Between the colliding bodies grinding up the turf and blood-stained, white knuckles gripping the ball, the Baton Rouge Tigers show true toughness on the field.
They show real men don’t just play football, they play Australian rules football.
Australian rules football  — also called “footy” — combines football, basketball and soccer into one sport.
The game appears like chaos to newcomers because there is no offside penalty or set formations for the two 18-player teams.
One Baton Rouge Tigers game can “get you hooked,” though, because “the athleticism is just incredible,” said Michael Finkelstein, team member and LSU junior.
The Baton Rouge Tigers depend heavily on the University for players and fans.
Ten current team members are University students, and the Baton Rouge Tigers welcome anyone to try out for the team, Finkelstein said.
“We’re always looking for new players and guys that are open to the new experience,” Finkelstein said. “Plus, we’d love to increase our fan base.”
The team keeps its Australian roots through its three “old Aussie guys” who helped found the team, Finkelstein said.
“They’re pretty old,” Finkelstein said. “But they have been playing since they were little kids, and they bring an incredible amount of knowledge and strategy about the game to our team.”
Team President Patrick Muller said he has played the sport since he was five years old and enjoys watching his American teammates pick up the new game.
“I get a kick out of teaching someone a sport I grew up living and playing,” Muller said. “And seeing them succeed, it’s a great reward.”
The team hopes to get more exposure by holding a game on the parade grounds during tailgating for a LSU home football game, Finkelstein said.
The team still needs to receive the University’s approval for this idea, Finkelstein said.
The Baton Rouge Tigers have a limited season since the nearest team is five hours away, Muller said.
But they still manage to schedule about eight games a year plus the U.S. Footy Nationals in September, Finkelstein said.
The Baton Rouge Tigers kick off their home season this Saturday with a game at Clark Park near the Baton Rouge Zoo at noon, according to the team’s Web site.
They encourage anyone to come and watch and will have an event afterward at Puncher’s in downtown Baton Rouge for 6 p.m.——Contact Peter Hubbs at [email protected]