As LSU embarks upon what may be the biggest football game in LSU Tiger Stadium history, I want to show you how LSU players enter the stadium known as "Death Valley."

I have been fortunate enough to be with the team on game day on three separate occasions. What I can tell you is that the entire team, along with coaches, sleep on campus the night before a home game. There they have dinner and a movie night. Yes, the hotel they stay in is on the LSU campus.

The next day, depending on the time of kickoff, LSU players will either have breakfast or lunch, then do a last minute walk through.

After their final walkthrough, players suit up and board a bus. From the team hotel, players and coaches make their way towards the stadium, but the buses stop near the "Indian Hills" on campus and that's where players and coaches exit.

From there, players, coaches, and guests walk towards the stadium and are greeted by thousands of Tiger fans. The walk is something I wish every LSU fan could experience. People are so pumped to welcome the Tigers.

Here are a few photos I have taken through the years as I spent time with the Tigers on game day.

I'll start by showing you the walk players and coaches take as soon as they get off team buses and head towards the stadium. Here, they are greeted by several former LSU players. The walk takes about 3-5 minutes.

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After the walk, players enter the stadium through their locker room. There players are greeted by family. What caught me by surprise was how fast players get taped up. Most are taped up for the game while still in their suits.

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As you walk into the LSU locker room, there are several former players and staff members waiting to welcome you. And yes, they are hyped up. Check out what players see in the locker room prior to making their way to the stadium entrance. Its the "eye of the tiger."

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After you walk past the Tiger in the hallway, you see the most famous doors in Baton Rouge. The doors are located right below the victory bar and these doors lead to Tiger Stadium field. So many greats have walked through these doors through the decades.

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After walking through the doors you see above, you walk out to Tiger Stadium. And I will say it here, the sight is breathtaking. You can't help but think of how many greats have rushed the field where you are standing. The first thing you see are the signature goal posts in "Death Valley."

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After several minutes of pregame warmups and stretching players return to the locker room to suit up and put their "colors" on. Players return to the field to finalize pre-game snaps and warm-ups. Again, they exit from the same tunnel as above.

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From the sideline, Tiger Stadium can be an intimidating venue. Not only are you surrounded by so many fans, but the noise down on the field is easliy four times louder than what you hear on TV or in the stands. I want to note here that there is so much communication going on the sidelines it's mindboggling. You have no idea.

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In addition to everything going on around the sidelines, you will always see some familiar faces. Whether its former LSU players or members of the national media. They're always around.

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All in all, it's always an experience when you visit Tiger Stadium. But to be on the sideline and to be with the team prior to any game is an awesome experience. I hope every Tiger fan gets to experience this one day!!

Here's the one time Ezekiel Elliot of the Dallas Cowboys visited Tiger Stadium.

 

 

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