The History of Louisiana State University Football
THE HISTORY OF LSU FOOTBALL
ABSTRACT
"It's Saturday Night in Death Valley and here come your Fighting Tigers of LSU."
Hearing those words from public address announcer Dan Borne' as the Tigers enter the stadium brings chills to even the casual LSU football fan. Seven nights a year Tiger Stadium becomes the sixth largest city in the state of Louisiana as over 91,000 fans pack the cathedral of college football to watch the Tigers play.
It was in 1893 that LSU first sponsored a football team. The Tigers were coached by university professor Dr Charles E. Coates against in-state school Tulane University of New Orleans. The game sparked a rivalry between the Tigers and the Green Wave that has lasted generations. Future Louisiana governor Ruffin G. Pleasant was the quarterback and captain of the LSU team. In the first game against Tulane, LSU football players wore purple and gold ribbons on their uniforms. According to legend, purple and gold were chosen because they were Mardi Gras colors, and the green of Mardi Gras was sold out.
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Table of CONTENTS Title page 1
I. ABSTRACT 2
II. BODY 3-4
III. CONCLUSION 5
IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY 6
BODY
According to Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., PhD. and the "Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865" (LSU Press, 1989), the name Louisiana Tigers evolved from a volunteer company nicknamed the Tiger Rifles, which was organized in New Orleans. This company became a part of a battalion commanded by Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat and was the only company of that battalion to wear the colorful Zouave uniform. In time, Wheat's entire battalion was called the Tigers. That nickname in time was applied to all of the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The tiger symbol came from the famous Washington Artillery of New Orleans. A militia unit that traces its history back to the 1830s, the Washington Artillery had a logo that featured a
ABSTRACT
"It's Saturday Night in Death Valley and here come your Fighting Tigers of LSU."
Hearing those words from public address announcer Dan Borne' as the Tigers enter the stadium brings chills to even the casual LSU football fan. Seven nights a year Tiger Stadium becomes the sixth largest city in the state of Louisiana as over 91,000 fans pack the cathedral of college football to watch the Tigers play.
It was in 1893 that LSU first sponsored a football team. The Tigers were coached by university professor Dr Charles E. Coates against in-state school Tulane University of New Orleans. The game sparked a rivalry between the Tigers and the Green Wave that has lasted generations. Future Louisiana governor Ruffin G. Pleasant was the quarterback and captain of the LSU team. In the first game against Tulane, LSU football players wore purple and gold ribbons on their uniforms. According to legend, purple and gold were chosen because they were Mardi Gras colors, and the green of Mardi Gras was sold out.
2
Table of CONTENTS Title page 1
I. ABSTRACT 2
II. BODY 3-4
III. CONCLUSION 5
IV. BIBLIOGRAPHY 6
BODY
According to Arthur W. Bergeron, Jr., PhD. and the "Guide to Louisiana Confederate Military Units, 1861-1865" (LSU Press, 1989), the name Louisiana Tigers evolved from a volunteer company nicknamed the Tiger Rifles, which was organized in New Orleans. This company became a part of a battalion commanded by Major Chatham Roberdeau Wheat and was the only company of that battalion to wear the colorful Zouave uniform. In time, Wheat's entire battalion was called the Tigers. That nickname in time was applied to all of the Louisiana troops of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The tiger symbol came from the famous Washington Artillery of New Orleans. A militia unit that traces its history back to the 1830s, the Washington Artillery had a logo that featured a