Death Valley is known for its rocking LSU football crowd, incredible student section, and the ability to strike fear into an opponent. In recent years, however, that luster has receded some.
Whether it be leaving early or selling tickets to opposing fanbases, there was just something missing in Tiger Stadium. The LSU football team had lost their edge, according to an often incorrect and clueless media member. Being lucky enough to be in attendance on Saturday, I can vouch for Death Valley being back.
Rocking from start to finish
The Death Valley crowd was incredible. While there were droves of Georgia fans arriving on buses to takeover the stadium, it did not make a difference.
On the large video boards, we were often shown how loud the crowd got. On multiple occasions before a Georgia snap, the decibel meter read well over 100.
Having to deal with a hostile environment like that is what gave the LSU football team an edge for years. While that advantage has waned a bit, other opponents will take notice of what happened on Saturday afternoon.
The student section got neck… sort of
The student section and Golden Band from Tigerland are known for their constant music filling the stadium along with chants that go along with that music. In previous years, the Golden Band would play a song called “Neck”, and the student section developed a not so clean chant to go with it. For that, the band was barred from playing it.
On Saturday afternoon, the band was not responsible for playing Neck. In fact, it came over the PA system. It took many by surprise, but before long, the LSU student section was in full force.
The student section has adapted
It’s incredible what these kids will do. As mentioned above, the band is barred from playing Neck at games. However, the doesn’t stop the student section from singing along to other songs.
On multiple occasions, the Golden Band would strike up a song, and the student section would sing out their chorus of obscenities.
Neck is an incredible song. The student section becomes engaged more than ever, and the players absolutely love it. It’s become the anthem of many years of LSU football teams. If the student section is just going to chant whatever they want anyway, just let the band play Neck.
But I thought LSU football did not play well in the afternoon?
Some around the country think that when LSU is not playing at night, results will be different. The atmosphere at night in Death Valley is something to behold, but that does not mean the football is flat in the afternoon.
#LSU game notes squashes the "Tigers play poorly in the day at Tiger Stadium" stance.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 14, 2018
They are 16-1 in their last 17 day games here. Nine of the victories were against top 25 teams.
(I believe the only loss is 2016 Florida)
Teams need to be wary of playing LSU in Tiger Stadium, and day games are no exception. This LSU football team comes to play no matter the circumstance, and they continued their home domination on Saturday.
In the Nick Saban and early Les Miles years, Death Valley was the place where dreams came to die. What was once thought of as the most menacing place to play in college football had lost its aura. Unfortunately for opposing teams, Death Valley is back.