Louisiana State University in Photographs (And a Note on Photo Essays)
Before my initial photo essay (Old Santa Barbara Mission in Photographs), I debated whether or not I should publish the post at all. I figured I’d be ‘phoning it in’ as a blogger, relying on pictures instead of words. I was worried that it wouldn’t be popular or go over well with readers.
Wow, was I ever wrong.
The post went on to be my most popular post ever, garnering more hits and comments than anything else I’ve ever posted. So first and foremost, thank you so much for visiting. It really does mean a lot to me. And second, thanks for commenting. I love interacting with readers and other travel bloggers; it just might be the best part of this ‘job’.
Since the first one went over so well, I have decided to make photo essays part of my regular rotation of articles here at Travel Rinse Repeat. I promise I’ll still be providing plenty of written content, but you’ll start to see a more photo-specific posts from time to time.
Okay, enough boring site news; onto the photo essay.
Before visiting Baton Rouge, I knew very little about the city aside from the fact that it was near New Orleans and was the home of Louisiana State University, one of the premier university athletic programs in the United States. While I’m sure LSU has its academic achievements, there is no denying that to many, they’re known for their athletic prowess.
I spent one morning wandering around campus before work and one evening attending an LSU basketball game with some coworkers when I captured the following photographs.
The Memorial Tower looms large over the LSU campus and is a great point of reference when exploring.
The LSU Tigers are one of the football powerhouses in the South Eastern Conference of college football, winning two national championships in the last ten years and playing (though ultimately losing) in the 2012 national championship game. They play their home games at Tiger Stadium which is also known as Death Valley.
LSU is famous for their live Bengal tiger mascot, Mike. He is kept on campus in a habitat between the stadium and the basketball arena referred to as Tiger Walk.
During my visit early in the morning, Mike was quite active walking all throughout his enclosure and checking me out, snorting whenever he passed me.
The Pete Maravich Center is where the LSU Tigers play their home basketball games. The building is named for Louisiana basketball legend ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich.
Inside, I found a rather intimate basketball venue. We were able to score free tickets outside the arena and were only a few rows behind the court in a mostly empty arena. Basketball does not enjoy the immense popularity that football does in Baton Rouge, especially when the team isn’t doing particularly well.
Tip ball to begin the game between the LSU Tigers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Tigers ended up pulling out a thrilling overtime victory against the visiting Bulldogs, who were ranked as one of the top 25 basketball teams in the country at the time.
LSU’s costumed mascot is also a tiger named Mike. Here, Mike takes in the action from one of the best seats in the house.
You know the drill now. What is your favorite image? Let me know in the comments.
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17 Responses to Louisiana State University in Photographs (And a Note on Photo Essays)
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They keep a LIVE TIGER as a mascot?!?! ha ha ha… this I did not know. Crazy.
Favourite shot is the bell tower!
Dana de Brito recently posted..Kijiji Time: Sell your sh*t!
Not only do they keep a live tiger, they bring him out on the field for football games! He’s in a little mobile cage, of course. But still, you have to figure that’s pretty intimidating to opposing players.
Before the game, they set Mike up in the cage next to the opposing players’ lockerroom so when they go in, they have to pass Mike (the real tiger) up every time.
That would be pretty intimidating! I think they should let him roam free on the opponents sidelines instead.
I really like the first picture of the Memorial Tower. I love the golden building and how solemn the whole thing looks. And then I’m reminded of scaling similar towers in Assassin’s Creed haha anyway very cool!
Jared Loftus recently posted..What Do You Love?
Thanks Jared! Now that you mention it, that tower does look oddly appealing to scale…
I love your photo of the Memorial Tower. Also, I had no idea that tigers snorted! How cute… in a ‘they could eat me kinda way!’
Thanks Juliet! I’m not sure what the snorting signified…maybe he was just trying to get a whiff of me, or maybe he was telling me ‘back away’…
All I have to say is Geaux Tigers!! and… I want to be reincarnated as Mike. He is treated like a KING!!
Mike is treated pretty well…his habitat is huge!
Great action shots. I think photo essays actually take me longer because the editing, selection, and uploading process take more time. I am also much more particular about the quality of the photos.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Best Wine Tour in Chile: Matetic in Casablanca Valley
Thanks Stephanie. I agree, it can take quite awhile to put these shots together.
I love the fact that Mike has this huge natural and rugged looking compound…
And a little pink ball on a string…
He’s a tough tiger….
Sweet pics of my old campus, bro.
thanks bro.
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