'Twas the night before the Sugar Bowl, when all through the dorm > >Nothing was stirring, not one snooze alarm. The helmets were hung in > >the lockers with care In hopes that ST. NICK would be up to the dare. > > > >The players were sprawled in their big comfy beds, > >While visions of game rings danced in their heads. > >And Emmert in his kerchief, and Skip in his cap > >Had just settled down for a much deserved nap. > > > >When out on the field there arose such a clatter > >They ran to the stadium to see what was the matter. > >Away to the team room they flew like a flash > >Tore through the players gate and up to the hash. > > > >The glow of the game lights on the freshly mowed field > >Gave them a feeling that this was surreal. > >When, what to their wondering eyes should they see > >But St. Nick, mid-field, on bended knee. > > > >With his head bowed, in prayer and in thought, > >St. Nick called upon the Tigers who had previously fought. More rapid > >than passes, those Tigers, they came. And Nick cried and shouted and > >called them by name. > > > >"Now Capone, now Rabb, now Davis and Hodson" > >"On Taylor, on Cassanova, on Kinchen and Cannon." > >Wearing white and gold, carrying game balls > >Came the all American players, trophies and all. > > > >Out of the mist that surrounded the night > >Came great Tiger icons of Spirit and might. > >Hundreds of players with strength and pride > >We watched as St. Nick stood there and cried. > > > >Then, with a mighty roar from the gate did burst > >The massive spirit of great Mike the First. > >And then came the coaches, as St. Nick turned around, > >Down through the players gate they came with a bound. > > > >There was McClendon and Arnsparger and Bernie Moore > >With Dietzel and Stovall to even the score. > >Larger than life their spirits did rise, > >And they showed St. Nick how to fight for the prize. > > > >Ever so slowly, way up in the stands, > >They started to see those great Golden Bands. > >With trumpets and tubas and great drums to roll, > >Their cadence and beat awakened the soul. > > > >They played Chinese Bandits and the Tiger Rag, > >And "Hey Fighting Tigers" waving LSU'S flag. > >Through the stands were fans from years past, > >Shouting and cheering, their numbers were vast. > > > >St. Nick turned around with conviction and pride, > >and ran across that great field lengthening his stride. > >As the mist gave way to the new morning light, > >St. Nick led his team in one hell of a fight. > > > >He beat Oklahoma, for he had no fear, > >Because his Tigers played with the spirit, > >Of so many years. > >
