On our way to see the Tigers play!

View from our seats.

A little blury and my head is cut off, but O looks like he's having fun...


After having LSU Football season tickets for the past two years, Vincent and I gave them up this year due to the new additions to our families (Ben in August and Little Melerine in December). We frequently spoke about how dumb it was to bring young kids (who we would later see sleeping) to the game knowing that they weren’t going to enjoy it nearly as much as they should. We also talked about how much fun it was going to be once they were old enough to enjoy it. Apparently that would come sooner rather than later for Owen…

On Saturday, Owen and I went to his very first LSU Football game. We got tickets from Aunt Karen and Uncle Tommy and all the stars aligned as were able to swing an early kickoff, a small crowd (because LSU was playing UL-Monroe), and perfect weather. We had 6 tickets so Rob and Mack and Dave and Daniel were able to come too. We parked and started to walk closer and closer to Tiger Stadium, Owen was just enamored with all the people, all the lights, and how big the stadium was. With the boys in tow, Rob and I made our way to the gate where we met up with Uncle Doose and Uncle Daniel before heading in to the game.

Jen and I kept telling him how loud it was going to be and how there were going to be a lot of people and he was going to stay up way past his bed time. He was super excited. I think the initial shock of loudness startled him, but he then got into it and was able to contribute his own high pitched yells. He even joined the crowd and put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. Dave and I tried to help Owen learn a few of the dances from the band, specifically the first and second down chants and the praise the defense bow. He also helped us do the wave, though I am not really sure that he understood what was going on, but he was all smiles.

Since we always read Owen's Born to be a Tiger book, he kind of knew what was going to happen at the game. We grabbed a Tiger Dog, just like the book, and Owen scarffed it down. He asked for another one before the 1st quarter was up and I thought he was just trying to be like the book, but after about 10 times and him whining “I’m hungry,” I realized that he actually was hungry…sorry about that buddy. After a second Tiger dog, Owen was good to go again. We sent a few pics to Jen and she was worried that Owen was getting tired, but his blank stare was more shock and amazement of the sights than anything else.

We cheered on the Tigers (and their terrible offense) until halftime where it was 23-0 in LSU’s favor. We walked back down the tunnels and paused to take some pictures closer to the field before leaving and heading back to the car. With O on my shoulders, he proceeded to use my head like a drum and beat it until we could no longer hear the music from the stadium…thanks big guy.

It was a definite “W” for Rob and me, and of course for LSU (final score of 51-0). Our offense was terrible, but that is another story…

Some of Owen’s quotables:
“I’m all done with Tiger Stadium.” (after the first quarter)
“I’m all done with the football game.”
“I want another Tiger Dog, please.”
“I love Tiger Stadium.”
“I love Tiger Dogs.”
“I want to go closer on the grass.” (yeah, me too buddy)
“Look at all those men on the grass.”
“It’s dark outside, but the lights are bright in here.”
“We are up WAY past our bed time.”
“It’s gonna get REAL LOUD!”
“GEAUX TIGERS!!”
“I see the cheerleaders; they spelled L-S-U.”
“We got to get that fumble!”

It was awesome to take Owen to his first LSU game, but I wish Jen would have been there with us. I can't wait to take the rest of the guys to their first Tiger games and to take them all as a family, but that is going to be a few years from now.  Regardless, I'm sure this whole family is going to bleed Purple and Gold (whether they like it or not!).

UPDATE:  Every couple of days since last Saturday...Owen has thanked me mulitple times for taking him to the Tiger game.  I just love that kid.