Instead of crowding around a 13-inchdorm television or packing a local sports bar, Student Governmentwants to give students who do not have football tickets “the nextbest thing” to being in Tiger Stadium.
    So, SG made an agreement with ESPN toleave the Jumbotron television screen set up on the Parade Groundsso students could watch the game.
    ESPN is coming to the University onSaturday for their live pre and post-game broadcast of CollegeGameDay.
    SG Vice-President Jenny Byrd said ESPNand the LSU Athletic Department liked the idea of leaving thescreen for students to view the game and tailgate together, butLSUPD initially had some reservations about being able to securethe area due to lack of available officers.
    LSUPD Maj. Ricky Adams said they weretrying to get extra help from surrounding agencies so the event cantake place.
    ”In my eyes, we’re doing the best we canto make it happen,” Adams said.
    Adams said they normally have to employabout 300 officers per football game, and the added event on theParade Grounds would require about six more.
    Adams said the University already usesofficers from the Louisiana State Police, the EBR Parish Sheriff’sOffice, BRPD and Public Safety Building to provide adequatesecurity for the campus on game days.
    SG President Brad Golson said theviewing on the Parade Grounds is in response to the many freshmenwho did not receive tickets to the game.
    This fall, almost 7,000 freshmen whosought tickets were turned away due to increased interest fromupperclassmen after last year’s national championship.
    At press time, Golson said LSUPD and SGhad located officers from surrounding areas that could patrol theevent.
    ”We’ve been so active in this because wewant to make sure we provide something for those students whoweren’t able to get tickets for the first game,” Golson said.
    Golson also said the event coincideswith the second annual Pajama Game, a 1930s tradition SG broughtback last year to encourage all students to wear pajamas to thegame.
    Golson said SG will have a pre-gametailgate and are looking into serving free jambalaya to anyone thatwears pajamas to the event.
    For students interested in buyingofficial LSU vs. Oregon State, tiger-striped pajama pants, SG andthe Athletic Department will be selling the pants for $12 in FreeSpeech Alley on Wednesday and Thursday.