An eerie silence was broken when senior wide receiver Kyren Lacy caught a deft pass from junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, seizing game’s overtime.

The seats of Death Valley couldn’t contain the excitement of the over 100,000 fans who’d waited over four hours for this moment.

They clamored from the bleachers to the field. Security was posted in force, but Tiger Stadium hemorrhaged fans at a rate that no force could contain.

Strangers embraced, taking each other’s photos. Some erupted in laughter and crying. Some stood still in awe.

Four Reveille staffers offer a first person perspective. This is how it looked from the ground.

Colin Falcon

Even in the throes of pandemonium, chivalry still exists among Tiger fans. Storming the field is a multi-step process that involves hopping over a couple layers of barricade, and despite the rush to get out there as soon as possible, many fans could be seen stopping to assist friends and strangers in the process.

Once out there, the only real goal is to yell as loud as possible and rack up as many high fives as your wrist allows. There’s no such thing as a stranger when you’re on the field, so being loud and proud is of course a communal undertaking. 

Getting off the field was a process in its own right, as the only way off is back the way you came. The same helping hands could be seen assisting people back over the barrier, with a little less of that electric energy that only a fresh win can provide. 

John Buzbee

Chaos, but the good kind. The kind this class of students will reminisce on, a defining feature of their collegiate experience.

Bright lights shined on fans rushing to pat the shoulder pads of players exiting the arena. Others collected samples of grass. Some spread out hugging the ground. Friends climbed on each other’s shoulders, as well as into each other’s arms. They were surrounded by family most had never before met.

No coherent string of words could overpower the might of “L-S-U” ringing across the field. Whether or not the ringing actually fell silent, I recall the event in silence, as I attempted to process the magnitude, the excitement, the rush of blood.

Chloe Richmond

Once the crowd took a second to erupt after Lacy’s catch, the impulsive thoughts took over and fans headed straight for the barricade. I watched as the fog layered over the thousands of people cheering on LSU’s success.

My attention shifted from capturing the overtime win to making my way off the turf, all while trying to document LSU’s fifth time rushing the field in the last decade. For my first game on the sidelines with the Reveille, I’d say this is a memory that can’t be beat.

To the security officer who pushed a man back behind the northeast field gate with all his force and then greeted me with a full-faced smile as I too tried to exit, thank you for the hospitality. To the woman who ran up behind me and screamed in celebration as I filmed a Snapchat video, I hope you enjoyed the rest of your night.

The win over Ole Miss was the cherry on top for Tiger Stadium’s centennial celebration. Tiger fans, don’t forget this feeling – 100 years of Death Valley only happens once. 

Erin Barker

Waiting outside the student gate over an hour before it opened to secure seats at the front of the student section was so worth it to be some of the first people over the wall when Lacy caught that last touchdown pass.

Shoutout to the girls in front of us who were lending a helping hand as everyone jumped over.

Once you make it on the field, everyone is just happy to be there with people holding hands and skipping with friends, lying on the grass, and just enjoying the moment surrounded by thousands and thousands of other LSU fans all experiencing the same rush of adrenaline.

Since being a student here at LSU, I have stormed the field three times, and it truly never gets old.