LSU is taking several steps to make the South Carolina football team and its fans feel at home at Tiger Stadium on Saturday when the Gamecocks travel to Baton Rouge, La.
1. Transportation
LSU will provide the air transportation for the Gamecocks, Steve Spurrier said. “LSU actually rents with United Airlines. We go with Delta, but this week we’re using their charter flight with United. Their people are coming to get us and take us and bring us back and so forth.”
2. The band
USC’s pep band can’t travel to the game “due to time and travel challenges involved,” so the LSU Tigers Golden Band from Tigerland will fill in. LSU’s band will play USC’s alma mater, “We Hail Thee Carolina,” as well as the Gamecocks’ fight song before the game. (LSU won’t play the fight song after a USC score.)
3. ‘Sandstorm’
“Sandstorm” is the modern anthem of the Gamecocks, and LSU will play the sans vocal techno piece on its stadium sound system before the game.
4. Ticket money
All proceeds generated from ticket sales, minus the expenses that LSU incurs for hosting the game, will be given to the USC Athletics Department. USC had expected to make $3.8 million from the game, according to their 2015-16 athletics budget.
5. Fund-raising
The American Red Cross will be collecting monetary donations at the gates of Tiger Stadium on Saturday for the victims of the flooding in South Carolina. “I’m confident our compassionate LSU fans, who are very familiar with the damage a catastrophic weather event can bring, will respond in a big way to the presence of the Red Cross,” LSU Athletics Director Joe Alleva said.
6. Keys to the stadium
The LSU student government will present members of the USC student government with ceremonial keys to Tiger Stadium as part of the pregame festivities.
7. Tailgating
LSU will have a pregame tailgate for LSU and USC fans with free food and non-alcoholic beverages. This takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local time on the LSU Parade Ground.
8. Hype video
South Carolina will wear all white and take the field first as the home team. A Gamecocks intro video will be played on the stadium big screen.
9. Moment of silence
A moment of silence for South Carolina and the state’s flooding victims will be held with 2:22 to go before the game starts.
10. Billboards
Highway billboards with the words “Geaux Gamecocks: We stand STRONG with you!” and “Geaux Gamecocks: Make yourself at home!” have been spotted around Baton Rouge.
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