I’ve spent six or seven Saturdays in Tiger Stadium each year for the past four years.
There has been laughter, tears of victory, tears of defeat, heartache and joy.
During this Thanksgiving week, I feel like I should give some thanks of my own after the recent stressful Saturday afternoon in Death Valley.
First of all, thank you, Kelvin Sheppard.
For four years you have done absolutely magnificent work on the field for your team.
You have become one of my all-time favorite LSU players to cover in any sport (and not only because of your beard and golden hair highlights).
Your 98 tackles this season lead the team, and your four sacks rank third. You have been the cornerstone of one of the best defenses in the nation.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis calls you one of the most intelligent players he has ever coached, and I believe him.
It has been a pleasure to watch you lead LSU this year. I wish you nothing but the best in your future, and I can’t wait to see you in the NFL next year.
Next, thank you, Stevan Ridley and Michael Ford.
It’s always fun to watch a speedy, powerful backfield, and you have given that to me this year. Ford broke open a few big runs Saturday night in his limited carries, while Ridley provided the punch up the middle for three touchdowns.
Next year is going to be something with each of you a year older. But right now, while I am still here, I’m grateful to watch two amazing running backs in person.
Thirdly, thank you, Jordan Jefferson.
I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine. For weeks, I’ve been writing about how you should be getting more playing time, and for weeks I have been ridiculed.
You showed up with your best game of the season Saturday, and you showed everyone why you should be in there for the majority of the snaps.
Oh, and you proved me right.
You threw 13-of-17 for 254 yards, a touchdown and an interception. You also tacked on 45 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground, probably one of the more impressive plays of the day. That play was hard to see from the student section, but when I saw the replay later on Saturday night, I noticed how much effort it took to get the full reach to get the ball into the end zone.
You did a solid job, Jefferson. You looked like the you that dominated Georgia Tech, 38-3, two years ago in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Keep it up, and LSU fans may be writing you apologies pretty soon for the way they treated you earlier this season. That may be a stretch, though.
And finally, thank you, Les Miles.
Yes, I just thanked Les.
Les, you have been my source of comedy, good times and fun oldies for the past four years. Without you, there would be no want, no clock blunders, no mad hat, no grass eating and who knows what else you do on the sidelines that the cameras have yet to catch.
You coached LSU to a national title in 2007 and a bowl win in 2008. And somehow, some way, you have a team that could go 11-1 this year against all odds and against the hardest schedule in the nation.
For four years of … well, being you, thank you, Les.
Thank you, Tigers, for four years in Tiger Stadium that I can and will never forget.
 
Andy Schwehm is a 21-year-old English and psychology senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_ASchwehm.
 
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Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]