Before the Tigers were crowned national champions in the Sugar Bowl, the Krewe of Caesar began its five-month construction of a float to commemorate LSU.
The Krewe of Caesar parade, which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The float, engulfed in purple, gold and LSU spirit, cost about $45,000 to build.
Robert Carnesi, captain and founder of the Caesar Krewe, said along with the rest of the floats in the parade, New Orleans is excited about the first ever giant LSU float.
The Krewe began to build the float in September as the LSU football team started its journey to a championship.
“When we started, we didn’t count on
LSU becoming national champions,” Carnesi said.
The LSU float features a gigantic tiger on the front, purple and gold paintings and bears the title “2003 National Champions.”
Robert McMullen, a retired mass communication associate professor at the University, will be riding on the float along with 29 others, including many New Orleans natives.
“I think this is a tribute to LSU and its accomplishments,” McMullen said.
The theme of this year’s Caesar parade is “meant for each other,” or things that go together.
The theme and the colors, purple and gold, were chosen this past August.
There will be a mini-float in front of the main LSU float featuring 12 LSU cheerleaders and the Mike the Tiger mascot.
“The excitement of LSU being in the parade is overwhelming,” Carnesi said.
There are 34 floats scheduled to ride in the parade with approximately 800 people riding on the floats, Carnesi said.
The Grand Marshals of the parade are Nickelodeon’s Sponge Bob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer.
“This is the biggest parade we’ve ever put on,” Carnesi said.