Josh Dworaczyk had a problem.
Getting his first action of the game during a goal-line formation against Auburn in 2008, the New Iberia native was in trouble before he even got down in his stance.
“I look around, and I look next to me, and I can’t hear the guy next to me,” Dworaczyk said.
Now a sixth-year senior on the offensive line, Dworaczyk said he’s warned the younger Tigers of the tension they’ll face in Jordan-Hare Stadium as LSU opens Southeastern Conference play Saturday against Auburn.
“Some of the guys were asking me, ‘Is it loud?’” Dworaczyk said. “Yeah guys, it’s loud.”
Traditionally a thorn in LSU’s side, Jordan-Hare Stadium has been more than unkind to the visiting Tigers since 2002, with LSU escaping for one victory in five attempts.
LSU’s most recent visit went according to that script, with eventual Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton shredding the Tiger defense for 217 yards on the ground in a 24-17 victory for the eventual 2010 national champions.
Coupled with a controversial “no-call” during a late game loss in the 2006 contest, LSU coach Les Miles has tallied only one win at Jordan-Hare in his seven-year tenure at LSU.
Miles called the stadium a “wonderful place to play” but acknowledged his team’s longstanding struggles there.
“I’ve taken some really quality teams there and not done as well as we’ve liked,” Miles said. “It’s a really live venue.”
Playing in the 2010 contest, senior defensive lineman Bennie Logan noticed Auburn assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor helping to “rile up” the crowd.
Famous for his over-the-top antics and backwards hat on the sideline, Taylor left an impact on Logan, who said once the crowd is ornery, it’s tough to quiet them.
“Once they get riled up it’s kind of hard to calm them down,” Logan said. “We can’t buy into what the crowd says.”
Junior running back Spencer Ware, whose fourth quarter halfback pass to Reuben Randle tied up the 2010 contest, remembered the Auburn home crowd for getting up close and personal with its visitors.
“It’s a pretty tough environment,” Ware said. “They’re real close to the field.”
Senior wide receiver Russell Shepard agreed with Ware in saying the crowd is much closer to the action than in other SEC stadiums, causing Shepard to feel some less-than-friendly liquids hit him on the field.
“A lot of spit, maybe some soda,” Shepard said. “You can definitely feel some stuff.”
Regardless of the atmosphere, Ware said LSU is aware its road and conference opener will be “intense” and will warrant Auburn’s best game.
As for the advice he gave to the underclassmen, Ware kept it simple.
“They goin’ hate us when we walk in, they goin’ hate us when we leave,” Ware said.
