LSU sports has many traditions — tailgating, the eye of the tiger, pregame and H-shaped field goals. But perhaps the program’s most up-and-coming tradition is the annual Bayou Bash.The biggest recruiting party in the country began when a group of die-hard Tiger fans gathered on a Thursday night at Chinese Inn on Airline Highway. In former LSU coach Gerry DiNardo’s first year at LSU, the coach asked Bill ‘Chico’ Moore to start the first football booster club. Chico gathered a group to meet at the Chinese Inn after an initial meeting at the Stadium Club in Tiger Stadium. Chico and the fans formed the LSU Coaches Gridiron Club. It later came to be known as the Tiger Gridiron Club and eventually became the first football booster club at LSU.”In three weeks, we raised $10,000,” said Chico, vice president of the Tiger Gridiron Club.The Tiger Gridiron Club wanted to make a gathering for Tiger fans to meet and celebrate the annual recruiting signing class. The NCAA didn’t allow recruiting parties in 1996, but after approaching the competition committee, the Tiger Gridiron Club received approval to hold the Bayou Bash.”We were the first school to do this,” said Ray Scimeca, former Tiger Gridiron Club board member. “Nobody thought about it because they thought it was illegal.”The day-long event has become nationally regarded as the biggest party on National Signing Day, said Vince DeSalvo, president of the Tiger Gridiron Club. The Bayou Bash began on LSU’s campus, but after facing parking issues, the Bash moved to the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino. The Bash is now held at the River Center to accommodate every fan. “It’s like going from caveman to the 21st century,” DeSalvo said. “The only thing that has been consistent is that Budweiser and Coke have been with us from the first Bayou Bash.”DeSalvo said many colleges have tried to imitate the Bayou Bash, but none have been successful.”I’ve talked to Ohio State, Arkansas, Baylor, Arizona State and some others,” DeSalvo said. “When they ask what it is, how we do it and how many people we get, almost everyone says ‘Well we can’t do that.'”Southeastern, Louisiana Tech and Southern have small recruiting parties and only last a few hours.Former LSU student Josh Barnett is excited to attend the 14th Bayou Bash. “Football season is over, but it’s a way to get football in the spring,” Barnett said. Some fans come every year from across the country. “There are people coming from Kansas, from Texas, from Florida,” DeSalvo said. “This thing went from word of mouth to where Ticketmaster has to handle our tickets.”The doors of the Bayou Bash open at 8:30 a.m., and there are anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 of the most loyal LSU fans at the party.The signing of each recruit is shown live as well as tapes of their high school highlights. “LSU lets us know as each recruit signs,” DeSalvo said. “Once they are signed, we can announce it.”Former LSU players always discuss the year’s recruiting class in a forum. And this year’s forum will feature former LSU defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey.The climax of the Bayou Bash is LSU coach Les Miles’ speech when Miles reviews the entire recruiting class and introduces his coaching staff and their families. ——Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]