Nobody tailgates like Baton Rouge. Not close. Show up to an LSU home game and you will be fed jambalaya, boudin, gumbo, and cracklins by strangers who will be offended if you decline. The rule of thumb: eat before noon, because after that the cooking is for the evening, and in Baton Rouge the evening is the whole point.
The Mascot
Mike the Tiger is an actual live tiger who lives in a 15,000-square-foot habitat on campus, between the stadium and the basketball arena. He is the only live tiger on a college campus in America, and generations of Mikes have held the job since 1936. The current Mike does not travel to games anymore — he supervises from home — but his habitat on game day draws a line like a theme park ride.
The Saturday
Tiger Stadium at night is the loudest place in the sport, and this is not really disputed. LSU plays its biggest games after dark because Death Valley after dark wins games by itself — in 1988 the crowd reaction to a touchdown against Auburn literally registered on the campus seismograph. The earthquake game. Purple and gold until you can't see straight, and 'Callin' Baton Rouge' at full volume between quarters.
What to Wear
Our vintage Baton Rouge line is built around a hand-drawn golden tiger — real gold, not orange, which anyone from Louisiana will tell you matters. Garment-dyed tees and embroidered rope caps in purple and gold, made for a twelve-hour tailgate that ends under the lights. Start with the Baton Rouge Quarterback Tee and all Baton Rouge gear.