Today is Sept. 16, and I have yet to step foot in Tiger Stadium this season. This is a problem.
 
In two days, though, that will all be taken care of when Mississippi State comes to town for the Gold Game.
 
It’s been a long wait. In fact, this is the latest LSU has played a home game since 2005 when Hurricane Katrina forced the postponement of the home opener and Hurricane Rita further pushed back the opener. It’s also the latest scheduled home game since 1993 when the Tigers opened at home Sept. 18 against Auburn.
 
Those are your fun facts for the day.
 
But it’s worth the wait because Saturday night in Death Valley is upon us. For us seniors, it’s our last chance to be in the student section. For you freshmen, it’s your first.
 
The time to celebrate is here, starting tomorrow with free food at Fall Fest. Before that starts up, there are a few guidelines I feel compelled to go over.
 
1) WEAR GOLD
 
As I have already stated, it’s the Gold Game. You don’t want to be that guy or girl in the crowd wearing purple, white, gray or any other color shirt LSU puts out.
 
The whole “gold out” thing is a great concept, but it’s just that — a concept. In order for it to work, everyone must do it. If everyone does it, then the stadium will look amazing. If not, then it will just look like any other game.
 
It would be great if LSU would pay a few bucks to give out gold shirts at the game to make this whole thing work. But that’s asking for a little too much, especially with budget cuts.
 
So wear your gold shirt. I know you own one.
 
Penn State does its annual “White Out.” If you haven’t seen it, Google it. It’s one of the
most awesome sights in all sports.
 
Just think of how epic it would look if the home crowd were blinding the Bulldogs with golden shirts.
 
2) DON’T TAUNT YOUR TEAM
 
I know there is some angst among Tiger fans about the state of the quarterback situation.
 
That doesn’t mean you start booing your own quarterback or chanting for the backup quarterback to play.
 
You people have done it for the past two seasons, and it never fails to get to me. Do you have any idea how dumb it looks to a national TV audience and the opposing crowd when you do that? It’s the equivalent of pulling against your own team.
 
Just don’t do it.
 
3) SCREAM UNTIL YOU CAN’T
 
Tiger Stadium isn’t known as Death Valley because it’s a nice spot to study on a Saturday night during football season.
 
It’s the obnoxiously high decibel levels that give it that nickname.
 
Do you know where the vast majority of that noise comes from? The student section. It’s the job of the student to come in with a healthy voice and leave with none. That’s why we only pay $12 for a ticket at face value.
 
I don’t care if people give you that “shut up” stare. Yell louder. Then yell at them to yell.
 
There’s a good chance this could be another close game, and one thing that gives the home team the advantage is the noise level. Don’t let the home team down.
 
It’s a football game. Have fun.
 
Follow Andy Schwehm on Twitter @ TDR_aschwehm.
 
 
 
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Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]