Before Thursday, the last time LSU students saw their beloved football team, during the national championship loss to Alabama, it was not a memory to cherish.
Their newest experience with the Tigers, however, was one to behold.
LSU coach Les Miles opened the doors of the typically airtight Charles McClendon Practice Facility on Thursday for Student Appreciation Day. Students got the chance to watch a full two-hour practice, collect autographs from their favorite players and show off some skills of their own.
Petroleum engineering junior Michael Spiers got to talk to Miles before practice started. Spiers said Miles told him how great it was for students to attend practice and that he hoped everything went well so they could do it again.
“I’m really glad they [opened practice],” Spiers said. “This is a great opportunity for students to come out and see everything the football program is working with.”
The team was not in pads for the final, lighter practice leading up to Saturday’s spring game. Players started in individual drills before moving to full offensive and defensive run-throughs.
Finally, the entire team convened to run plays, with the crowd getting into it during the pass skeleton drill. Junior cornerback Tharold Simon got the biggest reaction when he picked off junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger in the flat for what would have been a touchdown.
Aside from that gaffe, Spiers liked what he saw from the new starting signal-caller.
“I’ve heard nothing but good news about him in the past, and just coming out here to see it myself has just confirmed that,” Spiers said.
The real entertainment came after practice, when 20 students were invited onto the field to catch punts, throw passes and run through an obstacle course. Coaching tips from Mettenberger and junior cornerback Tyrann Mathieu couldn’t save them from the riotous laughter of both the players and their peers, as agricultural business student Amy Newberry found out.
“I’m not one to get embarrassed too easily. I just laugh it off, so it was perfect when I totally busted my butt,” said Newberry, who fell during the obstacle course. “I really like how they’re involving us.”
While Miles did poke fun at the non-athletes throughout the trials, the true spirit of the event was tangible when he pulled his guests together in a huddle on one knee, much like he would with his athletes.
“The first thing I do when I run out of that tunnel is look over my right shoulder at you guys in the stands,” Miles said. “We play for you, whether you know it or not.”
 
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Contact Alex Cassara at [email protected]