Tag: Tiger Stadium

LSU’s Death Valley still SEC’s best stadium after expansion, per CBS Sports

Tiger Stadium remains the class of the SEC even with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma.

When it comes to college football venues, there are few that carry such a reputation as LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

With a capacity of over 100,000, it’s considered one of the toughest places to play in the entire sport, especially at night. But the SEC is set to add two more elite environments as both Texas and Oklahoma join the conference in 2024.

Death Valley was widely seen as the toughest SEC environment pre-expansion, and that hasn’t changed, according to CBS Sports’ David Cobb. He ranked every league stadium after its expansion to 16 teams, and Tiger Stadium still reigns supreme in the No. 1 spot.

LSU is 11-0 in home night games through two seasons under coach Brian Kelly. Its only home loss of the Kelly era came in an 11 a.m. local time start against Tennessee in 2022, lending credence to the belief there is just something different about Tiger Stadium at night. The venue is appropriately nicknamed Death Valley as it’s a place where dreams go to die, especially when the lights are on and the fans have spent all day fueling up.

Perhaps EA Sports should take some notes, as Tiger Stadium is ranked as the third-toughest stadium in the nation in College Football 25 but is just No. 2 in the SEC behind Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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EA Sports recorded crowd audio from 2022 LSU-Alabama game for College Football 25

EA Sports was in the stands recording as LSU upset the Crimson Tide in overtime two years ago.

There are few (if any) environments in college football that can recreate a night game in Death Valley.

Tiger Stadium is universally considered among the toughest places to play in the country, and that’s reflected by EA Sports giving it the third-toughest stadium ranking in the upcoming College Football 25 video game.

EA took a deeper dive into the sights and sounds of the game on Wednesday, and it seems the tough place to play ranking isn’t the only way the Death Valley atmosphere will be shown in the game. According to the reveal, EA was in attendance for LSU’s 2022 upset win over Alabama and recorded crowd audio that will be used in the game.

College Football 25 is set to release on July 19, and fans are now less than a month away from getting their chance to return to a digital Tiger Stadium for the first time since 2014.

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Where LSU’s Tiger Stadium ranks among toughest places to play in EA Sports’ College Football 25

Tiger Stadium ranks as the No. 3 toughest place to play in College Football 25.

We are 24 days away from the official release of EA Sports College Football 25. I don’t know about you guys but I have been waiting on this game for a decade.

As we get closer to the release date, EA Sports will be releasing more info about the game. On Tuesday, they released the top 25 toughest places to play in the game. Of course, LSU made the list.

Tiger Stadium ranks as the No. 3 toughest place to play in College Football 25. Texas A&M holds the No. 1 spot and Alabama sits at No. 2. As with most things, the SEC is well represented in the top 25 as 12 of the top 25 toughest places to play are SEC schools.

Ole Miss, Missouri, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are the only SEC teams that failed to make the top 25. I can’t wait to get in the game and see how loud it is during a Saturday night game in Baton Rouge.

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LSU’s home game vs. Auburn a Saturday night sellout in Death Valley

The Tigers’ home-field advantage should be on full display Saturday night.

LSU hosts Auburn in Baton Rouge on Saturday night in the continuation of a rivalry series that just always seems to get weird. However, LSU will have the benefit of what should be a very raucous home crowd at Tiger Stadium.

The school announced on Wednesday that Saturday’s Week 7 matchup against Auburn at Death Valley has already sold out, meaning the attendance should be at or at least near a full capacity of 102,321.

LSU has one of the best home-field advantages in college football, and that will be on display on Saturday night as the Tigers look to make its winning streak over Auburn two. It would also be LSU’s first home win over Auburn since its championship season in 2019.

LSU will take on Auburn on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT.

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Tiger Stadium tabbed for preservation by Congressional caucus

Tiger Stadium opened in 1924 and is one of the most iconic venues in college football.

Opened in 1924, Tiger Stadium has hosted LSU’s football program ever since and has become one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

It’s rare that professional sports stadiums, ballparks and arenas see a lifetime that long, but college stadiums tend to be refurbished rather than rebuilt. Now, it seems LSU’s hallowed grounds could be sticking around for the long haul.

Tiger Stadium was one of the venues selected for preservation by the Historic Stadium Caucus, a bipartisan Congressional caucus for preserving iconic sports venues, which was launched Friday.

“Historic stadiums, such as Tiger Stadium at LSU, play an important role in the environment that makes college athletics special. The game day traditions in iconic venues around the country are unique and are worthy of discussion,” LSU athletics director Scott Woodward said in a release. “I appreciate the Historic Stadium Caucus co-chairs, Garret Graves and Mark Pocan, for recognizing the need for healthy dialogue around the protection of historic stadiums.”

Graves is a Republican representing Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, which includes LSU’s campus.

“When Tiger fans walk into Death Valley on Saturday nights, they do more than watch a football game – they walk into a 99-year-old local icon that supports our regional economy. Every bowl of jambalaya scooped and Tiger Dog served injects jobs and resources into our community,” Graves said. “I am proud to join Rep. Pocan to preserve the legacies of some of our most historic landmarks and create new memories for future generations.”

The caucus’ purpose is described as follows:

The mission of the Historic Stadium Caucus is to assist representatives of historic stadiums – and those who are passionate about safeguarding iconic venues – in ensuring the stadiums can stay up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and security measures, as well as environmental practices, all while preserving their rich historical legacy.

Some of the key areas that the Historic Stadium Caucus will focus on are:

  • Security and Safety enhancements: With growing concerns about safety and security in public spaces, the caucus will focus on how the historic stadiums are able to implement cutting-edge security measures without compromising the historical character or footprint of the stadiums. This will enable these venues to continue to host events with an iconic energy, such as major college and professional sporting events, national and globally-significant competitions, and concerts by world-class musicians.
  • Technological Upgrades: Given the amount of fans each venue welcomes annually, the Historic Stadium Caucus will help focus attention on the fact that these stadiums – many of which are over or nearing 100 years old – are in need of technological upgrades in ensuring that these iconic venues can meet the modern-day patron standard as well as the expectations put forth to remain leaders in compliance related to local, state and federal safety standards.
  • Funding for Infrastructure Updates: As with many historic buildings, some stadiums could benefit from essential infrastructure upgrades. While these venues have stood the test of time, ensuring their continued functionality and longevity requires investments in their infrastructure not just for significant sports and entertainment events, but for the appropriate use by the communities that they serve in times of positive togetherness, but emergency needs, as well.

This seems to mean that the federal government will ensure that Tiger Stadium is not just maintained over time but enhanced as necessary to preserve its game day experience.

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Urban Meyer says Death Valley is a ‘tough ass place to play’

Urban Meyer is high on the Tigers entering the season, and home-field advantage is part of the reason for it.

Urban Meyer knows a thing or two about how difficult it is to win at Tiger Stadium.

The former national championship-winning coach at Florida and Ohio State made three trips to Death Valley while with the Gators, and during “Urban’s Take with Tim May,” Meyer offered a lot of praise for the environment.

He’s optimistic about the direction LSU is heading in under Brian Kelly. Between Kelly’s leadership and the home-field advantage of Tiger Stadium, Meyer sees the Tigers as a team that can compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

“I think LSU has a fine coach,” Meyer said, per On3. “I think he adapted much quicker than I thought. LSU is a tough ass place to play. He’s a good tough coach now. So I got Texas and LSU are two teams that I see them, if not in playoff, they’re gonna be right there.”

LSU will hope that Meyer, who won the CFP’s first championship following the 2014 season, is ultimately right about this team’s ceiling.

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Death Valley, where opponents’ dreams come to die

Tiger Stadium is truly one of the most feared venues in all of college football.

Tiger Stadium is one of the most intimidating venues in college football. As former coach Ed Orgeron stated, “Death Valley is where opponents’ dreams come to die.” What is it about Saturday nights in Death Valley that strikes fear into the heart of opponents?

Doug Benc/Getty Images

It’s the History

Since LSU started playing in Tiger Stadium in 1924, the Tigers have an overall record of 433-153-18. Since 2003, LSU is 117-20 when they play at home. (including perfect home records in ’04, ’06, ’10, ’11, ’13, and ’19). Think of the great names that have come through the program over the years, [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag], [autotag]Patrick Peterson[/autotag], [autotag]Tyrann Mathieu[/autotag], [autotag]Leonard Fournette[/autotag], [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag], [autotag]Ja’Marr Chase[/autotag] — the list goes on and on. When you step foot into Tiger Stadium, you know that you are stepping onto hallowed ground.

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

It’s the Fans and the Band

It’s the 102,000+ people that pack out the stands no matter if the game kicks off at 11 a.m. or 7 p.m. Tiger fans are the best fans in college football. They show up early and tailgate for hours. They stay until the clock hits triple zeros in the fourth quarter and long after the game is over. If your team has a tough night in Baton Rouge, The Golden Band from Tigerland will let you know about it. Let the band play “Neck” as your team walks off the field with their heads hung low.

Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT IN DEATH VALLEY!

It is a pantheon of concrete and steel. It is a city that rises defiantly in the delta alongside the father of waters. It is the humidity of Autumn evenings that drapes stately oaks and broad magnolias. It is haunted and it is loud. It is Halloween night and cannon blasts. It is a Louisiana gumbo of humanity that cheers its Tigers to victory and destroys the dreams of invading foes. The chance of rain is…never. It is the cathedral of college football and worship happens here. When the sun finds its home in the western sky, it is a field of glory, for sure. But much more than that, it is a sacred place. And it is Saturday Night in DEATH VALLEY. – Dan Borne

There is no better place to be in the world on a Saturday night in the fall. When the sun sets in the western sky and the lights shine the brightest, something magical happens. Is it cajun voodoo? Is it black magic? No, it’s LSU football, and it’s here to stay.

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LSU to host Sweet 16 sendoff for women’s basketball team at Tiger Stadium on Wednesday

The Tigers face Utah in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Greenville, South Carolina.

After winning its first two NCAA tournament games on its home floor in Baton Rouge against Hawaii and Michigan, the No. 3-seeded LSU women’s basketball team is hitting the road to face No. 2-seeded Utah at the Sweet 16 in Greenville, South Carolina.

LSU will host a sendoff for the team before it leaves for Greenville on Wednesday at noon CT in front of Tiger Stadium’s Gate 6 across from the athletic administration building, according to a release. Fans commuting off-campus are permitted to park in lot 404.

The Tigers sit at 30-2 on the season and won their first two games by scores of 23 and 24, respectively. The contest against the Utes on Friday will be their toughest of the tournament so far, however. That game tips at 4 p.m. in Bon Secours Wellness Arena and will be televised on ESPN.

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Two moments in LSU’s win over Alabama registered on a seismograph

Death Valley shook on Saturday night.

Death Valley is known as one of the loudest venues in all of college football. And at the end of Saturday night’s upset win over the Crimson Tide, the valley shook.

Two moments during the game registered a 133-decibel reading that was picked up by a nearby seismograph in LSU’s geology department: First, when Jayden Daniels scored a 25-yard rushing touchdown on the Tigers’ first offensive play in overtime, and again three minutes later when LSU successfully went for two and the win following that score.

It was a chaotic scene in Tiger Stadium as the packed house of fans stormed the field following the conversion.

The team operating the device was able to use video from the game to corroborate the exact moments for the surge. It’s the second time Tiger Stadium’s noise has been picked up by the LSU seismograph this year, with the first coming at the Garth Brooks concert during the song “Callin’ Baton Rouge.”

Death Valley is universally regarded as one of the toughest places to play in college football, and it certainly lived up to its reputation on Saturday night, providing a home-field advantage that guided LSU to one of its biggest wins in years.

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Death Valley: Where opponents’ dreams come to die

Death Valley lived up to its reputation as LSU suffocated Alabama’s CFP hopes.

“That was Death Valley. That was the place where opponents’ dreams come to die.”

[autotag]Les Miles[/autotag] said that after beating Ole Miss at home in 2014, but the statement still holds true in 2022. Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide came into Tiger Stadium with dreams of winning the SEC West once again and getting a rematch with Georgia in the title game as well as having dreams of going to the playoffs once again.

Those dreams died under the lights in Baton Rouge as [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] scored on a two-point conversion in overtime to win the biggest game of the year for LSU. Now the Tigers control their own destiny in the SEC. LSU could possibly clinch the SEC West next week with a win over Arkansas and an Alabama win over Ole Miss.

As our writer Will Rosenblatt wrote, the Tigers had everything to gain and nothing to lose on Saturday night. This is Brian Kelly’s first season at LSU, the Tigers were supposed to be rebuilding.

LSU was projected to be the seventh-best team in the SEC this year by Sports Illustrated, and it was projected to finish fifth in the SEC West in the preseason SEC media poll.

No one outside the LSU program believed this team would be as good as they are this year, but that doesn’t matter. When the Tigers leave their locker room and hit the WIN bar before heading out onto the field, all that matters is that they believe in themselves and their brothers that they go to war with.

Kelly knew these guys could win this game. There were 102,000 fans packed into Tiger Stadium last night and most of them were there because they believed LSU would win. Every time the Tigers play at home, the fans bring it. They come to the stadium early on gameday and stay even later after the game ends.

There isn’t an atmosphere in college football that can come close to Tiger Stadium on a Saturday Night. It is special. When Taylor stretched the ball over the goal line in overtime, the only people that were surprised it happened are people that haven’t been watching this team all season long.

These guys have worked hard to get better every week. [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] has become one of the best quarterbacks in the country. All of the transfers in the secondary are settling in on defense and playing great.

On Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, Alabama’s dreams died, but LSU’s dreams are just getting started.

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