Really Dumb Move: Eye of the Tiger Stomped by AU--2001 Memory Lane

Hookfin was a disaster as a DB. My only solace is that he must've driven Saban absolutely crazy.

 

Our biggest rival is such a subjective debate but (for me) it was Auburn when the 2001 game was played. We usually played them early in the year (2001 game rescheduled due to 9/11) and it would set the tone for the rest of the season. I will always remember the following games:

Earthquake game: I was 11 at the time and have a few memories from the game. One of my best friends leff the game early when his dad wanted to beat the traffic.

Jamie Howard INT game: Watched at my HS girlfriend's house the day of our Sr. Year Homecoming dance. I got upset that she questioned why I would get so upset about a "game". We broke up a few weeks later.

Bring Back the Magic: Also could be called the Jamie Howard redemption game. My first home game as a student. Twillie with the pick at the buzzer. Worked a shift at Ruby Tuesday that day, had to walk/hitch a ride from Plantation Trace to campus since all of my friends had already left the apt.

The Barn Burner(?): Watched at a friend's apt in Tigerland and the keg was flowing. Big 19-15 (?) win on the road.

The Cecil the Diesel game: Taught me about karma with the way all of our fans (including me) belittled Dameyune Craig so viciously about his QB skills.

The year after Cecil: Big win on the road (my only trip to Jordan Hare) moved us up to #6 in the polls, which was the highest ranking I could ever remember. We lost by one pt at home to Quincy Carter/Champ Bailey the following weekend and it was all downhill from that point.

The Cigar Game: I do not like Tubby Tuberville. Smoking cigars in Tiger Stadium after you kick our butts results in the D. Craig X 1000 karma (see 2001).

2001: My wife started her first real job that year and the Christmas party was a mandatory event, scheduled for the exact time of the LSU-AU game. I was able to watch the first few minutes (including LSU's TD) since she always takes a little longer than anticipated to get ready. It gave me a great feeling for the rest of the night and then I watched the rest of the game after the party.

 

Looking at that list, it's amusing the crazy games that have transpired between LSU and AU. The Earthquake Game was clearly the football highlight of my four years at LSU--and it happened my freshman year. It was all downhill after that season. But that night in the student section was nothing short of magical.

The '94 game nearly made me physically ill. I was sitting and watching it in my ex in-law's family room in New Orleans. No one could move for about 30 minutes after that nonsense ended. The '95 game did, in fact, bring back the magic.

 

the 06 game should be on there for how crappy it was, 9-6 i think. i'll remember that one as much as the others.

 

The infamous "no-call" game. AU could interfere with the passes as much as they liked.

It could be argued that the '06 AU game cost us a shot at the NC.

 

We got jobbed pretty hard in '04, too. Miserable place, Auburn is.

'05 and '06 both could have been NC years. I contend that with Joseph Addai, we were the best team in the country in '05, and had we had him against UGA, we would have won the SECCG and possibly played in the BCSCG. I think we could have beaten Florida in the '06 SECCG, too, given the chance. Now THAT would have been a dynasty.

 

Auburn's antics. Remember Tub lighting the cigar?

 

These are great memories! I didn't go to LSU, so I have to live vicariously off of y'all. To think that I could have gone to LSU for undergrad--instead of the crappy, cold, uptight all male college in the NE--pisses me the fk off every time I think about it.

You peeps, however the team performed during your years here, are lucky to have been here, and I am envious.

My compensation, at least, is that I have been peeking in the back door (so to speak) due to my daughter being here these past five years (including this year)--some of the greatest LSU football years in history. Caught a few DV games--including Bama in DV 2 years ago. Lotsa tailgating with the great peeps of Baton Rouge. It's all good!

GEAUX TIGERS

 

For my first game as a student in '95 (Bring Back the Magic), the local news interviewed me waiting in line to pick up my student tickets. They said I was skipping class and my name was Trey Coon (not my name and I wasn't skipping class).

I worked a shift at Ruby Tuesday until 2pm on Saturday of the Auburn game and it took almost an hour to get to my apt at Plantation Trace. By then, all of my friends had left for campus. I took a 5 minute shower, filled up a flask, and made a drink for the walk down Highland. The cars were so backed up that I'd pass a car, then they'd pass me, etc. for about 10 minutes.

Finally, an older guy driving by himself shouted out his window "Hey, if you want to jump in, feel free. Might not go any faster but you can take a break from walking." He had driven in by himself from another state (Tenn?) and talked about how he'd been waiting years for a game with that type of atmosphere. He offered me a pull off his flask but told him I was alright with my drink and a full flask on deck.

I watched the first half of the game by myself in the student section, high fiving strangers that felt like family. At halftime, I spotted two of my buddies and got to watch the 2nd half with them. Twillie got that INT to end the game right in front of the student section and I somewhat got to know him a few months later. Obviously has nothing to do with the 2001 game but I like to re-live '95 whenever possible.

 

I was at every game from the earthquake game to the fire outside of Auburn Stadium. Jamie Horwards 3 int for TD's. My mom's side of the family went to Auburn, myself and my Dad's side went to LSU. I have hated those "named" games! It is so nice now that Auburn is not relevant. My Mom's side tells me all the time how great LSU is.

I will always remember my Uncle renting a Winnebago for the earthquake game, telling me over and over and over again how number 5 (???) Auburn was going to kick the living sh....t out of us that night. Only to have to eat his words to myself and my date that night.

Make no mistake about it, I was pulling for ULM the other night.