’s sports,” referring to transgender women.
By Thursday, the NCAA augmented its policies to meet the president’s guidelines. With fewer than 10 openly transgender athletes competing in the NCAA as of December, the new policies have barred the athletes from competing in their genderrespective sport.
“We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court de -
cover tuition costs, though typically excluding room and board. Students rely on FAFSA loans to cover any additional fees.
Hogan, who received his master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from Rice University, explained that private universities are at less of a disadvantage if the department is dismantled.
“Unlike private universities with huge endowments, we don’t have anything to spare,” Hogan
said.
Hogan explained that LSU’s federal funds are allocated to more than just student scholarships. Government funds pay for building maintenance, electricity and other utilities.
“To eliminate the only tool in the toolbox, now that’s something strange,” Hogan said. Hogan encouraged LSU students to reflect on their education and how much schooling they want to pursue. Without
cisions,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said. “To that end, President Trump’s order has provided a clear national standard.”
Former collegiate swimmer at the University of Kentucky Riley Gaines, who has spoken out against trans athletes’ participation in college sports, was quick to voice her praise of the NCAA’s decision to cooperate with the president’s order.
“Now they can work on stripping all records, titles, and honors from men who stole them from deserving women,” Gaines posted to X.
Critics of the order argue transgender athletes don’t have an advantage over other competitors. Lia Thomas, the first openly trans woman to win an NCAA Division 1 championship, opposes the executive order, saying it’s discriminatory and a violation of trans athletes’ rights.
“Bodies come in all shapes and sizes,” Thomas told ABC News. “There’s no one single determinant factor in athletic performance. It’s just too complicated to narrow down to one thing.”
Journalist and trans athlete Karleigh Webb says the order will be harmful, especially for trans youth, and is reflective of a larger movement against trans people.
“For young people coming up, especially for these kids and especially in middle school and high school, this is very difficult,” Webb said. “This is brutal on them, it’s harsh on their families and don’t think that this is the end of it. This is part of a whole program to essentially erase transgender Americans from American life.”
government-issued financial aid, students struck by poverty will find it difficult to continue their education after high school.
“We were putting people on the moon,” Hogan said. “We could solve any problem. You just need a government program.”
A previous version of this story erroneously stated President Trump fired half of government employees. We regret this error and the article has since been corrected.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
Consent carnival volunteers talk to students Feb. 5 on Tower Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
EVAN VUCCI / AP Photo
ENTERTAINMENT
BY ARIS WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Musical Theatre Club of LSU recently put on a production of “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” at the historic Reilly Theatre.
“The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” is a horror-comedy musical from StarKid Productions, detailing the adventures of Paul, an ordinary guy who does not enjoy musical theatre. When the town of Hatchetfield becomes overtaken by a musical apocalypse that causes everyone to suddenly start singing and dancing, Paul and the few survivors fight against the infection. This musical is loosely inspired by the 1956 horror film “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”
There was an in-depth process of bringing this production to life, and many long hours were put in by the dedicated student-members
who made it happen. Max Babin served as the director of the production.
“About two weeks before we started doing productions, we pulled together a production team,” explained Babin. “We had our first rehearsals during the beginning of winter break and have put this show together in about three weeks.
Many people gave up their Christmas breaks and those who wouldn’t make it regularly, submitted checkin videos. It’s really been everyone pouring their hearts into this.”
As Babin broke down the processes, cast members zipped around the theatre space like bees to take cast photos, do warmups and get into costume for a run through of the production. Though busy and on a time crunch, they kept things
light-hearted and lively, making the occasional joke or familiar theatrical reference.
The director of production did a walk-through of Reilly Theatre so cast members could know where to enter and exit seamlessly. The walk ended backstage, where basic courtesy rules about the use of props and noise levels were explained. This Musical Theatre Club is best described as a well-oiled machine with many moving parts.
Olivia Johnson served as the graphic design chair and social media director of this production.
“This performance is funny, willy, silly and weird but in all of the right ways,” Johnson said. “I think it’s a great show for those who haven’t been exposed to musical theatre before.”
Musical Theatre Club of LSU aims to spread the artform of musical theatre across campus and offer students a space to experiment with it. This club is a non-profit organization.
“We aim to do a production every spring and are grateful for the financial support of Student Government, which makes these things possible,” Johnson said.
Ryan Bailey played Paul Matthews, the lead character of the musical, and spoke up on how Musical Theatre Club has allowed him to gain experience and grow as an actor.
“Spaces like this are important, because everyone needs that thirdspace where they can make mistakes and learn as they go,” Bailey said.
Guy Fieri brings flavor and fans to BR
BY ASHLYNN BAILLIO Staff Writer
Baton Rouge recieved a taste of Flavortown on Thursday night when celebrity chef and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives host Guy Fieri made an appearance at Total Wine & More.
The Emmy Award-winning chef greeted fans, posed for photos and signed bottles of Santo Tequila, his spirits collaboration with rock legend Sammy Hagar. The event ran from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., with Fieri enthusiastically meeting fans, snapping selfies and signing bottles of tequila. People lined up out the door for a chance to meet him.
Total Wine also offered samples of cocktails made with Santo Tequila during the event. Fieri’s tequila comes in three varieties—blanco, reposado and añejo—priced between $49.99 and $74.99 per bottle.
“He’s actually my favorite celebrity,” Amber Rovillard said, one of the many excited attendees. “I did not know until this morning that he was going to be in town, so we made it a priority to stop by and get some of his tequila.”
Rovillard and Patrick Volker purchased a signed bottle of Santo Tequila to commemorate the occasion.
“We’ll probably keep this bottle sealed up. It’s going to be a prized possession of ours,” Volker said.
When asked what brought him to Baton Rouge, Fieri shared that he’s currently filming new episodes of his hit show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
“I’m on my way to the Super Bowl on Sunday, and I figured, since I’ve been to New Orleans a bunch of times for Triple D, I had to stop by Baton Rouge,” Fieri said. “I’ve heard good things about the city, and with it being so close to LSU, I couldn’t miss it.”
With fans leaving the event buzzing about their brush with one of Food Network’s biggest stars, it’s clear that Fieri brought more than tequila to Baton Rouge — he brought a little piece of Flavortown.
COURTESY OF LSU MUSICAL THEATRE CLUB
Scenes from “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals” at Reilly Theatre.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
Guy Fieri signs a Santo Tequilla bottle during his bottle signing on Feb. 6 at Total Wine and Spirits on Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU softball starts the season off hot with three run-rule victories against Charlotte and Central Arkansas on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU softball junior catcher Maci Bergeron (12) hits the ball during LSU’s 6-0 win over Central Arkansas.
Designed by Jayden Slaughter
Photos by Alexis Persicke and Maleah Bourgeois
LSU softball freshman pitcher and utility Jayden Heavener (00) pitches during LSU’s 8-0 mercy win against the Charlotte 49ers
LSU softball junior infielder McKaela Walker (27) hits the ball during LSU’s 10-0 win against Charlotte.
LSU softball redshirt freshman utility Tori Edwards (42) runs to third base during LSU’s 8-0 mercy win against the Charlotte 49ers.
LSU softball redshirt freshman first baseman Tori Edwards (42) catches the ball during LSU’s 6-0 win against Central Arkansas.
LSU softball freshman catcher Jada Phillips (28) catches the ball during LSU’s 10-0 win against Charlotte.
LSU softball sophomore Maddox McKee (2) runs to first base during LSU’s 8-0 mercy win against the Charlotte 49ers.
BY LEXIE WARE Staff Writer
7:30 P.M.
MONDAY February 10th
to editor@lsu.edu.
Experience powerful melodies honoring Spirituals, which tell stories of suffering and triumph while capturing the essence of the human spirit. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Lift Every Voice: A Celebration of Spirituals
WEDNESDAY February 12th
Witness the moving true story of Ira Aldridge, a 19th century African American actor, in the Shaver Theatre. Student tickets are $9 and can be bought online.
FRIDAY February 14th
8:00 P.M.
Enjoy a night of Lana Del Rey for Valentine’s Day. Tickets are $10 and can be bought on Chelsea’s Live’s website. Doors open at 8 p.m.
SATURDAY February 15th
FORTH BOULEVARD
8:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Join runners from all over the south to celebrate Mardi Gras Baton Rouge style. Run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge, then enjoy a post-race celebration featuring live music, king cake and beer.
SPORTS FRESHMAN PERFECTION
LSU softball’s Jayden Heavener throws perfect game in season opener
BY ISABELLE CALLAHAN Staff Writer
LSU softball started its 2025 season in dominant fashion with freshman pitcher Jayden Heavener throwing a perfect game.
The Tigers opening weekend included five games, known as the Tiger Classic. Their opening game came against Charlotte. With seven new freshmen on the team this year, it was unclear what a competitive debut could look like. As it turns out, it looked like a welloiled machine.
Heavener became the first LSU player to throw a perfect game in her collegiate debut. The team also reached base every inning and scored five runs in the last two, mercy ruling its opponent.
“This year, we’re focused on our own journey. It’s not about revenge; it’s about our story,” sophomore Sierra Daniel said.
Heavener set the tone immediately, striking out two as Charlotte went three-up, three-down.
Leading off the season, Danieca Coffey swung and made contact with the ball, sending it down the middle. A fielding error, a single by Tori Edwards and a sacrifice by Maddox McKee scored two quickly.
Along with Heavener’s dominance, there was a sense of chemistry among the team on the defense to ensure no one got on base.
Innings went by in a flash as Heavener’s mowed through op -
FOOTBALL
posing batters, conceding nothing.
In the fifth, a hit-by-pitch, a walk and singles from McKee, McKaela Walker and Maci Bergeron scored three and lengthened the lead to six.
A double from Walker and a couple walks pushed the lead to 8-0, triggering the mercy rule.
Such a rule is in the interest of the sport because, based on what was seen out of the Tigers on Friday, this team has no mercy.
Heavener threw all six innings
with a whopping 13 strikeouts on her way to a perfect game. She struck out the side in half the innings she pitched.
The freshman from Florida showed a historically commanding presence in her first game. An arm like hers and determined defense around her make this team one to watch as the season progresses.
Edwards, Coffey and Walker were fundamental offensive components. They went a combined 6-for-9 with five RBI, two doubles
and two walks.
In its opener, LSU mercy ruled its opponent, reached base every inning and threw a perfect game.
As Daniels mentioned, this young team is built on speed and power. If they continue on this path of excellence, the rest of the season will be a success.
The Tigers play four more games this weekend. They play Charlotte again on Saturday and both Central Arkansas and Southeastern later this weekend.
BY GABBY GRAY Staff Writer
2024 NCAA Champion and graduate student Haleigh Bryant returned to the vault tonight, helping lead No. 3 LSU to victory against No. 14 Alabama.
After Bryant suffered from a preseason injury to her elbow on vault, she was finally able to return to the event during the second rotation of the night.
However, before fans watched Bryant’s much-awaited return to the event, they sat on the edge of their seats as the first rotation was a close one for the Bayou Bengals, with a difference of 0.100.
In fact, that seemed to be the theme of tonight’s meet, a close, narrowing difference.
Nonetheless, all-around junior Ashley Cowan and sophomore Konnor McClain led the team after each scoring a 9.900 on bars.
All-around freshman Lexi Zeiss started the event for LSU and scored the lowest of the first rotation with a 9.750.
However, the Crimson Tide had a similar start with allaround graduate student Shania Adams also scoring a 9.750 on vault.
Alabama’s senior Jordyn Para-
Former LSU QB Jayden Daniels wins NFL Rookie of the Year
BY ROSS ABBOUD Staff Writer
After a historic rookie sea-
Jayden Daniels was named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
The Washington Commanders’ quarterback was drafted second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after winning the Heisman the season before at LSU.
Daniels set records with the highest completion percentage by a rookie quarterback, the most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback and the fourthhighest passer rating by a rookie quarterback. He also led all rookie quarterbacks in passer rating, completion percentage, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He ranked second in passing yards and touchdown passes among rookies.
In his rookie campaign, Daniels tallied 4,390 passing yards, 1,026 rushing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and seven rushing touchdowns.
Last season, the Washington Commanders finished 4-13. They improved to 12-5 earning the sixth seed, mostly on the back of the addition of Daniels.
Daniels helped the Commanders transition from the second overall pick in 2024 to the NFC Championship in 2025.
He became the sixth rookie quarterback in NFL history to make the conference championship. The Washington Commanders were eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles, losing 5523.
Alongside Daniels, Joe Burrow was awarded NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Burrow became the first player to win the award twice with the same team, also winning in 2022.
son,
MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille
LSU softball freshman pitcher and utility Jayden Heavener (00) pitches during LSU’s 8-0 mercy win against the Charlotte 49ers on Feb. 7 at Tiger Park.
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille LSU football senior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) walks down Victory Hill on Oct. 21, 2023, before LSU’s 62-0 victory against Army in Tiger Stadium.
BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer
At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU softball pitcher and utility Jayden Heavener.
LSU softball started its season on Friday and it couldn’t have gone better. Opening against Charlotte, the Tigers defeated the 49ers 8-0 ending the game early in the sixth inning.
Heavener, a freshman from Pace, Florida set the tone by making LSU history for throwing a perfect game in her collegiate debut.
“I was over at third base, and
CHASTANT
we were about to end the game. I thought to myself, what a storybook moment it was,” said head coach Beth Torina.
In those six innings, Heavener threw 13 strikeouts not allowing a single hit or anyone to reach base.
Before she took the field for the purple and gold, Heavener was named the 2024 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year and 2024 Max Prep National Player of the Year.
“The theme this year is about writing a book, and I was just thinking about what a moment we have with this incredible player,” Torina said. “She comes out – everybody has been waiting for this moment – and she throws a perfect game in her first time out here at Tiger Park. It was an incredible day for the team.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Missed free throws cost LSU men’s basketball upset win over Ole Miss
BY TRE ALLEN Staff Writer
With no time left, the referees head toward the scorer’s table to review the play. Many fans in purple and gold began to head toward the exits early to avoid witnessing the inevitable.
A tip in a game-winning layup by Ole Miss’ Dre Davis gives LSU its sixth consecutive loss as they fall to the Rebels 72-70.
The number that will haunt the Tigers in their dreams will be 13. That’s how many free throws LSU missed on the night.
LSU did everything it could to slow down the Rebels. The Tigers held Ole Miss under their season average in points per game, under 40% from the field and below 30% from the 3-point line.
LSU turned the heat even more in the second half, holding Ole Miss 10-for-30 (30%) from the field and 2-for-13 (15%) from three.
The Rebels’ leading scorer, Sean Pedulla, scored 17 points but shot 5-for-14 (35%) from the field.
Offensively, Cam Carter, Daimion Collins and Jordan Sears combined for 44 of the Tigers’ 70 points.
LSU handled the ball better, having only 10 turnovers on the night compared to the 14 it averages on the season.
But it was the free throw line that was the Tigers’ kryptonite.
LSU came into this game ranked No. 2 in the SEC for free throw percentage, one of the few strengths that showed throughout this season.
However, six different Tigers missed free throws tonight, giving LSU a free throw percentage of 48%.
“In a two-point game, they were plus-eight at the free throw line against us,” Tigers head coach Matt McMahon said. “We got there 25 times, but we just shot it at 48%. Not good enough to win.”
One play in particular turned out to be more costly than ex-
pected.
LSU’s Corey Chest was given a technical foul after knocking the ball out of the hands of Ole Miss’ Davis after Chest was called for a personal foul.
“Basketball is a game of mistakes, McMahon said. “There are a lot of mistakes throughout the game, and then it’s usually the team that makes the fewest mistakes puts themselves in the best position to win.”
The undisciplined play came with a little less than five minutes left to play in the game, which LSU led 63-53. It resulted in four free throws for the Rebels. They made all four.
“Four of them were free points off some of our mistakes, McMahon said. “They clearly made the fewer discipline mistakes and ended up winning the game because of it.”
But even after that play, LSU eventually led by 11 with 3:15 left.
However, the Tigers’ turnovers once again came back to haunt them. They had three turnovers in the final three minutes and did not score for the rest of the game.
Chest had an opportunity in the game’s final minute to make two free throws to potentially make a five-point game, missing both.
Ole Miss Jaemyn Brakefield knocked down a three with 45 seconds left to tie the game at 70. LSU’s last offensive possession resulted in an offensive foul on Carter, which gave the Rebels the final shot of the game.
Pedulla drove to the basket, and the shot rimmed out, but Davis was there to clean it up and give the Rebels the victory.
“It’s crushing,” McMahon said. “The only way I’ll know to move forward is to take that perspective, learn from it, come in and work on Monday and get ready to play at Arkansas Wednesday.”
Jay Johnson likens LSU baseball roster depth to ‘Moneyball’
BY BRETT KEMPER Staff Writer
In just two seasons, Jay Johnson led the Tigers to their seventh national championship, developed multiple MLB firstround picks, and recruited some of the best talent in the country.
Heading into 2025, Johnson’s current roster might be the most complete yet — balanced, deep and built to win in different ways. Unlike past LSU teams that leaned heavily on generational stars like Dylan Crews, Paul Skenes and Tommy White, this year’s squad spreads its fire -
power across multiple positions.
LSU’s 2025 roster is nearly half new, with 14% returning players, 11% freshmen, and 15% transfers — an ideal mix of experienced leaders and high-upside newcomers.
“This group gives us competition at every position,” Johnson said. “I think the depth on the position player side, the competition is going to be fierce.”
That depth is evident in every aspect of the roster. The Tigers return key veterans like Josh Pearson, Jared Jones and Gavin Guidry – players who know what it takes to win in
the SEC. At the same time, LSU loaded up in the transfer portal, bringing in 11 NCAA Division I transfers and four junior college additions, many of whom are expected to contribute right away.
“The guys that we brought in from the transfer portal combined to hit 80 home runs last year,” Johnson said. “We were aggressive in finding players with extra-base hit potential.”
The influx of highly rated freshmen rounds out the roster, as LSU added young talent capable of making an immediate impact.
Instead of leaning on Tommy
White to carry the offense or Paul Skenes to dominate on the mound, this year’s squad will spread production across the lineup and pitching staff.
“It’s like that scene in ‘Moneyball’,” Johnson said, referencing the approach of replacing one great player with multiple strong contributors.
Johnson feels like the Tigers have the players he needs to do just that. The weight of the Tigers offensive needs will be shared across the team equally.
That philosophy extends beyond the batting order too. On the mound, LSU carries 21 pitch-
ers — 15 right-handers and six left-handers — giving the Tigers one of their deepest pitching staffs in years.
With more arms to rely on, the Tigers should be better equipped for the grind of SEC play, rather than putting the pressure on one or two players, and leaving them gassed for days at a time.
Players like Gavin Guidry have made that their sole focus this offseason. Guidry spent six weeks at a conditioning camp with the sole purpose of getting
COACH, page 11
GRAPHIC BY JACOB
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
LSU men’s basketball redshirt junior forward Daimion Collins (10) jumps to score during LSU’s 78-74 win against Arkansas on Jan. 14 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Monday, February 10, 2025
VICTORY, from page 9
dise took the fifth spot for her team with a 9.700, ultimately leading to Alabama’s small deficit as the Tigers brought home the first rotation on bars with a 49.275.
All-around senior KJ Johnson gave a stronger start to the second rotation with a 9.825 on vault.
Her score was matched by allaround senior Aleah Finnegan but was topped by sophomore Amari Drayton with a 9.900 and freshman Kailin Chio, who led her team with a 9.975.
Finally, Bryant made her return to the vault tonight, earning 9.925, with a deduction on account of her landing.
Alabama’s all-around senior Lily Hudson and sophomore Chloe LaCoursiere led the Tide with 9.900s, giving them 49.275 as LSU earned a 49.450 for the second rotation.
This gave the Tigers the lead for the first half of the meet with a 98.725.
All-around freshman Kaliya Lincoln made her floor debut this season during the third rotation, filling the second spot with a 9.875 following graduate student Sierra Ballard’s 9.775.
While both Chio and Drayton led LSU on the floor with 9.900s, fans were taken by Finnegan’s 9.675 performance.
However, her score was dropped after Bryant’s 9.875 filled the sixth spot of the rotation, awarding the Tigers the lead by the difference between the two scores – a narrowing 0.200, giving LSU the advantage with a 49.325.
This totaled the Tigers to 148.050 and the Crimson Tide at 147.575.
Ballard once again started
the next event on beam, scoring a 9.550, which gave LSU a slight disadvantage for the final rotation.
Yet, that disadvantage didn’t discourage gymnasts like Chio who led the fourth rotation with a 9.925 and Bryant with a 9.875.
As Finnegan mounted the beam tonight, she brought the Tigers home a 9.875, finishing the fourth rotation on the balance
beam with 49.250. While Alabama had a 49.500 on the floor during the same rotation, LSU’s score came out on top and trumped the Tide with a slim victory by 0.225 as the Tigers brought home another winning score of 197.300.
No. 3 LSU returns home next Friday to take on No. 1 Oklahoma at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
COACH, from page 10 his arm strong enough to chew through innings for the Tigers.
Perhaps the biggest difference between this team and past LSU squads is the internal competition for playing time.
Johnson made it clear that no starting spot is guaranteed, which he sees as a major advantage.
Johnson said there are at least seven, maybe eight guys he could play in the outfield, and with 21 pitchers on the roster, there will be plenty of healthy competition.
The competition is already driving performance in practice and intrasquad scrimmages, something Johnson values as much as game experience.
“It was a really good fall for us with a lot of new players, a completely new team,” Johnson said. “It was very productive, and I feel like we got a lot accomplished.”
The Tigers will take the diamond for the first time this season on their home turf in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, on Feb. 14 when they take on Purdue Fort Wayne in their opening day.
Until then, the Tigers continue to have open scrimmages, free to the public through the weekend where you can get a first look at the 2025 LSU Tigers.
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
LSU gymnastics all-around sophomore Konnor Mcclain jumps on the beam during the LSU 198.000-197.175 win against Missouri on Jan. 31 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Super Bowl Halftime Show is a true display of resilience
BODACIOUS
Being a Louisiana native, I’ve lived through many monumental sporting moments here.
The last time we had the Super Bowl in New Orleans was over 12 years ago. It was the first time the game had ever experienced a mass blackout, lasting 34 minutes. However, this year towers over all of those.
With a combination of some of the most famous performers in this generation, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, and athletes like Jalen Hurts and Travis Kelce, social media has never been fed better.
New Orleans is a vessel for culture. The outside world really forgets about how hardworking the people that live here are. The city pushes you; it’s challenging every day because there is always something new.
New Orleans isn’t modern and doesn’t get caught up in the conventions of being like other cities. It’s full of music and life, and you can’t meet the same people in New Orleans in a larger city elsewhere.
Combined with having Lamar, a recent Grammy-
winning artist and SZA, one of the most influential artists to date, it takes the history of New Orleans to a completely different level.
Lamar performed alongside other stars in the 2022 Super Bowl. However, performing as the headliner, with only one confirmed guest, is so on brand for his successful year.
I used to complain about Louisiana being so behind the times, but as of recent, I’m reminded of how lucky we all genuinely are. There aren’t any more cities that truly represent community and resilience.
The Southern hospitality gene runs strong through the people in New Orleans. They love to put on shows and more for their city. They are hosts and showcase how much more there is to their home outside of the famous Bourbon St.
The first game in the Superdome with the Saints after the natural disaster Katrina was magnetic. The energy from the people and the players was so emotional because nobody knew if they would ever see each other again. These people are like a family because of their love and passion for the city and the game. They came together after one of the deadliest disasters, and were filled with
gratitude and joy.
The city of New Orleans still faces challenges to this day. As of late, we all witnessed the terrorist attack that took place earlier this year. Innocent lives and family members were taken from one another. Much like after Katrina, the sense of community is stronger than ever.
The people of New Orleans deserve to be celebrated. And you can see from the number of people crowding the streets of Bourbon this week that this halftime performance means so much more. It means being together as a community during hardships.
With so many people in positions of power touring the city this weekend, it’s important to acknowledge the correlation between who’s going to the game, who’s performing and how big of a statement that makes.
Lamar is renowned for his activism in the Black community. In an underrepresented city like New Orleans, the stories of undeniable struggle deserve to be shared under his platform. I am excited to know that a person of his achievement and background will represent the culture here.
Blair Bernard is a 21-yearold theater performance major from Lafayette, La.
Mardi Gras will never be
the same after New
Year’s on Bourbon St.
The first Mardi Gras parade of the year happened in New Orleans five days after the horrific attack on New Year’s Day.
While there have been many tragic accidents that have occurred during Mardi Gras related to floats, pedestrians and the level of intoxication of the majority of people, to me, this attack makes me feel different.
Even a month after the attack on Bourbon Street, the idea of being in a big crowd in New Orleans doesn’t sound like fun to me.
An article by MSNBC said, “The New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street was as deadly as it was because it exploited one of the city’s best traits: its culture of people happily gathering in large numbers outside.”
As a Louisiana native, Mardi Gras is something I’ve attended my entire life, and while I’ve never been an avid fan of enormous crowds of drunk people pushing, the Mardi Gras spirit in New Or-
leans could always get me into the parades. Now, I think I would be on edge the whole time.
It isn’t a matter of how likely it is for another attack to occur so much as it’s the feeling of needing to distance myself from the drinking and hectic time that is Mardi Gras.
All these feelings made me wonder if I was alone in this, but a post on the r/NewOrleans subreddit on Reddit shows me that I’m not. One poster says that although they’ve always loved Mardi Gras, after the New Year’s attack and the political state of the country, they don’t want to participate this year.
The attacks and the country’s current political state will be heavy on the hearts of many from Louisiana, but for me, that affects my ability to celebrate Mardi Gras.
I have no judgments if anyone, especially from New Orleans, decides to attend Mardi Gras because of what it represents; it’s a time to get together with the people you care about and let the good times roll, but think before you go.
Kate Beske is a 21-yearold journalism senior from Destrehan, La.
SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille
Mardi Gras floats sit Feb. 9, 2022 during the LSU Student Activities Board Mardi Gras Mambo event on Tower Drive at LSU’s campus.
BESKE’S BUZZ
KATE BESKE
Columnist
AP PHOTO / The Reveille
Kendrick Lamar, left, and SZA, right, appear at MTV Video Music Awards in Inglewood, Calif., on Aug. 27, 2017.
Jason Willis
Ethan Stenger