WHAT A RUSH WHAT A RUSH
LSU football defies odds with thrilling overtime win over Ole Miss.
Read on page 2
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
JUST ENOUGH
LSU offense overcomes sloppy play for top-10 win
In honor of Tiger Stadium’s centennial, LSU treated its fans to a healthy serving of what the program has long been known for until recent years: bad offense.
The defensive side of the ball for the Tigers had its most impressive day of an otherwise questionable year. Conversely, LSU’s offense ran into frequent mishaps, which was uncharacteristic as it’s been the strength of the team.
When it came down to it, though, LSU’s offense came through for an electric 29-26 win over No. 9 Ole Miss in overtime in Death Valley.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw a 25-yard dart to senior wideout Kyren Lacy to give LSU the win after successfully holding Ole Miss to a field goal in the first possession of overtime.
“I wasn’t thinking about nothing but catching that ball,” Lacy said. “Just a moment I’ll never forget in my life.”
The throw was an example of the electric connection Nussmeier and Lacy have had all year, but that kind of offensive firepower was dormant for much of the game, including on LSU’s game-tying drive in the final minute of regulation.
It was far from methodical. It was a painful, slogging drive in which LSU faced fourth down twice and Nussmeier was 4-of-11 on his passes. He was lucky on several occasions to get the ball back on risky throws.
The three-minute drive ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Aaron Anderson, tying the game at 23-23 and sending it to overtime.
Even though LSU’s offense had the last word, most of this game was defined by the two defenses.
That was unexpected in a
matchup that featured the SEC’s top two passing offenses. Not to mention, last year’s edition of the Magnolia Bowl was a 55-49 track race won by Ole Miss. It wouldn’t have surprised anyone if that had been the case again.
At the end of the day, Nussmeier and the offense had just enough juice and maturity to overcome their earlier struggles.
“I thought [Nussmeier] grew more today than at any time that he’s been here,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “That was a growth game for him.”
Nussmeier wasn’t his usual sharp self on Saturday, finishing with two interceptions and a 43.1% completion percentage despite throwing for 337 yards and three touchdowns. This season, he leads the SEC in touchdown passes and is second in passing yards.
However, Saturday was a demonstration of the worst of
Nussmeier’s tendencies. Ever since he was deemed the successor to last year’s Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, it’s been clear that the key to maximizing his skillset is reining in his aggressiveness.
“I probably had one of the worst games of my career tonight,” Nussmeier said. “I think the best part about that is I get to learn from it, and we got a win.”
Nussmeier’s habit of making risky plays downfield was on full display against Ole Miss, with several dropped picks and lots of underthrown deep passes.
Perhaps the most costly mistake of his was a fourth quarter interception the play directly after senior cornerback Zy Alexander came up with an acrobatic interception in the end zone to give LSU the ball.
The Tigers’ offensive play calling also left a lot to be desired, as the offense heavily leaned on long-developing plays and taking shots downfield rather than short passes to get Nussmeier into the rhythm that he was missing.
That was due in part, though, to LSU’s inability to get anything going up front and in the running game. The Tigers had only 84 rushing yards for an average of 3.5 yards.
All told, LSU’s offense had two turnovers and five penalties, converted 37.5% of its third downs and settled for three field goals.
Ole Miss’ defense is much improved from last year, which accounts in part for why LSU’s offense faced such an uphill battle. Last year, the Rebels had many of the same issues as LSU, as evidenced by the 2023 shootout in Oxford.
B-16 Hodges Hall
This season, the Rebels led the nation in sacks entering the game. That ended up not playing much of a factor, as LSU held them sackless.
However, Ole Miss’ pass defense downfield and rush defense were both seemingly impenetrable for much of the game, which presented a much different challenge for LSU than last year’s matchup.
The two defenses dueled in the first quarter. The game had all the classic suspense of wondering who would break through the opposing vaunted defense first, and that only enhanced by a raucous Tiger Stadium crowd.
LSU made improbable stop after improbable stop in the early going, including a 4th-and-1 stuff on the Tigers’ own five-yard line.
“They never blinked,” Kelly said. “Just getting them locked in and focused on what’s important — they’re so much better at that than they were in Week 1.”
Ole Miss’ first quarter mistakes also contributed to the early stalemate, as the team dropped what would’ve been an early touchdown, missed a 32-yard field goal and drew an untimely holding penalty in the red zone.
LSU’s defensive excellence paused in spectacular fashion as a 4th-and-inches run by Ulysses Bentley IV slipped past the Tigers for a 49-yard touchdown run to put the Rebels up 10-0.
The teams traded scores on the next three drives, and the Rebels took a 17-13 lead into the half.
Until its final drive of regulation, LSU’s offense mustered only three points in the second half.
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CATE EMMA WARREN / The Reveille
LSU football junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) prepares to pass the ball on Oct. 12 during LSU’s 29-26 win against Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.
MALEAH BOURGEOIS / The Reveille
LSU football head coach Brian Kelly talks to his starting lineup during a timeout in LSU’s 29-26 win against Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium on Oct. 12 in Baton Rouge, La.
ROYALTY
LSU crowns 2024 Homecoming Court during halftime of Ole Miss game
BY CHLOE RICHMOND @chlorichmond
There’s new royalty in town. LSU crowned its 2024 Homecoming king and queen during halftime of the Ole Miss game Saturday evening.
LSU’s student body was tasked with voting between 12 senior candidates, all of whom were evaluated by LSU staff before being named to the court. The election was held via Tigerlink and all LSU students were welcome to cast a vote.
Of the 12 candidates, the students elected Brian Gage to serve as king and Camille Cronin to serve as queen. Gage is a senior marketing major with a minor in advertising and entrepreneurship. Cronin is a political science major with a minor in history.
The theme of this year’s homecoming was “100 Years of Tiger Stadium,” an ode to the culture and memories formed in Death Valley. LSU’s 2024 Homecoming king and queen, along with the week of events leading up to Saturday night, are now cemented in Tiger Stadium history.
LSU Board of Supervisors walks back another form of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
BY MORGAN VANNOSDALL
The LSU Board of Supervisors passed a resolution Thursday further limiting the scope of its diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
This resolution calls for LSU to conduct a review of all its programs, with those using classifications of race, sex, ethnicity or political views to be eliminated. The resolution explicitly named diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
According to Chairman Jimmie Woods, the resolution aimed to codify the U.S. Supreme Court case Students for Fair Admission vs. Harvard, which prohibited the consideration of race in college admissions decisions.
The resolution was vaguely worded on the agenda and was not included in the information packet distributed prior to the meeting, the Louisiana Illuminator reports. The resolution was made public immediately before the board voted. It was passed without objection. All Black
board members apart from Woods left the meeting before the vote.
This resolution follows LSU’s removal of all DEI statements from their website in January.
The board addressed other items at the meeting, including approving a maximum 10% tuition and 10% fee increase for the 2025 fall semester.
Joe Ramos, the director of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center and executive officer of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center, gave an update on both centers’ progress. Ramos hopes to be a national leader on cancer research within the next five to six years, but said he’s “thinking we can get there faster,” The reason for this is that, according to Ramos, recruitment is going along well.
“This is absolutely one of the most pressing medical matters we have to deal with in this state,” LSU President William F. Tate IV said.
College of Engineering Professor Ali Kazemian presented on robotic-construction 3D printing, an emerging technol-
ogy said to be less labor-intensive, dangerous and expensive than concrete construction. Kazemian said that they are hoping to build such a device, “but in reality are not quite there yet.”
Tate closed out the meeting discussing the plans for a new library and the results of several social media polls on its potential design. The voting was a success according to Tate, with
about 13% engagement on Instagram and almost 500,000 votes on X. Choice B won, with voters deciding they wanted the appearance of the building to look like “traditional LSU-styled buildings.”
Tate stated that they have a good plan going forward to remodel the library, and that there will be more things coming out about the project going forward.
EDUCATION
LSU President Tate to embark on ‘Scholarship First’ bus tour
BY SAMAIA SINGH @SamaiaSingh
LSU President William F. Tate IV will again travel across Louisiana as part of the second phase of the Scholarship First Bus Tour, a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening the connection between the university’s priorities and the needs of the state.edu
During the four-day tour, from Oct. 15-18, Tate will meet with local leaders, discuss key issues facing Louisiana and explore new opportunities to boost the state’s economy and well-being, an official statement from LSU said.
The tour kicks off in Start, Louisiana, where Tate will be joined by U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow, a Republican representing Louisiana’s fifth congressional district, for a send-off event at Start Elementary. The event will also feature a performance by LSU student and rising country star Timothy Wayne, nephew of legendary artist Tim McGraw and native of Start.
A major focus of the tour will be rural healthcare. In Rayville, President Tate will join healthcare leaders and policymakers at a Rural Health Roundtable at the Richland Parish Library. The discussion will address the challenges rural areas face in delivering healthcare services and explore potential solutions.
One of the highlights of the tour will be a visit to the LSU AgCenter Sweet Potato Research Station in Chase, Louisiana, where President Tate will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the 300acre facility, renowned for developing some of the world’s most popular sweet potato varieties.
The Scholarship First Bus Tour will include stops in communities across the state, including Monroe, Winnfield, Fort Johnson, Houma and more.
The Scholarship First agenda prioritizes the areas of study and research in agriculture, biomedical, the coast, defense and energy.
In early 2023, Tate and the tour bus similarly traveled around the state to introduce and promote the ‘Scholarship First’ vision which emphasizes state and university research interests.
@morgank2304
EQUITY, INCLUSION
COURTESY OF CAMILLE CRONIN
LSU 2024 Homecoming Queen Camille Cronin.
COURTESY OF BRIAN GAGE
LSU 2024 Homecoming King Brian Gage.
COURTESY OF LSU
LSU 2024 Homecoming Queen Camille Cronin and Homecoming King Brian George on the field in Tiger Stadium, during halftime of the LSU vs Ole Miss game on October 12.
COURTESY OF EDDY PEREZ, LSU PHOTOGRAPHER
File photo of LSU President Tate’s 2023 bus tour.
Louisiana joins other states suing TikTok
BY JOHN BUZBEE @thebuzzbuz
A coalition of now over 20 U.S. state attorneys general are suing TikTok on grounds that the Chinese-based company is harmful to the health of U.S. children.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill joined them on Tuesday, her office announced in an official statement.
“TikTok is targeting youth with content that shocks the conscience – and it’s designed to target young people and addict them to an endless scroll of extreme content that generates massive profits,” Murrill said. “TikTok has knowingly been misleading the public about the content it’s serving up to kids. Parents deserve to know the truth and Louisiana law, at the very least, requires TikTok to stop lying. I intend to hold TikTok accountable and protect kids.”
Murrill alleges TikTok violates laws related to Louisiana’s consumer protection statuses.
“TikTok … is rife with profanity, sexual content, violence, mature themes, and drug and alcohol content. TikTok presents virtually endless amounts of extreme and mature videos presented to children as young as thirteen,” a Louisiana petition reads.
The suit seeks fines and penalties for TikTok’s alleged miscon-
duct.
TikTok has over 1.5 billion monthly users, data from Statista shows; most live in the U.S. Over 44% of those users belong to Generation Z, those aged 12-27, data from Emarketer shows.
Around two years ago, there were pushes in the Louisiana Legislature to ban TikTok on LSU’s campus.
This development from the states’ chief legal officers comes after months of pressure from bipartisan, national-level lawmakers. Broadly, they’re threatening to ban TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, is sold to a non-Chinese owner.
Multiple media outlets report that lawmakers fear ByteDance could hand over the data of U.S. users.
President Joe Biden signed a bill in April that gave the company a timeline to sell or it’d be banned.
Former President Donald Trump also made efforts to get the app banned in his term.
“This unconstitutional law is a TikTok ban, and we will challenge it in court. We believe the facts and the law are clearly on our side, and we will ultimately prevail,” an April statement from TikTok reads.
TikTok said the ban would suppress the freedom of speech and falter the business endeavors of millions of Americans.
CANDIDATES FACE OFF MAYOR-PRESIDENT
BY GRACELYNN FARRAR @gracelynnfarrar
The East Baton Rouge mayorpresident candidates faced off one final time at a forum Thursday before meeting at the ballot box for the Nov. 5 primary.
The four top-polling candidates attended the forum: current Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, former State Rep. Edward “Ted” James, Istrouma High School’s Dean of Students and head football coach Sid Edwards and attorney Steve Myers. The forum, hosted by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and WBRZ at Baton Rouge Magnet High School, covered topics like keeping young people in the city, managing multiple cities in the parish, crime and budget cuts.
Crime
Broome, the Democrat incumbent who has held the position for the last eight years, argued that she’s actively been addressing all of the issues presented at the forum. She combated questions about crime by saying a rise in crime in Baton Rouge isn’t an anomaly – it’s happening all over the country.
“We can’t police our way out of crime,” Broome said.
Opponents James and Edwards seem to disagree, both mentioning their administrations would invest in law enforcement. In addition, Democrat candidate James promised his administration would invest in K-12 education with the goal of preventing crime later down the road.
5 Cities, 1 Mayor-President Candidates were asked how they would act as a leader for not just the city of Baton Rouge, but
the other four cities in the parish: Baker, Zachary, Central City and recent addition St. George.
“The war with St. George has to stop,” said Republican candidate Myers. Fellow Republican Edwards echoed a similar sentiment, saying he will seek a fair and equal administration for all cities by working collaboratively with the other mayors.
James said he hoped to work with the other mayors in addition to the Metropolitan Council to create a parish agenda.
Seeing the Future
When asked what his 20-year vision for Baton Rouge was, Edwards said he saw a “city on a hill,” but that his administration would have to address the problems he sees in the city first before it becomes that “mecca.” He compared 20 years to four quarters of football, saying the parish will have to start with the first one.
Broome said her vision consisted of a capital city that embraces its uniqueness with transformative projects, like her riverfront development project, a development stretching from Southern University through downtown and nearly to LSU. In addition, she intends to transform the Raising Cane’s River Center into a hotel and conference center, which she said will help with talent retention.
Money Talks
Myers believes that the city should stop worrying about sales tax and instead hike up the business tax as a way to inflate the budget for downtown investments.
James said he intends to streamline the budget by cutting contracts that are outdated and a waste of money for the city-
parish. He also promised to go to the State Legislature for money and federal grants like other communities he’s seen do in his time with the Small Business Administration.
Broome defended against allegations that her administration has been returning money to the State Legislature, saying her administration has only returned money from previous administrations and is maximizing funds in her mayorship.
Final Comments
Myers said he’s running in hopes of a “competent administration” that will remove difficulties and complications from the system. He wants to hold people accountable and rebuild the cityparish government to address crime and other issues.
Broome defended her prior terms, saying she has not “succumbed to special interests.”
Drawing on his experience as a football coach, Edwards said he will “show Baton Rouge what it’s like to win again.”
In his final comments, James stressed his experience working toward bipartisan solutions and that he has support from both the Baton Rouge Democratic Party and Republicans in the community.
“Although we have been separated, we are not divided,” James said.
Election Information
The last day to register electronically is Oct. 15. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 1. Early voting begins Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 28. The primary election is Tuesday, Nov. 5, and the general election is Saturday, Dec. 7.
Interfraternity Council at LSU partners with Brian Harris Auto Group to support victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton
BY ALAYNA FORD
Brian Harris Auto Group has partnered with the Interfraternity Council at LSU to collect supplies for victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The IFC is collecting various items that can be donated to Brian Harris BMW, Porsche and Audi of Baton Rouge, accepting donations at any IFC house.
This isn’t the first time the auto group has partnered with the IFC, working together as far back as 2019 to collect supplies for those affected by Tropical Storm Imelda.
The results of that drive motivated the two groups to do more to help communities in need.
“We felt like it was teaming up with a big group that could result in a lot of people being helped,” said operations manager of Brian Harris Auto Group Brennan Miller.
The idea for the drive came directly from Brian Harris Auto Group to LSU student body president and philanthropy chair of Kappa Sigma fraternity Joseph Liberto. It’s since turned into a friendly competition between the fraternities to see who can give or receive the most amount of donations.
“This is a really cool experience for students to back other students,” Liberto said. “For example, backing students from the University of South Carolina and all the other places where people were affected.”
LSU students are highly encouraged to participate by helping these communities in need. For now students can drop off their donations in front of any IFC house, but Liberto is currently working on also placing a donation box in front of the Student Government office.
The work behind the project has produced almost $13,000
raised by Brian Harris Auto Group alone. The group’s BMW plant in Greensboro, North Carolina is being mailed all the donations and is actively distributing them to the victims.
The drive will not be ending anytime soon according to owner of Brian Harris Auto Group Millie Harris, so students still have time to make a difference to those in need.
“We’ve been here before we had Katrina, we had Ida and other hurricanes that have really impacted our community,” Liberto said. “We see and we know how big of a deal a little helping hand is.”
The following items are being accepted for donation:
• Water
• Flashlights
• Tarps
• Trash bags
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Baby formula
• Non-perishable food items
• Manual can opener
• Cleaning supplies
• Work gloves
• Any toiletries
• Pet supplies
@alayna_ford
WEATHER
COURTESY OF DAN KITWOOD / GETTY IMAGES
WEATHER
Resilience to recovery: La. communities unite after hurricanes
BY GRACELYNN FARRAR @gracelynnfarrar
Friday marks the one-month anniversary of Hurricane Francine making landfall, which left hundreds of thousands of Louisianians without power as the storm pushed through eastern Louisiana with 100- mile-per-hour winds, heavy rain and flash flooding.
Francine struck hard on Sept. 11, impacting New Orleans and Terrebonne, LaFourche and Jefferson parishes, but Baton Rouge seemed to escape the bulk of the storm. However, the city prepared for the worst in hopes for the best in recovery.
Anissa Hyde was displaced from her home of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She and her family didn’t return to the city until five years later. Now an LSU graduate with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in environmental science, she’s back in her hometown working as a data analyst for a nonprofit.
Hyde noted the differences between New Orleans and Baton Rouge with disaster recovery, which are primarily due to geography. New Orleans has an average altitude of five feet below sea level, while some 80 miles away Baton Rouge sits at a more com-
fortable average of about 56 feet above sea level. Because of this, Hyde pointed out natural disasters like hurricanes affect each place in vastly different ways.
Resistance is when you have the ability not to be impacted by something at all, she said, but resilience is your ability to recover. Communities play a big part in that resilience.
“You see so many grassroots projects in the city of New Orleans and Baton Rouge that are definitely trying to empower locals on how to improve their resilience,” she said, going on to mention an example of one of these projects –the LaHouse Research and Education Center, a research-based facility located on LSU’s campus that displays building techniques and solutions for homes in the gulf region.
“So we can empower locals and tell community members how to protect themselves by doing things like cleaning storm drains, recycling their water and using rain gardens,” Hyde said.
An example of this community was the response to animal displacement during Hurricane Francine. Companion Animal Alliance is an open-intake shelter in Baton Rouge and is considered part of the disaster response team
for the parish. CAA decided to foster out its animals in an effort to clear up some space in the shelter if new animals needed somewhere to land after the hurricane. CAA’s Communications and Events Senior Manager Heidi Wetherbee was floored by the response from the Baton Rouge community leading up to Hurricane Francine.
“In about three days, we ended up moving close to 260 animals into short-term foster care,” said Wetherbee.
“Our lobby was packed full of people, and it looked like absolute chaos,” she said, “but it’s one of the things I love the most about Louisiana – when people need help, they show up.”
During the historic flooding in South Louisiana in August 2016, Chris King was doing boat rescues and decided he wanted to do more to help. He formed a Facebook group called the “Cajun Army,” which he led in relief efforts that year.
“Our goal was to bring them [victims] hope, and just to love on people through the simplest act of helping them,” King said.
Since then, the Cajun Army has grown to just under 20,000 volunteers who do anything that’s needed – from gutting houses to feeding victims and offering sup -
plies. The Cajun Army is entirely volunteer-based, with no monetary gain for anyone involved. King says the Cajun Army’s services change depending on the needs of the people and what volunteers are able to offer.
King recounted a memory helping an older man who lived in French Settlement whose trailer home was completely ruined. This man had no family, and the Cajun Army “just adopted him.” They rebuilt his home, fit with new furniture, appliances and cabinets. As he spoke, King’s gaze drifted off to a bird feeder built by the man, who the Cajun Army called “Papaw.”
King is the CEO of Next Level Solutions, a Baton Rouge-based company that supports small businesses. He is a worship leader and is actively involved in prison ministry at Louisiana State Penitentiary, specifically with prisoners on death row. He is a musician and the father of two daughters.
“I mean, I’ve got plenty of stuff to do,” King said with a laugh. “I just do this in my free time.”
Hyde encourages people to look up how their local communities are building resilience, including through education seminars, workshops and volunteer events. She says these can provide a more
“There’s community level planning for climate resilience, there’s city-wide planning for climate resilience, there’s parish-wide, there’s state-wide and there’s federal-wide,” Hyde said. “And so actually, every level right now, as we speak, are thinking about resilience, and it’s a really cool thing to see.”
A fallen tree branch lay on the sidewalk Sept. 12 near East Campus Apartments along South Campus Dr. on LSU’s campus. hopeful tone around a serious topic.
GABRIELLA GUILLORY / The Reveille
LSU celebrates a homecoming parade on oct. 11 surroundng a crazy, Fun, Field-storming weekend.
Miss LSU 2024, Nikhia Sims, passes out beads during the LSU Homecoming Parade on West Lakeshore Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
A lawn sign sits in front of Kappa Alpha Theta during the LSU Homecoming Parade on West Lakeshore Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU Cheerleaders smile for the camera atop their float during the LSU Homecoming Parade on West Lakeshore Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU’s 2024 Homecoming Queen Camille Cronin is in shock of her new title as Queen in Tiger Stadium on Oct. 12 in Baton Rouge, La.
LSU’s 2024 Homecoming King Brian Gage celebrates his new title.
2023 Homecoming Queen Juliette LeRay smiles at the crowd.
Photos by Gabriella Guillory , maleah bourgeois and Payton Prichard.
Page designed by Jayden Slaughter.
SPORTS
Former football player sues LSU, alleging medical negligence that left him disabled
BY JASON WILLIS @JasonWillis4
Former LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr. filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake, a local medical center that LSU Athletics relies on in a sports medicine partnership, in August of this year.
The lawsuit, obtained by the Reveille, was filed in East Baton Rouge Parish and was first reported by Yahoo Sports.
Brooks was diagnosed with a brain tumor in September of 2023 by Our Lady of the Lake doctors and had emergency surgery that has left him disabled and unable to walk.
The lawsuit alleges that there was medical negligence involved in the circumstances leading up to Brooks’ brain surgery.
“While LSU cannot comment on ongoing litigation,
Greg Brooks remains in our thoughts and prayers as he continues to work through the rehabilitation process. Since the beginning of our agreement with our Championship Health Partner, Our Lady of the Lake, they have provided exceptional medical care for our studentathletes in all of our sports,” LSU said in a statement to Yahoo Sports.
Brooks alleges that LSU’s athletic training staff failed to properly treat him in the weeks before the operation, as he was consistently suffering from clear neurological symptoms like dizziness, headache and nausea. Instead, the training staff made diagnoses of vertigo or administered Zofran without having Brooks see team doctors, according to Brooks. Furthermore, Brooks says that team coaches told him that if he missed time his starting
Thousands rush field after Homecoming victory
BY JOHN BUZBEE, COLIN FALCON,
CHLOE RICHMOND & ERIN BARKER
@thebuzzbuz @nestingnests
@chlorichmond & @erinbarker_
An eerie silence was broken when senior wide receiver Kyren
Lacy caught a deft pass from junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, seizing the tied game’s overtime.
The seats of Death Valley couldn’t contain the excitement of the over 100,000 fans who’d waited over four hours for this
moment.
They clamored from the bleachers to the field. Security was posted in force, but Tiger Stadium hemorrhaged fans at a rate that no force could contain.
Strangers embraced, taking each other’s photos. Some erupted in laughter and crying. Some stood still in awe.
Four Reveille staffers offer a first person perspective. This is
RUSH, page 10
position would be at risk.
When LSU arranged for Brooks to see a neurologist on Sept. 13, 2023, 39 days after initially experiencing symptoms, the doctors discovered he had a brain tumor.
According to Brooks, Our Lady of the Lake then arranged for a surgery the next day without informing him of other options, such as a surgery with experts at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
The surgeon Our Lady of the Lake and LSU selected, Dr. Brandon Gaynor, specializes in adult spinal surgery, and Brooks alleges that he should’ve been assigned a surgeon with a specialty in pediatric brain surgery.
Brooks says he suffered multiple seizures during the surgery, and the complications left him permanently disabled.
LSU has raised hundreds of
thousands of dollars for Brooks via the Greg Brooks Jr. Victory Fund and has put in place honorary field markings and helmet decals of his No. 3, the jersey number he wore.
However, the lawsuit alleges that these efforts were made in order to “appeal favorable in the public’s eye.” In addition, LSU has not transferred ownership of the Victory Fund to Brooks and his family, making it so that Brooks “cannot access the fund,” according to the suit.
The lawsuit also says that the public medical updates the team and head coach Brian Kelly have given on Brooks since his procedure were violations of his privacy and were “false and misleading.”
An exception hearing is scheduled for Feb. 10, 2025.
Brooks is represented by attorney Kara Samuels of Kara Samuels & Associates.
Defense powers Tigers to win versus favored-to-win Rebels
BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti
As LSU entered Death Valley, ready to face Ole Miss in front of 100,000 screaming fans, a question stirred for the Tigers.
Would Rebel quarterback Jaxson Dart and his offense pound through the Tiger defense?
It happened last season when LSU fell to this offensive powerhouse in Oxford, and the
Tigers couldn’t make the same mistakes against a quarterback who now leads the SEC in passing yards.
LSU knew the one problem area it would have to contain.
In the thrilling 29-26 overtime win against Ole Miss, the LSU defense took care of business throughout the game. The pass rush, on a consistent rise since the beginning of the season, was all over Dart.
“Can’t say enough about the
defensive effort tonight,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “Sacks, harassing the quarterback, making the big plays when they needed to, and that’s what we’ve been talking about in terms of getting better each and every week on both sides of the ball.” In overtime, the defense held the Rebels to a field goal, which allowed the Tigers to take the lead for the first time on the
REAGAN COTTEN / The Reveille LSU football senior safety Greg Brooks Jr. (3) looks out into the crowd on Nov. 5, 2022, during LSU’s 32-31 victory over Alabama in Tiger Stadium.
CATE EMMA WARREN / The Reveille
LSU football senior safety Major Burns (8), junior safety Jardin Gilbert (2) and senior linebacker Greg Penn III (18) tackle Ole Miss player on Oct. 12 during LSU’s 29-26 overtime win against Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium. see DEFENSE, page 10
JOHN BUZBEE / The Reveille Fireworks go off above Tiger Stadium on Oct. 13 as fans clamber onto the field, in a rush. This was moments after LSU football defeated Ole Miss at homecoming.
DEFENSE, from page 9 night after quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s game-winning 25-yard pass to wide receiver Kyren Lacy.
“I’m just so proud of the way that we stuck together and fought through adversity … We knew we had to keep fighting,” linebacker Whit Weeks said.
Defensive end Bradyn Swinson shined against Ole Miss with two sacks, 2.5 tackles for losses and two pass breakups.
“He’s playing at a high level,” Kelly said about Swinson. “He’s pressuring the quarterback, he’s coming up with big plays.”
An area where LSU has been “deficient” so far this season is its secondary personnel. In this game, cornerback Zy Alexander helped change the narrative.
When LSU was down 20-16 in the fourth quarter, the Rebels were powering down the field, aiming to increase the lead.
Dart threw a pass into the end zone which was intended for wide receiver Cayden Lee, and Alexander wasn’t going to allow a touchdown.
He caught the pass for an interception, taking away the scoring opportunity from the Rebels.
“I feel like the defense played great tonight,” Alexander said. “Each and every game we continue to improve and show we’re one of the best defenses in college football.”
Weeks had a career high of 18 tackles and two tackles for losses. He was key in dismantling the Ole Miss offense.
“Eighteen tackles is virtually impossible in this game today, and he was all over the field,” Kelly said. “He plays with great energy and a great fire. He runs so well that he can cover down the field.”
With five minutes to go in the third quarter, Ole Miss drove its way into the red zone. The Rebels needed a touchdown to make it a two-possession game.
However, the Tigers created three consecutive quarterback hurries, breaking through the offensive line with ease each play. The Rebels had to settle for a field goal, and this LSU defense looked more consistent
than ever.
“Guys are gaining confidence as we go through the season defensively,” Kelly said. “Playing with a lot more confidence, you’re going to see the results.”
Because LSU held the Rebels to a field goal, it was only a seven-point game with three minutes and fourteen seconds left. The Tigers then had enough time to score, tying the game at 23 and sending it into overtime.
“I’m still at a loss for words because of how exciting that was with the field rush and everything,” Weeks said.
For the third season in a row, the Magnolia Bowl ended in a field storm. It was truly the perfect ending to a night of celebration for the 100-year anniversary of Tiger Stadium and Homecoming.
As LSU enters the heart of its SEC schedule, this victory was critical in setting the tone for the next few weeks.
While Ole Miss came into Death Valley with high hopes and aggression, LSU proved once again it’s not over until it’s over in the SEC.
BY LIZZIE FALCETTI @lizziefalcetti
Athlete of the Week is an ongoing weekly series.
how it looked from the ground.
Colin Falcon
Even in the throes of pandemonium, chivalry still exists among Tiger fans. Storming the field is a multi-step process that involves hopping over a couple layers of barricade, and despite the rush to get out there as soon as possible, many fans could be seen stopping to assist friends and strangers in the process.
Once out there, the only real goal is to yell as loud as possible and rack up as many high fives as your wrist allows. There’s no such thing as a stranger when you’re on the field, so being loud and proud is of course a communal undertaking.
Getting off the field was a process in its own right, as the only way off is back the way you came. The same helping hands could be seen assisting people back over the barrier, with a little less of that electric energy that only a fresh win can provide.
John Buzbee
Chaos, but the good kind. The kind this class of students will reminisce on, a defining feature of their collegiate experience.
Bright lights shined on fans
rushing to pat the shoulder pads of players exiting the arena. Others collected samples of grass.
Some spread out hugging the ground. Friends climbed on each other’s shoulders, as well as into each other’s arms. They were surrounded by family most had never before met.
No coherent string of words could overpower the might of “L-S-U” ringing across the field. Whether or not the ringing actually fell silent, I recall the event in silence, as I attempted to process the magnitude, the excitement, the rush of blood.
Chloe Richmond
Once the crowd took a second to erupt after Lacy’s catch, the impulsive thoughts took over and fans headed straight for the barricade. I watched as the fog layered over the thousands of people cheering on LSU’s success.
My attention shifted from capturing the overtime win to making my way off the turf, all while trying to document LSU’s fifth time rushing the field in the last decade. For my first game on the sidelines with the Reveille, I’d say this is a memory that can’t be beat.
To the security officer who pushed a man back behind the northeast field gate with all his
force and then greeted me with a full-faced smile as I too tried to exit, thank you for the hospitality. To the woman who ran up behind me and screamed in celebration as I filmed a Snapchat video, I hope you enjoyed the rest of your night.
The win over Ole Miss was the cherry on top for Tiger Stadium’s centennial celebration. Tiger fans, don’t forget this feeling – 100 years of Death Valley only happens once.
Erin Barker
Waiting outside the student gate over an hour before it opened to secure seats at the front of the student section was so worth it to be some of the first people over the wall when Lacy caught that last touchdown pass.
Shoutout to the girls in front of us who were lending a helping hand as everyone jumped over.
Once you make it on the field, everyone is just happy to be there with people holding hands and skipping with friends, lying on the grass, and just enjoying the moment surrounded by thousands and thousands of other LSU fans all experiencing the same rush of adrenaline.
Since being a student here at LSU, I have stormed the field three times, and it truly never gets old.
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 football’s Zy Alexander.
When Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart launched a 35-yard pass into the end zone, LSU fans feared the Rebels were about to extend their lead. The clock was narrowing in the fourth quarter, and the Tigers chance to come back was closing in.
LSU would be down by 11, making it a two-possession game. But senior cornerback Alexander wasn’t going to let that happen.
He snagged the pass intended for wide receiver Cayden Lee to end Ole Miss’ chance to score.
“Zy Alexander was outstanding tonight,” head coach Brian Kelly said after the game. “He won the matchups. He tackled in space.”
In addition to the interception, Alexander had five tackles and a pass breakup against the Rebels. For his exceptional performance on Saturday night, Alexander also received the game ball.
Alexander has been out since Week 4 with a concussion, and his first game back couldn’t have gone better. He only allowed 27 passing yards when targeted 10 times, which isn’t an easy feat against a strong quarterback like Dart.
“I was just excited to be back out on the field,” Alexander said. “I’ve been missing a couple of games in and out, but I’ve been rehabbing. I’ve been getting treatments, so I’m feeling good now.”
Alexander is in his second season with LSU after transferring from Southeastern Louisiana. Last season, he made great strides for the Tiger defense at the cornerback position, but tore his ACL in Week 8 against Army.
While his time was limited in 2023, Alexander still had 44 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions. Alexander is from Loreaville, Louisiana, a small town in Iberia Parish. He went from a town of 650 people, to an FCS school to now one of the biggest stages in college football.
“Nobody really knows what Loreaville is, so me putting Loreaville on the map, it just means a lot to me,” Alexander said.
Alexander’s skills continue to advance, making him one of the best corners in the SEC.
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
RUSH, from page 9
JOHN BUZBEE / The Reveille
Fans stand shoulder to shoulder on Tiger Stadium after rushing the field on Oct. 13.
ENTERTAINMENT
Hill Memorial celebrates Acadian culture
BY SARAH ROSE WALTON @sarahrosewalton
LSU’s Hill Memorial Library recently opened a new exhibit called “Woven Louisiana History: Acadian Textiles,” exploring and celebrating the craftsmanship of Louisiana Acadians.
Books older than the United States Congress, fabrics, clothing and blankets made decades ago and varying documentations of Louisiana history are displayed throughout the library.
The walls of the exhibit are lined with different quilts, handspun and woven blankets and artwork. On the left side, is a wood art piece created in the 1970s by Chestee Harrington called, “Madonna of the Mass,” depicting an Acadian mother holding her child. Additionally, there were books focused on the handmade production of clothing and blankets, a paper from 1788 documenting the sale of indigo and rice seeds and more, all focused on life and tradition in Louisiana.
Director and Curator for the LSU Textile & Costume Museum Michael E. Mamp spoke to the Reveille about the exhibit, sharing his personal favorite piece as an 80 inch by 60 inch indigo dyed patchwork quilt dating back to the early 20th century, something rare to come by nowadays.
According to Mamp, there are essentially no Acadian clothes of history leftover because they were hard workers and used their clothes to the fullest extent. The quilt was made of leftover scraps of clothes that Mamp said the museum was lucky to find.
Before working for LSU, one
of the things that enticed Mamp to Louisiana was the history of Acadian weaving.
“I knew that the Acadian Handicraft Project Archive existed here at the Memorial Hill Library,” Mamp said. “The Acadians, or what people may refer to today as Cajuns, had a rich weaving tradition that was protected and preserved by the Acadian Handicraft Project that was from the early 1940s to 1962, started by LSU graduate “Loulou,” Louise Olivier, and those records are held here, at the Hill.”
To make the exhibition happen, Mamp collaborated with Leah Jewett, the exhibitions manager for the LSU Libraries Special Collection. “I have all the textiles, you have all the records, wouldn’t that make a great exhibition,
and so, here we are,” Mamp said of the organizing process.
Jewett hoped that visitors to the exhibit would not only see the superb craftsmanship of the items on display, but come to understand the tradition, importance and preservation efforts behind each one. She is excited about teaching the stories behind the textiles on display, even having an oral history or photograph of some of the weavers themselves.
“This is an immigrant story, it’s a story of agricultural products, it’s a story of Louisiana history, it’s a story of French Acadiana and it’s a story of women makers for the most part,” Mamp said. “It’s a really unique opportunity to tell Louisiana’s history.”
It’s a history that for a long time, couldn’t be openly celebrated and
LSU’s first ever cannonball contest
BY CAM CHEHREH @camryncherries
The LSU Swimming and Diving team held its first ever cannonball competition Friday, Oct. 11 during the LSU vs. Texas swim meet.
After a great start to the meet, fans were excited to watch students compete for the title of “Best Cannonball”. Students had a chance last week to sign up for the competition and cannonball into the Natatorium diving well, with the prize being a team-issued Swimming and Diving backpack.
Judges announced before the meet that they were looking for the cannonball with the
EDITORIAL BOARD
Buzbee
biggest splash and attitude. Eight contestants took to the diving board to show off their skills, with the three highest scoring students moving on to the final round.
There was no shortage of laughter in the Natatorium during this event. One contestant wore a cowboy hat during their cannonball attempt, while another jumped in fully clothed.
Contestant John Trapp won the competition and proudly displayed his prize of an LSU Swimming and Diving backpack.
“I came in here knowing I would place in the top three,” Trapp confidently said after his win. “I’m just getting ready for
us to beat Ole Miss this weekend.
You didn’t have to be an LSU fan to enjoy this spectacle. Texas fans Cheryl and Tom Flowers said they enjoyed the competition and the warm welcome from Tiger fans. Another member of the crowd wished to be an LSU student so they were able to compete. Crowdgoers agreed that the cannonball competition was a good boost of morale before the big game day weekend.
“It was fun to watch as an alumna,” said Jayden Jannasch, after the competition. “It brought in a lot of people and they were all cheering them on.”
even faced threats of total erasure.
“Specifically as it related to French culture and history, there was an attempt to suppress speaking other languages than English. And so the Acadian Handicraft Project began in part, in 1942, as a way to help preserve French culture, language, music, and craft practices,” Mamp said.
But all that changed when Olivier, the project’s founder, died, leaving a gap in that history. “From 1962, until now, which is over 50 years, we have lost another generation of makers, and those traditions, for whatever reason, haven’t been passed down the same way they did in the past.”
The recent scarcity of Acadian textile traditions is why the exhibit goes to such lengths to celebrate the artists behind the works, including Jewett’s personal favorites Madame Dronet and Gladis Clark, whose artworks were received by two U.S. first ladies.
Madam Dronet’s work was given to Lou Henry Hoover, and Gladis Clark -gave her work to Hillary Clinton. When Clark was photographed with Clinton, she could be seen wearing a traditional Acadian costume, showcasing a culture to the nation.
“These blankets could not be rushed. You’re growing your own cotton, you’re pulling the seeds out … you can’t rush it,” Jewett said. “It’s practical, it’s beautiful. It is very grounding for me, and I’d like for people to come in, take a deep breath, and come to appreciate that it took time and has stood the test of time.”
The Hill Memorial Library is open every weekday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Acadian Textiles exhibit will be in the library until Dec. 13.
Editorial Policies and Procedures
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.
Olivia’s Order: Grits bowl
Olivia’s order is a new weekly food review by the Reveille
A flawless breakfast is less than two miles away from LSU’s campus. Magpie Cafe recently brought its grits bowl back, and rightly so.
The savory grits bowl starts with a base of the cafe’s signature cheesy boursin grits and is topped with an egg, crispy bacon and fresh green onions from the garden, located on the shop’s patio. Customers have the choice of adding a fried egg or scrambled on top. Choosing a fried egg allows the runny yolk to blend perfectly with the rich, well-seasoned grits.
Magpie’s grits bowl is a goto breakfast or brunch option, whether it’s on the weekend or in between classes. The dish is only served until 11 a.m., and is usually gone before then. Be sure to get there early to experience the creamy, southern grits bowl.
The entire bowl of grits leaves you with a feeling of satiety. The cafe also offers cheesy boursin grits as a side. The side of grits costs $3.99, while the grits bowl is $7.99.
“I’ve always seen myself as a grown-up. Since I was a little kid.”
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
LSU Acadian Textiles exhibition piece sits Oct. 2 in the LSU Hill Memorial Library in Baton Rouge, La.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGPIE CAFE Magpie Cafe grits bowl, topped with a fried egg via Magpie Cafe Instagram.
CAM CHEHREH / The Reveille
LSU Swimming and Diving cannonball contest winner, John Trap, holding competition prize.
OLIVIA TOMLINSON @oliviamersade
OPINION
This Halloween, situationships are scarier than any monster
GARRETT’S
@9are_bear
Everyone has heard of the monster lurking under beds covered in rose petals. Everyone has seen the swirling void consume your beloved friend. Everyone has seen the disfiguration and desolation of your sister-in-arms. All done by evil, the modern original sin… a situationship.
Grab your book of the damned and get to writing. I’m going to transcribe to thee lessons passed on by my coven (older friends, Twitter and personal experiences) on how to defend your fellow witches (average college students) from the coming darkness.
In this modern dating hellscape, situationships are becoming more common. To the blissfully unaware summer children among us, a situationship, according to my favorite mortal tome, is “A romantic or sexual relationship that is not considered to be formal or established.” This is, of course, a glamor for mortal eyes. In truth,
a situationship is a curse brought upon the world by a possessed individual. One being extorted by a spirit most foul and immature. Fear not. For we witches (average college students) can and will defend ourselves from the fiendish force sweeping young adult dating. Firstly, know how to spot a change in your coven members. Is your typical lovelorn talkative witch silenced by the devilish
hand of a situationship? Have they stopped speaking about how much they yearn for a human familiar? Alternatively, is your best-witch for life now suddenly complaining about being stuck in the shadow land with a mortal who keeps telling them how they only wish to speak to them, yet never make actions to go on a date nor romantic moonlight broom-ride? Other signs are witches hiding their crys-
tal balls (phones) when taking pictures on Snapchat. However, your coven-mate may be open about their situationship, one would think this openness would lend itself to absolution, a breaking of the thread betwixt the “lovers.” This is most often not the case. The openness typically comes with a comfortableness with the detestable situationship. This curse is hard to break.
The witch will latch onto the hope of something blissful and blesséd, blinded by the potential that is just an illusion. All situationships are baneful. Alas, not all is lost. Invoke a circle of witches to reach out intervention style to wake your dearest friend from this dreadnought relationship. With a combined might and care of your coven perhaps you can begin to wean your friend off the teat of toxicity.
Oftentimes invoking the powerful counter-curse commonly called “the ick” can cause great damage to the oozy situationship. Reminding the witch of her innate power and worth can also make the foundations shake, incantations consisting of, “You’re too good for this, too pretty, too smart.”
Alas, if the curse of a situationship is broken it’s time to enact revenge. Grab thy cauldron some rusted nails, eye of newt, the scream of a banshee and a half tablespoon of Tony’s seasoning, and get to cursing the hair off the culprit.
Garrett McEntee is a 19-year-old English freshman from Benton.
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT