The Reveille 9-11-23

BY MACKAY SUIRE @macthetiger

After a soul-crushing loss in its season opener, LSU had the chance to work on its deficits in its second game against Grambling State. This was LSU’s first game of the season in Death Valley. Though Grambling was a more docile opponent than Florida State, Grambling remained aggressive until the last second of the game, forcing LSU to quickly remedy any faults in both offense and defense.

LSU ended up taking the game 72-10, but this game was about much more than football. It was about bringing Louisiana communities together. It was about making history.

In fact, this was the first time in each program’s history that the two tiger teams played against each other.

“I think it’s important,” Grambling State head coach Hue Jackson said, before the matchup. “Obviously it’s important for in-state recruiting. I think there’s some tremendous football played in this state. I think it’s important for these schools to play, you know, cause it’s a chance to display the school, the football brand and everything that they are trying to accomplish.”

Similar to when LSU played Southern University, this game was a huge showcase of culture for the state as a whole. Not only do the two schools share the same home state, but they also share an immense love and appreciation for the game of football.

“This is exciting, I know, for anybody that follows college football,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said the week of the game. “To top it off, it’s a school in state. I know our team is excited about getting back out there and playing the game the way it’s intended to be played.”

KEEPING CULTURE

LSU beats Grambling in first ever meeting.

Grambling State, originally founded in 1901, was initially an industrial school organized by a group of African American farmers who wanted to organize a place of learning for African Americans in their region of Louisiana. The school would later award its first baccalaureate degree in 1944.

Often times in college football, games featuring big conference teams versus much smaller ones are often seen solely as cash grabs for each school involved. In the case of LSU versus Grambling State, however, this wasn’t what either head coach had in mind.

“These guys are players who love to play these types of games every week,” Jackson said. “Obviously there’s a resource difference between the two schools, but I think from a player standpoint, a player wants to be tested.”

Grambling’s football program was ultimately put on the map when it was led by legendary head coach Eddie G. Robinson. Robinson started his coaching career not long after graduating college,

but his outstanding leadership was evident from the very beginning. His no-nonsense nature as a coach quickly led to a perfect 9-0 season.

The program garnered national attention when former Grambling running back Paul “Tank” Younger signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1949. Younger was the first player from a historically Black college to be drafted in the NFL.

In 1959, Robinson and his team joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Not long after, in 1963, the late Junious “Buck” Buchanan was also drafted in the NFL. The former Grambling Tiger was the first player from an HBCU to have been chosen first overall in an NFL draft.

In 1997, after 55 years, Robinson renounced his position as Grambling’s head coach. That same year, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Robinson ultimately noted 408 wins, 165 losses and 15 ties. The 408 wins set the record for a college football coach. With too many

to list, Robinson received more awards than any other football coach in the history of the game.

“One of the biggest honors I had was getting the opportunity to speak at the Eddie Robinson Museum when it was opened up,” Kelly said in a 2022 press conference. “It was a great honor just being immersed in the great history of HBCUs.”

Robinson’s impact on the game of football goes far beyond the accolades he collected. He had an ability to bring people together for the love of the game. He worked tirelessly to not only improve the program he led, but to pave a way for football programs across the state of Louisiana and later on, across the nation.

This matchup presented the state’s ability to bring together two powerhouse college programs, armed only with the burning desire to play the game of football.

“I’m excited to be the head coach at LSU, and in particular, with these types of games,” Kelly said. “You know, they’re historic.”

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CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

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ABOUT THE REVEILLE

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MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU football junior wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11) catches a touchdown on Sept. 9 during LSU’s 72-10 win against Grambling in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille

The LSU cheerleaders run through the endzone with flags after a touchdown on Sept. 9 during LSU football’s 72-10 win over Grambling State at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

CANDIDATES DEBATE

Candidates face off on LGBTQ+ issues, petrochemical pollution and more

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire

Five candidates vying to be Louisiana’s next governor faced off in their first debate of the election season Thursday night, answering questions on minimum wage, LGBTQ+ issues, petrochemical pollution and much more.

The candidates included three Republicans: state Sen. Sharon Hewitt of Slidell, state Treasurer John Schroder and former business lobby head Stephen Waguespack. Also debating were trial lawyer Hunter Lundy, a political independent, and former state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson, a Democrat.

Looming over the night was the elephant not in the room: Attorney General Jeff Landry, who leads the polls. He declined to appear, citing objections to the Urban League of Louisiana, a nonpartisan civil rights organization and a partner in the debate. State Rep. Richard Nelson, R-Mandeville, was not invited, with sponsors citing low polling numbers.

They seek to replace incumbent Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards, who is term limited.

The debate was sponsored by several media organizations— WWL-TV in New Orleans, WBRZTV in Baton Rouge, KTBS-TV in Shreveport, KATC-TV in Lafayette and The Advocate—as well as the Urban League and the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana.

Abortion

Louisiana fell under a near-total abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned, with few medical exceptions and no carve outs for

incest or rape. Recent polls show Louisiana residents are split on the state’s abortion policy.

When asked if they would push the Legislature to put abortion

rights in front of voters on the ballot, every candidate but Wilson said no.

POLITICS

Voting guide: Louisiana’s next election

BY CLAIRE SULLIVAN @sulliclaire

Election day might be weeks away, but important voting deadlines are coming up soon in Louisiana.

Louisiana governor hopefuls will face off in a primary election on Oct. 14. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, the top two performers will battle it out in the general election on Nov. 18.

Here’s a list of important dates to make sure you’re ready to vote.

Primary deadlines

Sept. 13: Last day to register to vote in person or by mail

Sept. 23: Last day to register to vote online

Oct. 10 : Deadline to request a mail ballot from the registrar (except for military and overseas voters*)

Oct. 13: Last day for the registar to receive your mail ballot (except for military and overseas voters*)

Sept. 30 - Oct. 7: You can vote early through these dates

Oct. 14 : Primary day!

General election deadlines

Oct. 18 : Last day to register to vote in person or by mail

see DEBATE, page 4 see VOTING, page 4

Here’s what happened at LSU’s Board of Supervisors meeting

BY CROSS HARRIS @thecrossharris

LSU’s Board of Supervisors convened Friday to decide matters academic, athletic, financial and facility-oriented.

In the moments before the meeting began, soft conversations echoed off the walls. Suits drifted among the seats, ties settled among the suits and lapel pins glinted in the spotlights. Many dress shoes scuffed the floor; many plaid socks settled inside the shoes. White cuffs peaked from coat sleeves. A police officer sat in the dark in the corner by the door.

The board members slowly found their seats.

At the center of the horseshoe at the head of the room, Chairman Valencia Sarpy Jones banged her gavel three times, calling the meeting to order. The air quieted, settled. Seats popped and creaked. The LSU chapter of the Pershing Rifles presented the colors, followed

by an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Among the most pertinent agenda items, the board approved LSU’s fiscal year 2023-24 operating budget at the meeting, including:

• $9.8 million in funding to invest and expand artificial intelligence, analytics and bioinformatics at LSU;

• $17.9 million in faculty and staff raises; and

• $67.7 million for upgrades to campus safety and emergency systems.

The board also:

• passed a motion to establish a master’s program in interior design at LSU;

• discussed a new initiative from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center called “Greaux Healthy”, which seeks to lower childhood obesity rates in Louisiana; and

• approved several contract extensions for LSU’s athletics staff, including a $36 million deal making Kim Mulkey the

The

CROSS HARRIS / The Reveille Board of Supervisors members and attendees disperse as the meeting comes to a close at the Administration Building on LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge, La: Sept. 8.

DEBATE, from page 3

“I would not support a ballot initiative on such an important issue,” Waguespack said. “I think it needs to be thoughtful.”

Hewitt said voters have their say by deciding who to send to the Legislature.

Wilson broke from the group, saying the current laws on the books are “putting lives in jeopardy.” He said he didn’t object to allowing residents to decide the matter directly because “our Legislature has proven the fact that they are too extreme for Louisiana.”

“It’s important to hear them and let them have a say so on what’s going to govern their lives,” he said.

LGBTQ+ issues

The Legislature passed three bills aimed at the LGBTQ+ community in the regular legislative session. The governor subsequently vetoed them, but he was overruled on a bill that banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

Lundy and the three Republicans on stage said they supported the Legislature’s decision, speaking strongly against access to the care for minors.

“We have to protect children at all costs,” Waguespack said. “I don’t think that hurts our reputation. I think that helps our reputation.”

Hewitt, too, said she didn’t feel the ban would discourage conventions or other groups from coming to Louisiana.

Lundy said adults should be allowed access to the care, “whether I agree with them or not,” but it should be barred for children.

“I say we have to live together and love together,” Schroder said. “But this was an attack on the … fiber of the family, and I fully supported where the Legislature was on this issue.”

Again, Wilson diverged from

VOTING, from page 3

Oct. 28 : Last day to register to vote online

Nov. 14 : Deadline to request a mail ballot from the registrar (except for military and overseas voters)

Nov. 17: Last day for the registar to receive your mail ballot (except for military and overseas voters)

Nov. 3 - Nov. 11: You can

the rest of the stage, saying the “extreme” policies don’t represent the majority view of the state and that they are pushing people away from Louisiana.

“We’ve spent $50,000 a day of public tax dollars to debate issues that infringe on people’s rights,” he said of the cost of the veto override session.

Cancer Alley

Candidates were asked how they would address Cancer Alley, the petrochemical belt along the Mississippi River that has earned its name because of complaints from residents who say the pollution is making them sick. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the closer people live to the plants, the higher their risk for cancer.

Lundy said companies need to be complying with the law and there should be air monitoring for people in the community. A bill to establish public air monitoring at the fence lines of petrochemical plants failed to pass this most recent legislative session, as it has for several years in a row.

“I’m all about industry,” Lundy said, “but I’m also about compliance, and I’m also about balance. And if you mess up, clean up.”

Wilson said there is a way for the petrochemical industry to “coexist” with communities.

Schroder said he “fully support[s] the families, and if … the industry is doing something wrong that they should fix it.” He also took the opportunity to raise his opposition to carbon sequestration projects like the ones proposed around Lake Maurepas.

Carbon capture is a process in which CO2 emissions are taken from the air and injected underground. Neighbors of proposed projects have voiced loud opposition and ecological concerns.

Hewitt drew contrast, taking her chance to call carbon capture

vote early through these dates

Nov. 18 : Election day!

Where do I vote?

When the day comes, if you’re voting in person, you’ll head to your designated polling place to cast your ballot.

For early voting and voting on the day of the primary or general election, visit the secretary of state’s votery portal website to find polling locations near you.

an “exciting” opportunity. She is a former Shell executive and said the refining industry is “one of the most regulated industries we have.”

Waguespack was pushed repeatedly to say what he would do for Cancer Alley residents. He claimed “national” groups were coming down to Louisiana to “disparage” the petrochemical industry.

The moderators pushed back on that, citing reporting by WWLTV that highlights health concerns from neighbors of petrochemical plants. There are several prominent, community-based groups in areas of heavy industrial presence advocating for lessened pollution.

Lundy, in response to Waguespack, said people adversely affect-

SUPERVISORS, from page 3

highest paid women’s basketball coach in the country.

The LSU Board of Supervisors is a “constitutionally empowered board,” formed by Article 8, Section 7 of the Louisiana Constitution. According to law, their onus includes supervising and managing the institutions and programs administered through the LSU system.

The board is composed of two members from each congressional district and three members from the state at-large, who are appointed by the governor with confirmation from the State Senate, as well as a student member, who serves a one-year term and is elected by the LSU Council of Student Body Presidents.

Communications to the board from those officially affiliated with the university can be filed in writing to the LSU President, per Article VI of the board Bylaws. The Bylaws also outline communications from student organizations, faculty members and campus staff, which are channeled to the president by way of the chancellor or the president’s designee.

The board’s next meeting

ed by petrochemical pollution need to be compensated or relocated.

Rapid fire

The moderators asked a series of rapid-fire questions, asking candidates to answer “yes” or “no.” The candidates found common ground on several topics.

They all said they wouldn’t increase the gas tax to fund infrastructure repairs. Each said it was a priority to close the wealth gap between white and Black households. And they agreed they wouldn’t add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of mandatory school vaccinations.

When asked if they would raise the minimum wage from the federal level of $7.25 an hour, Lundy, Wilson and Schroder said yes.

Hewitt, who has opposed efforts to increase it in the Legislature, said “maybe.”

Waguespack, former head of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, which has opposed such raises, was the only candidate to say “no.”

What’s next?

The next debate will be hosted by KLFY in Lafayette on Sept. 15. Seven candidates, including the five present Thursday plus Landry and Nelson, will appear.

All candidates will face off in the primary on Oct. 14. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the vote, then the top two candidates will advance to a run-off on Nov. 18.

will be on Oct. 20, for which the agenda item submission deadline is Sept. 20. Further informa-

tion, past meeting agendas and meeting videos can be found on the board’s website.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

The Louisiana State Capitol climbs toward the sky on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Baton Rouge, La.

TAYLOR ELLIS / The Reveille

A man enters voting booth on Nov. 3, 2020 at University Laboratory School poll location at 45 Dalrymple Dr.

FRANCIS DINH / The Reveille

David F. Boyd Hall sits April 24 on LSU’s campus.

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’: Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad?

BY ENTERTAINMENT STAFF

Are you Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad? Here’s what the Entertainment staff (and production editor, who’s particularly invested) at the Reveille has to say.

Molly Terrell — Team Conrad

Let’s get serious for a second. Belly wouldn’t have looked Jeremiah’s way again had she and Conrad not broken up. I don’t doubt that the girl cares for Jeremiah, that much is obvious, but she’s definitely forcing herself to be with Jeremiah because she hears Susannah’s voice in her head telling her she needs to end up with one of her sons.

While Belly irritates me on a personal level, it’s messed up that her decisions are also influenced by her trying to make Susannah happy. She does need to give Conrad a break though. I didn’t even get a prom so I think Belly should be a little more grateful.

Also… it might sound biased, but Conrad looks similar enough to Joe Burrow that ev-

eryone should be on his side if they’re really an LSU fan.

I will have to go with Team Jeremiah after observing Conrad’s avoidant attachment style for myself. The show starts off with him getting into a drunken fight, calling Belly immature and pretending to forget her birthday-like Belly, you could do better for real. Jeremiah had been in love with Belly for years, long before she “turned pretty,” and was even willing to step back so Conrad could be with her. That’s what made me decide that he’s the better option for her.

Sam Sedilo — Team Conrad

Truly, everyone is toxic. Everyone has played each other

in different ways, and that’s why they are stuck in a very messy love triangle. But Conrad tried to connect with Belly, and Jeremiah’s jealousy got in between. Many times that they almost seemingly rekindle a flame, Jeremiah is always there to interrupt and get into Belly’s head to invalidate her feelings, all while victimizing himself to Belly, pitting her against Conrad. Really, though, I am Team Anti-Belly. She two-times the brothers who are going through enough with losing their mom and almost losing the summer house.

kissing Jeremiah first, then dates Conrad and then she likes Jeremiah, again. The whole show is just a string of her inability to make up her mind. Of course, this keeps things interesting, but at this point, neither one of them should still be into her. I think Jeremiah and Belly have the same maturity level, and Conrad needs someone in the same year of college as him.

the other hand, Jeremiah treats Belly like an object to get the upper hand on this imaginary competition against his brother that he’s made up. Jeremiah feels the need to get between his own brother’s happiness as well as Belly’s just for his own personal gain. He can’t let them have a single moment together without interfering. However, he didn’t have an issue when she and Cam Cameron were dating, it simply bothers him to see Belly with his brother.

Presley Tyler — I don’t know who these people are

While I went back and forth on the question of Team Conrad or Jeremiah, I’ve come to the conclusion the only option is Team Jeremiah. I believe Conrad is the perfect choice for Belly. However, I don’t think she deserves him.

Belly pitted the brothers against each other in the past two seasons. She starts with

Conrad is the obvious choice for Belly. He has the emotional maturity that Jeremiah lacks. Conrad recognized that he couldn’t be his best self for Belly because of his overpowering grief. Therefore, he knew he had to break it off to give them the time they needed apart.

Conrad sacrifices his own happiness for the sake of Belly and Jeremiah. Conrad went to Jeremiah and told him how much Belly means to him to avoid hurting his brother. On

I have never seen this show, not a second of it, but from my brief 10-minute Google search, I have formed my opinion. Conrad seems like a square. Cute, but a square. Will he make me giggle? Doesn’t look like it. Jeremiah looks like he has some spunk; he looks like a fun guy. I’d like to hang out with him, perhaps.

LSU Art Museum showcases new exhibition on beauty of drag

BY SARAH WALTON @sarahrosewalton

The LSU Museum of Art has a new exhibition centered on the beauty of drag and drag queens.

On Aug. 31, award-winning photographer Jerry Siegel kicked off the show with a gallery talk on his new work, an exploration of queerness entitled “Reveal.”

At the talk, Siegel wore a black button down tucked into jeans, a white goatee and a warm smile. He gestured with his hands as he spoke, drawing ideas in the air.

“My interest in drag artists

and the transformation they make as performance artists goes back to the late 90s,” said Siegel, discussing his inspiration for the show, “I have always been interested in how we all use costumes of a sort and how drag artists take that a step further outside their daily routine.”

When beginning his work, Siegel got to know the performers before taking any photos. “I have benefited from the interactions and conversations with all the drag artists. I would ask very pointed and direct questions because it was important to me to better understand their point of view,” Siegel said.

Siegel also commented on his gratitude to the drag artists who collaborated with him for the project.

“I appreciated that they were open to having those conversations with me, a straight cisgender male,” he said.

With “Reveal,” Siegel said that he “wanted to make work that would be interesting visually to the viewer, but would also make you think and help create dialogue about gender identity and expression.”

Siegel’s work comes at a time when there’s heavy discourse centered around queer expressions of art (like drag), gender expression and what it means to

be transgender in America.

In recent years, 20 states have created laws banning gender-affirming care. This June, Louisiana joined them, passing a bill to ban gender-affirming care specifically for minors, which will take effect in January 2024.

South Dakota and Kansas have passed laws restricting which bathrooms transgender students can use in schools, and a new Florida statute prohibits transgender people from using government-owned public restrooms if the gender on the door does not match the gender assigned to them at birth.

Many of the same states are also attempting to ban drag shows. Arkansas, Texas and others have passed varied anti-drag legislation. In March, Tennessee became the first state to ban drag performances in public places. The bill, which would have taken effect on April 1, was blocked by a federal judge and ruled an “unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.”

In response to the new laws, Siegel said he was, “concerned, disappointed [and] mad. Legislators are not doing their job of working for their constituents. They are playing to the lowest common denominator of their base and using fear to gain and retain power. It is not at all

about what is right, what the majority is interested in or wants. I am very concerned about freedom of expression. Many in power are arguing for freedom of thought and expression, but only as it pertains to them and their beliefs.”

For Siegel, “freedom of speech and expression, making art, should be free from control. We should all be allowed to use our voices to speak about what we believe and to voice our support for whatever is important to us individually. Freedom of expression should be given to all equally.”

Siegel has been acclaimed as a photographer skilled in bringing out the extraordinary qualities of anyone he works with, and he continued that ethos in “Reveal.” Siegel took the culture and beauty of drag and displayed the art, with all of its humanity. He presented the glamor of drag and the craftsmanship behind it. “Reveal” will be on display at the LSU Museum of Art until Nov. 12. General admission is $5, but university students with a valid school ID, veterans, their families, and children 12 and under can visit the museum for free.

Aris Williams — Team Jeremiah

Emily Poirrier — Team Jeremiah

Madison Cooper –Team Conrad

TARUN KAKARALA / The Reveille Photographer Jerry Siegel speaks about his new exhibit Aug. 31 at the LSU Museum of Art on Lafayette Street in Baton Rouge, La.

COURTESY OF LSUMOA.ORG Jerry Siegal, Bridget Bidet, 2018.

COURTESY OF LSUMOA.ORG

Jerry Siegal, Taylor Vanpelt, 2018.

SCORING

BIGPhotos by Erin Barker and Matthew Perschall

LSU football head coach Brian Kelly and his team walk out of the tunnel.

LSU football junior running back Logan Diggs (3) attempts to jump over Grambling defensive back Norey Johnson (14).

LSU football junior running back Logan Diggs (3) gets tackled.

Mike the Tiger crowd surfs in the student section.

LSU football fifth-year senior punter Jay Bramblett (19) prepares to hold the ball for a point after touchdown.

LSU football senior quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) prepares to take a snap

The LSU student section cheers.

SU football junior running back Logan Diggs (3) celebrates a touchdown.

LSU beat Grambling State 72-10 on Sept. 9 in home opener in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.

FIRST FOOTBALL WIN

Offensive

BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus

explosion leads Tigers to first

win

of season vs. Grambling State

After a 45-24 loss in Week 1, LSU entered its home opener versus Grambling State looking to show improvement.

It wasn’t perfect, but LSU earned its first win of the season, beating Grambling 72-10.

“We played the game the right way,” LSU head coach Brian Kelly said. “We certainly started fast, built great momentum... asserted our will in the third quarter and finished it off.”

The offense was LSU’s biggest positive. After missing opportunities and struggling to generate any rushing offense against Florida State, LSU seemed to live up to its offensive potential versus Grambling.

LSU moved the ball without much resistance throughout the game, both running and throwing the ball. Jayden Daniels finished with 269 passing yards and five touchdowns, and was more successful throwing the ball downfield than in the previous week.

“It’s hard to take issue with five touchdown passes,” Kelly said of Daniels. “We would say that he left some throws out there that that we need to get better at. So we’re pleased, we’re not going to walk away here and be ungrateful for the things that we accomplished, but we have some work to do.”

His first two touchdowns

FOOTBALL

both came on passes over 20 yards to Brian Thomas Jr. and Chris Hilton Jr., respectively. Hilton, who didn’t play against Florida State, had two catches for 53 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown catch.

The running game, LSU’s biggest offensive weakness in Week 1, came alive against Grambling, largely due to Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs. Diggs didn’t play against Florida State, but announced himself to the LSU fanbase with a

115-yard rushing performance against Grambling.

“It’s very sweet, it’s been a really long journey,” Diggs said after the game. “It felt really good especially to be able to come back home, play in front of a home crowd, be able to wear those colors and put on for my state.”

While the offense created the 62-point gap, LSU’s defense didn’t have the same efficiency.

Grambling consistently moved the ball in the first

half,and scored on its first two possessions. It finished the first half with 259 yards of total offense and consistently made explosive plays both in the run and pass.

LSU’s secondary was one of the defense’s weak spots versus Florida State and didn’t quite show the improvement it may have hoped to. Two big pass plays set up the touchdown on the first drive, and both came

FOOTBALL

Three takeaways from LSU’s 62-point win

BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus

LSU football earned its first win of 2023 Saturday, beating Grambling State 72-10. The difference in talent was clear, but LSU did what it was supposed to despite some early defensive issues.

Here are three takeaways from LSU’s 62-point win.

Logan Diggs changes the rushing outlook

One of LSU’s main weaknesses against Florida State was its inability to run the ball. LSU’s running backs only ran for 49 yards in Week 1, and 35 of that came on one rush by Josh Williams.

Diggs didn’t play against Florida State, still limited in practice for much of fall camp by a hamstring injury. In his LSU debut, Diggs ran for 115 yards on 15 carries and was the leading rusher in a game where LSU ran for over 300 yards.

Given the opponent, Diggs’ performance doesn’t answer all the questions regarding the LSU run game, but he is the first running back to stand out so far this season.

Another factor in that rushing success was the offensive line. The right side of LSU’s offensive line struggled against Florida State, but made adjustments against Grambling. Most notably, freshman Zalance Heard saw significant playing

Logan Diggs’ rejuvenated running game plays key role in LSU’s win

BY JASON WILIS @JasonWillis4

You wouldn’t expect LSU to be on upset alert facing an FCS school like Grambling. By the second quarter, matchups of that nature are typically well in hand.

Still, with about 12 minutes left in the second frame, Grambling put itself into a goal-to-go situation and threatened to pull within 21-17 in a surprisingly contentious game. After a failed third and goal try from the five, the Grambling Tigers tried for a 23-yard field goal, which missed. Despite the relatively comfortable 21-10 lead, LSU was not off the hook by any stretch of the imagination.

Grambling had pushed within LSU’s 10-yard line on each of its first three drives, gashing the defense for long gains both through the air and on the ground. LSU’s offense had more than done its

job, but the Tigers needed to do something more and take control of the game somehow.

LSU did just that by pounding the ball in the ground game. On its next drive, the Tigers marched 80 yards downfield, running on seven of the drive’s 10 plays for 63 rushing yards, all from junior transfer Logan Diggs, who didn’t play for LSU’s opener against Florida State while recovering from a hamstring injury.

The drive marked a turning point, with LSU finally establishing its superior strength in the trenches. Though the defense pitched a shutout the rest of the way en route to a dominant 72-10 win, LSU’s rushing attack determined the pace of the game and flipped the momentum.

Diggs, who spent the last two seasons at Notre Dame, was the leader of the rushing turn-

see FOOTBALL, page 10 see TAKEAWAYS, page 10

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU football junior wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (11) celebrates a touchdown on Sept. 9 during LSU’s 72-10 win against Grambling State in Tiger Stadium.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille LSU football junior running back Logan Diggs (3) smiles after scoring a touchdown on Sept. 9 during LSU’s 7210 win against Grambling State in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. see DIGGS, page 10

FOOTBALL, from page 9

against man coverage.

Zy Alexander and Denver Harris both gave up contested catches down the field on the opening drive. Harris didn’t play against Florida State, and after getting the start at corner versus Grambling, gave up the opening touchdown in man coverage.

Despite the slow start, LSU’s defense improved as the game went on. After Grambling scored on its first two possessions, it didn’t score again for the rest of the game.

LSU’s defense allowed just 61 yards in the second half and forced two turnovers. That combined with the offense continuing its dominance resulted in a lopsided final score.

Kelly attributed the defensive improvements to changes in their formation, adjusting after the big plays on the first few drives.

“Twice we were in dime per-

sonnel and they ran the ball,” Kelly said. “You’re looking to take away some things in the passing game and you’re vulnerable in the run game. We got out of dime went into our buffalo package which is four d-linemen and that took care of that situation.”

No result, no matter how lopsided, would’ve changed many fans’ opinions of LSU, given the level of competition. There are always questions regarding how much can be learned from an FBS versus FCS matchup, and that’s no different in LSU’s case.

LSU moved the ball at will against Grambling, but given the size and talent disparity, that was expected. LSU’s defense shut Grambling down in the second half, but how much of that was due to LSU’s size advantage wearing Grambling down?

For many, most of LSU’s questions won’t be answered until it starts Southeastern Conference play next week against Missis -

sippi State. It will be LSU’s first true road game, and first chance to really prove itself again after the Florida State loss.

“Look, are there things that we have to do better? Absolutely,” Kelly said. “The competition picks up, so I’m not gonna

TAKEAWAYS, from page 9

time at right tackle, replacing Miles Frazier and pushing Emory Jones to right guard.

Southeastern Conference play will be a bigger test for Diggs and the offensive line, but both showed flashes against Grambling. If Diggs can become LSU’s go-to option out of the backfield, it will likely open up the offense like it did Saturday.

The secondary raised more questions

Even against a worse opponent, LSU’s secondary was still its biggest weakness. It was evident from the first drive that the issues in the secondary were still present.

leave here going ‘Hey, we’ve got this thing figured out.’ I mean, the competition is going to be steep.”

Stamps have played the most at corner, in a rotation that still looks like a work in progress. Stamps showed promise, but as a true freshman could still be limited going into SEC play.

Chris Hilton Jr. can open up the offense

Chris Hilton Jr. was another player who made an impact versus Grambling who didn’t play against Florida State. Hilton was highly recruited when he came to LSU, but injuries limited his playing time in his first two seasons.

DIGGS, from page 9 around. He finished the game with 115 yards and a touchdown on the ground, adding an 18yard reception.

“I knew what we were going to get from him. It was just a matter of getting healthy,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “He prepared the right way and he was ready to play. We saw the kind of back that is going to help us.”

Having accounted for over 1,000 yards last year for the Fighting Irish, Diggs provides a level of skill that might be among the most valuable in LSU’s running back room. His control and shiftiness flashed, and even though it was against an FCS defense, his performance demands a greater role going forward.

In the opening loss against FSU, LSU’s lack of a threatening running game was apparent. The Tigers finished with 49 nonquarterback rushing yards, compared to 253 against Grambling, with 125 coming in the first half with the starters.

Though some of that was due to game script, as LSU had to prioritize the pass in a game in

which they were always close or trailing, it’s clear that the Tigers did a much better job of getting to the second level and clearing lanes for their running backs against Grambling.

The offensive line as a whole had an improved performance. Considered a strength before the season with five returning starters, the unit had a concerning showing against FSU, failing to get any significant push, most notably on a handful of pivotal fourth downs.

LSU rotated freshman Zalance Heard in at right tackle, continuing its experimentation with the offensive line unit with Emery Jones at right guard in place of Miles Frazier. The Tigers saw success with both looks, but Heard was particularly effective in the run game as he continued to make his case to be a permanent starter.

“Tiger Stadium is unreal, and I think he did a great job handling that,” quarterback Garrett Nussmeier said about Heard. “I think he did a great job sticking to his techniques, sticking to the play. I’m really proud of him.”

The Tigers also made use of

a healthy amount of screen plays and jet sweeps, plays that are essentially extensions of the run game, which was effective. With elusive receivers such as Malik Nabers and Aaron Anderson on LSU’s roster, this will be a consistent wrinkle of the playbook going forward.

The success of the running game continued into the second half with freshman Kaleb Jackson, a fall camp standout, taking the bulk of the third quarter’s carries and contributing 62 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Williams added to the total with an efficient 43 yards on 7.2 yards per carry, and Noah Cain put forth 33 yards and a touchdown.

Going forward, LSU will need to maintain its rushing success as it heads into the meat of its schedule. Controlling the pace and dictating the physicality level is pivotal in the Southeastern Conference, and the Tigers will need to do that if they want to get back on track with a successful showing in conference play. The offensive line getting on the same page against Grambling and Diggs’ emergence will be instrumental to that end.

Grambling drove right down the field on a seven play, 83-yard drive with two big pass plays against man coverage. Denver Harris started at corner after not playing against Florida State, but gave up a touchdown catch in man coverage on the first drive.

Going into SEC play, the pass offenses will only get better. LSU faces an experienced Will Rogers who leads the Mississippi State offense before playing Arkansas and Ole Miss who have two of the most proven pass offenses in the SEC.

Harris, Zy Alexander, Duce Chestnut, Sage Ryan and Ashton

Ball security and route running also affected his playing time going into this season, including Week 1. He got a chance to play against Grambling, and showed the vertical threat he poses on a 47-yard touchdown catch.

Hilton’s speed is arguably his biggest strength, and that showed on the touchdown catch. With one of the criticisms of LSU’s offense being its inability to stretch the field, Hilton’s speed could help solve that problem.

LSU only used three receivers for most of the game against Florida State. Hilton’s skill set is unique compared to the rest of the receivers and can help balance the passing attack if he can consistently catch the ball.

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille LSU football junior running back Logan Diggs (3) avoids a tackle on Sept. 9 during LSU’s 72-10 win over Grambling State.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

LSU football junior running back Logan Diggs (3) runs with the ball on Sept. 9, during LSU’s 72-10 win over Grambling State.

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

The LSU band spells out “LSU” on Sept. 9 before LSU’s 72-10 win against Grambling State at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

Student organizations are great socially and professionally

ISABELLA’S INSIGHTS

ISABELLA ALBERTINI @BasedIsabella

The best way to get involved and meet people with similar interests is to join student clubs and organizations. Finding a community and making friends on a large campus like LSU is easy if you know where to find like-minded people.

LSU has over 400 student organizations, each offering something unique. Joining a student organization can lead to lifelong friendships and give a boost to your resume. Some organizations are more academically inclined, while others are just a fun community with a shared interest.

The Tabletop Games Club is a student-led organization that meets to play board games every Friday at 6 p.m. in the West Laville library.

“After a long day of classes, it’s good to find people you can relax with and have a fun time,” said economics junior Khia Ngo, the president of the club.

The TTGC welcomes students of all majors looking to make friends and have fun playing board games, she said.

“A typical night at the Tabletop Games Club is the laughter, the

screaming, the cheering of different students invested in a good game and having fun with their friends,” Ngo said. “I love board games, and coming here and finding people who love doing that too is something to look forward to.”

From social deception games to card games to puzzles, there’s something for everyone, and many games require teamwork, which is a great way to get to know people, Ngo said.

She first heard about TTGC during the involvement fair in her

freshman year.

“I love the Tabletop Games Club so much! I feel like it was a place I was comfortable, especially freshman year because it was hard to make friends in freshman year. I felt out of place even though I really wanted to make friends when I found the Tabletop Games Club. I’ve been a member ever since!” Ngo said.

Some organizations are dedicated to helping students develop skills they can later carry in their careers. These student organiza-

tions help equip students in several aspects of their majors and make valuable connections.

The Public Relations Student Society of America prepares students for a career in public relations by bringing guest speakers from PR companies in Baton Rouge. PRSSA teaches its members to network with business professionals and develop leadership skills.

“PRSSA has allowed me to grow both professionally and academically,” said Juliette LeRay, the pres -

ident of PRSSA at LSU and a senior majoring in mass communications.

“I currently am the public affairs intern at ExxonMobil Baton Rouge and heard about the position opening from a friend I made through my membership in PRSSA.”

She said PRSSA strives for community among its members. They start every meeting with a fun icebreaker for members to get to know each other more.

“I joined PRSSA last year as a junior when my professor discussed the benefits of joining the organization,” LeRay said. “Since his discussion, I have not missed a PRSSA meeting.”

As students, we have the opportunity to join these and other such organizations that can enrich our college experience and give us a boost for our careers in the future. Taking an hour off of your week to attend a meeting can have a bigger impact than you can imagine.

It can lead you to your new job or your new friend group. It can open new leadership opportunities and valuable connections. With so many different student organizations at LSU, every student can find their kindred community.

Isabella Albertini is a 23-year-old mass communication junior from Lima, Peru.

FITZMORRIS

Times are changing as influencers become ‘deinfluencers’

HAMMER TIME

LINDSAY BICKHAM @lindsayymariah

Earlier this year, TikTok creator Jacquelyn Larson posted a video debunking the hype surrounding popular products from high-end brands such as Olaplex, Charlotte Tilbury and Kevin Murphy. Larson offered affordable alternatives and helpful insight on why they were the better choice over their high-end competitors.

This was just one video featured in her “deinfluncer” playlist.

Larson is one of the many TikTok creators that have started using their platforms to dissuade followers from buying high-end products. TikTok has become one of the most popular ways to influence consumers, and brands recognize this. Many brands use partnerships and ambassadors to promote their products on social

EDITORIAL BOARD

Claire Sullivan Editor in Chief

Managing Editor Lauren Madden

Cross Harris News Editor

media platforms, but this new trend of deinfluncing might impact that practice.

To deinfluence, creators buy a popular product, compare it to a more affordable product and then advise consumers against buying the more high-end product. This has shifted the current trend of materialism, which begs the question of how brands will capitalize off consumers if TikTok has the power to deinfluence them with a simple video.

According to CNN, nearly all of the deinfluencing hashtag’s 584 million views on TikTok came from the last 12 months. This statistic was recorded in May, but as of September 2023, the hashtag has 840.4 million views. This is only four months apart, and the difference is striking.

Another way TikTok creators have deinflunced consumers is by promoting dupe culture. A dupe is “a shortened version of the word ‘duplicate,’ and is often used to refer to a product that is

very similar to a product from a popular brand, but cheaper,” according to Dexerto. Dupes have become more and more popular since the trend of deinfluncing emerged.

Dupes can be found for all products from shoes, fragrances, clothes and more.

The most popular dupes I have seen are the SKIMS dupes. SKIMS is a popular shapewear brand by Kim Kardashian that has had the internet in a chokehold. Since its debut, numerous companies such as Amazon, Abercromie & Fitch and Target have made dupes of the brand’s clothing.

The soft lounge long slip dress is one of the most trending items on the SKIMS website, with a starting price of $78. The dupe for this dress comes from Amazon, and its price is $30.

This is a drastic cost difference for a similar product, and consumers are starting to realize this. The soft lounge long slip is

just one example of how dupes can save consumers money.

Deinfluncing culture has completely changed the concept of influencing for brands and influencers. It has given influencers the chance to consider if they want to continue influencing or start deinfluncing.

Brands also have to start considering what they can do to start appealing to consumers again

without the help of influencers, since consumers are starting to become wary of influencer-endorsed products.

What will the future of society be if all influencers become deinfluncers, and consumers don’t depend on materialism?

Lindsay Bickham is a 19-year old mass communication sophomore from New Orleans.

Editorial Policies and Procedures Quote of the Week

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.”

Ernest

Editor Oliver Butcher

Colin Falcon

Deputy

Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) 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. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE

GRAPHIC BY MADDIE FITZMORRIS

Editorial Board: Brian Kelly’s quotes say the quiet part out loud

BY REVEILLE EDITORIAL BOARD

In a fleeting moment of honesty, Brian Kelly said aloud LSU’s open secret.

“I loved my time at Notre Dame. I have nothing but great memories there,” head football coach Kelly told ESPN. “But the whole landscape there is different than it is here. It just is. There are priorities at Notre Dame. The architectural building needed to get built first. They ain’t building the architectural building here first. We’re

building the athletic training facility first, [and] we’re in the midst of a $22 million addition to our athletic training facility.

“It’s something I said we needed, and we went and immediately raised the money.”

This obvious truth spoken so plainly from the face of Baton Rouge’s—and perhaps Louisiana’s—most powerful institution raised some eyebrows.

Kelly tried to walk back his comments after they caught heat on social media, telling the Louisiana Illuminator his words

had been mischaracterized.

“If you look at many of my statements,” Kelly, who has a 10-year, $95-million contract, told the Illuminator, “my reason for coming was my conversation with President Tate and his commitment to academics and excellence … from day one, the allure for me was that commitment to both on and off the field.”

We were with you the first time, coach. You were perfectly clear. After all, it only takes a short walk around campus to understand LSU’s priorities.

The football locker room got a $28-million facelift in 2019, paid for by donors to the Tiger Athletic Foundation. Business Insider described the facility’s open concept as “similar to that of a luxury jet and complete with sleep pods, charging stations, and upgraded technology.”

Many have argued that since these lavish facilities are often funded mostly by donors, with a separate pot of money from academics, there’s no reason to complain.

Instead, this shows how the misalignment of priorities extends far off campus. Why do wealthy donors lack the fervor for academics that they have for athletics?

We’re not asking for a luxurious library, just one that doesn’t earn national ridicule every few months when photos comparing

it to our athletics facilities inevitably go viral online again.

The LSU Library—the physical embodiment of LSU’s academics—is sorely neglected. The roof leaks, fourth-floor shelves are covered in plastic and some books have molded. Garbage cans catch rain, with holes in the ceiling from water damage completing the ambience.

Other academic buildings have suffered from persistent maintenance issues.

In summer 2022, HVAC problems and water damage resulted in visible mold in offices on the

third floor of Audubon Hall, leaving many graduate students displaced from their offices for a time, the Reveille reported.

In the Renewable Natural Resources Building, it rains inside. That building, too, has been plagued by mold problems. So, yes, Kelly got it right the first time.

LSU students love football and athletics, yes. It’s a part of Louisiana life. But we’d also like to not need an umbrella in our classrooms.

In the meantime, let’s at least speak straight on the realities at LSU.

Christian nationalism threatens LGBTQ+ rights in Louisiana

PELLITTIERI’S POLITICS

MATTHEW PELLITTIERI @m_pellittieri

“God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.”

This statement may sound like the kind of homophobic vitriol that a hate-filled preacher would shout to a random guy with an earring 40 years ago, or perhaps a piece of “humor” from a more recent time that would be followed by the “it’s just a joke, bro” defense.

If that is what you thought, you would be wrong.

In reality, that was the fully serious argument put forth by Public Service Commissioner, former party chair and Secretary of State candidate Mike Francis, a Republican from District four, at a recent convention for the Louisiana state GOP.

Francis’ homophobia is not a revitalization of bigotry long dead. No, his views and motivations never went away. They have continued to fester in fundamentalist Christian and reactionary conservative circles in the state, even as polls show that most Lousiainans now support policies like same-sex marriage.

Case in point, a 2019 meeting of a teenage Republican organization in this very state attended by

the author of this very column before his political conversion:

At this event, the newly inaugurated president of the chapter rose to give a speech to the assembled. It did not take long for him to decry the normalization of behaviors which he deemed “immoral.” Unsurprisingly, this list included homosexuality. This identity and activity, morally equivalent to heterosexuality, was grossly reduced to the level of pedophilia.

The justification? The answer is two-fold.

First, Francis has been emboldened by a concurring opinion from the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade. In that concurrence, the conservative Justice Clarence Thomas argued that the Supreme Court should also “reconsider” decisions protecting the rights to same-sex marriage, contraception and the very act of gay sex.

Thomas’ motivation and the second of Francis’ justifications are one in the same: Christianity.

Actually, that is offensive to Christians. What Francis, Thomas and even that club’s former president are actually motivated by is the conflation of their interpretation of Chrisitanity with their interpretation of the American national identity.

They believe that the traditional nuclear family, complete with heterosexuality and gender roles,

is essential to what it means to be American. To violate these hegemonic bounds would be to violate something holy, sacred, divine. In other words, the United States is a “Christian country” founded on “Judeo-Christian values” for Christians.

This is the dictionary definition of Christian nationalism.

To fully understand the danger of this ideology, just look back to Francis’ original statement: “God made Adam and Even, not Adam and Steve.”

He was being deadly serious when he said that.

To people like him, Genesis is not merely poetry as it is to literary scholars or scripture as it is to the average Christian or Jew. No, it is history — equivalent to a theoretical photograph of the Big Bang (not that they believe in that).

This creationism is not just common in the Deep South; for many, it is common sense. It is the Gospel truth.

This belief is as absurd as flat earth theory, moon landing denialism and 9/11 trutherism. The difference is that there are not very many politicians trying to inject those absurdities into classrooms. For creationists, this is their holy mission, and they are willing to sacrifice the “sodomites” in their “patriotic” crusade.

Creationists want to instill

Christian fundamentalism into public school curricula for the express purpose of increasing the power of Christian nationalism in broader society.

Not only will more students and future voters adhere to these ignorant and bigoted ideas but they will also view being creationist or homophobic as fundamental to being American and moral. Those that disagree or whose very being is disagreed with will be subjugated and thrown out of proper society for violating an essential covenant of the theocracy.

If any more convincing is necessary, think about the position that Francis is running for. The Secretary of State oversees our elections. The potential abuse of

this office’s power could inhibit the people’s ability to counter his exclusion and extremism.

Right now, Mike Francis alone can really only make his fellow Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis, an openly gay Democrat from District three, rather uncomfortable whenever they are in the same room together. The whole block of Christian nationalists across the state, though, can and will continue to make life as close to hell as possible for gay Louisianians. They even consider that to be a preview of the afterlife.

Matthew Pellittieri is a 19-yearold history and political science sophomore from Ponchatoula.

REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille Tarps fall into the trash can on Feb. 5 in the LSU Library in Baton Rouge, La.

ERIN BARKER / The Reveille LSU football head coach Brian Kelly walks onto the field on Sept. 3 before LSU’s 45-24 loss to Florida State at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fl.