Gameday | LSU vs Auburn Recap | Emily Villere Dixon

LSU – Auburn, y’all. Each year this rivalry game produces a memorable finish and adds to the long chapter of history between these two teams. There was the “Earthquake Game” in 1988 and the “Night the Barn Burned” in 1996. In 2007, the year of LSU’s last National Championship, LSU was trailing 24-23 in the final seconds of the game when Matt Flynn found an open Demetrius Byrd for the game-winning touchdown. I will never forget being in the student section for that game as Byrd came down with the game-winner as one second remained on the clock.

And, of course, we can’t forget the last time LSU and Auburn met before last Saturday afternoon. In 2016, the LSU Tigers went into Jordan-Hare Stadium thinking we had won on a last second touchdown, only for it to be taken off the board and the head coach fired the next day.

Now, we have another one to add to the list.

The Comeback.

On Saturday, October 14th history was once again made in Tiger Stadium. Down 20-0 in the 2nd quarter, LSU came back to beat Auburn 27-23 making it the Tigers’ biggest SEC comeback in LSU history. It turned into one of those games that will forever be one of my favorite Tiger Stadium moments. The excitement from the players, staff, fans and media was electric.

This past week was one of the busiest I can remember in a while, and it was definitely the busiest week we have had so far this season. Not only did I have my regular schedule of interviews and game prep, but I had multiple features to shoot for LSU GameDay Live, it was the weekend of the 2007 National Championship reunion and my nephew, parents and brother were in town for the game. Needless to say, my week was packed and my schedule went a little like this.

LSU VS AUBURN WEEK

MONDAY: Coach O Press Conference

TUESDAY: ‘Inside the Huddle’ interview with WR Russell Gage (watch here)

WEDNESDAY: Coach O radio show | Coach O interview for CST

THURSDAY: Shoot CST feature on Mike the Tiger’s (the mascot) costume designer | Hung out with some therapy puppies at the LSU Library (SO needed and so much fun!) | ‘Last Word with Coach O’ interview for LSUSports.net (watch here)

FRIDAY: Staff meeting | Gameday football prep | Shoot CST feature with the Perry and Boswell families on organ donation (watch here) | 2007 National Championship Reunion – welcome party + interviews

SATURDAY: GAMEDAY!!
9:00 am : Welcome official visits
10:00 am : Tailgate for CST’s LSU GameDay Live
11:00 am : Back to recruiting visits
12:30 – 2:30 pm : Pre-game
2:30 – 6:oo pm : LSU vs Auburn
Halftime : 2007 National Championship team presentation with Les Miles
Post-Game : Coach O press conference | Coach O interview for LSUSports.net (watch here) | Recruiting dinner
10:00 pm : HOME!

SUNDAY: Recruiting all day

It was so fun to have my family in town for such a historical game. My parents come to most home games, but it was a special treat to have my nephew, William, here and introduce him to the players and Coach O. I miss out on a lot of family stuff because of work, so it is always enjoyable to be able to bring my family to work with me when I can.

One of the best parts of the week was sharing the story of the Perry and Boswell families. I was so excited to put this feature together but was also nervous because I wanted to make complete sure I did this very special story justice. The Perrys are huge LSU fans and the Boswells are die-hard Auburn fans, but they are brought together by organ donation. John Clarke Perry was six months old when he became and organ donor and Davis Boswell recieved his heart. Now, each year for the LSU vs Auburn game, the Perrys and Boswells try to get together to promote organ donation on each college campus. I so enjoyed meeting both families and helping bring awareness to this very important cause.

You can read more about their day at LSU here, become an organ donor at RegisterMe.org and learn about the John Clarke Perry Foundation here.

We also had the 2007 National Championship reunion. I was in school for LSU’s last championship and was also a student worker in the football office. I was able to travel with the team and stay in New Orleans for the week of the championship game. It was an unbelievable experience. I hadn’t seen a bunch of the guys since college and we all got together at the welcome party. It was so much fun to see everyone and do interviews with the permanent team captains – Matt Flynn, Craig Steltz, Glenn Dorsey and Jacob Hester – and Les Miles.

After a late night on Friday, Saturday was jam packed with no minute to spare. At halftime, the stadium recognized the 2007 National Championship team and we also got to go on the field with the team and Coach Miles and his family. I wore my championship pendant with pride! The welcome for Coach Miles was amazing and gave me chills to see everyone in the stadium cheering for him.

My nephew looked at me at the end of the game after meeting Coach O and said, “I wish I could do this every weekend.” I told him, “Well, I do!” It was one of those work weeks where at a couple of points I thought I was too run down and didn’t know how much more I could handle. Then, I realized that my ordinary work week with LSU Football is rather extraordinary, and I might be tired but I am going to enjoy it as long as they allow me.