A Head-To-Head Comparison Of The Two Schools Beyond The Game
Alabama and LSU have one of college football’s fiercest rivalries yet the competition goes well beyond what happens on the field. From Alabama’s Yellow Hammer cocktails and Big Al to LSU’s legendary tailgating scene and Mike the Tiger, here’s a look at the drinks, food, mascots and traditions that make this SEC showdown special from someone who has experienced it firsthand.
By Kevin Wilkerson, Editor & Publisher, PubClub.com
Alabama and LSU are what good ‘ol Southern football is all about, two schools in a great contrast of cultures, each with its own traditions, legendary moments that last forever and, of course, drinks.
In this edition of School Spirit(s) Rivalry Edition: Alabama Vs. LSU – Drinks, Culture & Traditions, I take a look at each school in a side-by-side comparison that has nothing to do with what happens on the field.
I can tell a personal story about going to Baton Rouge for this rivalry. I was a member of the Million Dollar Band. I passed through the tailgate crowd, went onto the field to play “Tiger Rag” and had the incredible thrill of the fans cheering, yes, the Alabama band. I vividly remember the whole intimidating-yet-awesome atmosphere.
Did you know that LSU used to have a live Bengal Tiger named Mike on the sidelines for games? They would have it in a cage and would put it by the entrance where the visiting team ran onto the field. Before that happened, the cheerleders would get on the top of the cage and jump up and down on it so when the other team ran out the tiger was so mad it wanted to leap out of the cage and attack the players running by him.
“Don’t worry,” Alabama’s Bear Bryant would tell his players in the locker room. “He’s as old as me.”
This year’s game has extra intrigue because LSU is now coached by Lane Kiffin, or Joey Freshwater as he is known to Alabama fans and especially to Alabama’s sorority girls when he was the offensive coordinator there. According to stories and even some girls I talked to about it, Kiffin would go into the Tuscaloosa bars and approach girls under the name of Joey Freshwater. The girls didn’t buy it. This was confirmed in a new book, Lane Being Lane by John Talty, who once covered Alabama sports teams.
Of course, LSU fans will never forgive Nick Saban for leaving Baton Rouge and then reappearing two years later in Tuscaloosa. And they didn’t like Bryant, either, even tho one of his former players and assistant coaches, Charlie McClendon, was so successful as LSU’s coach he made it into the College Football Hall of Fame. But he could never seem to beat Bryant. “Somehow,” ‘ol Cholly Mac would say after Bama-LSU games, “I don’t think Bear taught me all he knows.”
Signature Drink: Yellow Hammer vs. Abita Beer & Jell-O Shots
• Alabama fans have an actual drink. It’s the Yellow Hammer, a rum-and-vodka drink created by Gallettes in Tuscaloosa. Its ingredients are a closely-guarded secret by the bar but go in there and nearly everyone is drinking one out of the signature yellow cups.
• LSU has Louisiana-brewed Abita beer along with purple and gold Jell-O shots and for some, Hurricanes (until they go insane).
Winner: Alabama. The creativity and mystery of the Yellow Hammer give it the edge.
Food: Dreamland Ribs vs. Gumbo & Jambalaya
• Alabama: The dreamy Dreamland Ribs. As its slogan says, “ain’t nothin’ like ’em nowhere.”
• LSU: Cajun food like gumbo & jambalaya
Winner: LSU. Even Bama fans are suckers for good Cajun cooking.
Tailgating Tradition: The Quad Vs. Kegs & Eggs.
• Alabama has the Quad and bars along the University Blvd.
• LSU fans start with “kegs and eggs” even for night games, so that tells you all you need to know about the LSU tailgate tradition. LSU fans treat tailgating like it’s a Mardi Gras parade,
Winner: LSU
Mascot: Big Al Vs. Mike The Tiger
• Alabama: Big Al. The nickname for Alabama sports is the Crimson Tide but the mascot is Big Al the elephant. One year, when Kiffin was at Ole Miss, he told a pre-game TV reporter to “get the popcorn ready.” When Alabama jumped out to a 28-0 lead on the way to a 42-21 rout, Big Al was seen on the sidelines holding a huge box of popcorn. Now that is a great mascot!• LSU: A tiger
Winner: Alabama. If LSU still had Mike the Tiger on the sideline, then it would be the clear winner. But a regular Tiger, come on; how many schools have tigers as mascots? Many. Only one has an elephant. Now get your popcorn ready for the other categories.
Fight Song: Yeah Alabama Vs. Fight For LSU
• Alabama: Yeah Alabama
• LSU: Fight For LSU
Winner: Alabama. One of the lyrics to Fight For LSU is “keep trying for that high score.” Granted, fight song lyrics were written decades ago and many don’t make a lot of sense but this one is pretty lame. Yeah Alabama, by contrast, has “you’re Dixie’s football pride.” Now which one would you choose?
Marching Band: Million Dollar Band Vs. The Golden Band From Tigerland
• Alabama: The Million Dollar Band with the Crimsonettes
• LSU: The Golden Band From Tigerland with the LSU Golden Girls
Winner: Alabama. I mean, I played in the Million Dollar Band! Although I’ll call it even on the Crimsonettes vs. the LSU Golden Girls.
Cheer: Roll Tide vs. Geaux Tigers
• Alabama: Roll Tide
• LSU: Geaux Tigers
Winner: Both are cool and unique so this one is a tie. No overtime here, either.
Conclusion
Alabama and LSU each have their own distinctive drinks, culture and traditions and that’s what makes this rivalry so special. The differences include the Yellow Hammers in Tuscaloosa, the wild Cajun tailgate parties in Baton Rouge, mascots, bands, cheers and fight songs. Put it all together and you’ve got one of college football’s great rivalries.
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and nightlife expert who has covered destinations, events and nightlife for more than two decades. While working as a newspaper reporter at the Savannah News-Press, he received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Journalism and Million Dollar Band veteran.
Next Stops On The School Spirit(s) Party Bus
• School Spirits Rivalry: Georgia-Florida
• School Spirits Rivalry: Alabama-Tennessee
• School Spirits: The University of Alabama
• School Spirits: Texas A&M University
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