I N T R O | P R E V I E W | T I G E R S | C O A C H E S | R E V I E W | H I S T O RY | R E C O R D S | L S U History of LSU 1860s - 1920s In 1930, the student body adopted the alma The institution opened January 2, 1860 and sub- mater that still is in use today. sequently closed June 30, 1861, because of the LSU is the home of The Southern Review, one Civil War. It reopened on April 1,but was again of the world's most prestigious literary journals, closed on April 23, 1863, due to the invasion of established in the 1930s by Robert Penn Warren, the Red River Valley by the federal army. Cleanth Brooks, and Charles Pipkin. The seminary (as it was originally referred) The Huey P. Long Fieldhouse was constructed in 1932 reopened October 2, 1865, only to be burned and served as the campus' first student October 15, 1869.Just over two weeks later, the union.The Long Field House contained admin- institution resumed its exercises in Baton Rouge, istrative offices and an outdoor pool that was where it has since remained. In 1870, the name the world's largest at the time. of the institution was changed to Louisiana 1937 State University. In , two new athletic venues were complet- ed and was expanded.The John M. Parker In 1875, the institution became racially integrat- Coliseum opened and served as a multipurpose ed. Just two years following, LSU's official title arena mostly for livestock shows and rodeos.It was changed to Louisiana State University and was also used for commencements and convo- A&M College and became a land-grant institu- cations and served as home of the LSU basket- tion. ball team.Alex Box Stadium also served as foot- ball practice fields. Tiger Stadium received its In 1886, the federal garrison grounds (now the second expansion,adding a north endzone and site of the state capitol) were formally declared bringing the capacity to 46,000. the domicile of the University. Land for the present campus was purchased in 1918. Huey P. Long and Castro Carazo teamed up to co-author notable songs "Touchdown for LSU" It was 1893 when LSU played its first football and "Hey Fightin' Tigers!" During his tenure at game,and three years later LSU adopted the LSU Carazo compiled one of the most complete tiger as the official mascot. university band libraries in America. 1920s 1940s With the support of Governor John M. Parker Until 1969 the ROTC program at Louisiana and the approval of a severance tax during the State University was mandatory for all entering constitutional convention of 1921, the construc- male students. The military heritage began tion of the new campus,known today as under General William T. Sherman and hence Louisiana State University Agricultural and developed the name "Ole War Skule." Not Mechanical College, began. many people know about LSU's rich military tradition.In WWII,only Texas A&M and the The Gym-Armory was built west of the aca- Military Academies of Annapolis and West Point demic quadrangle for the purpose of housing were equal to the Ole War Skule in providing the LSU basketball team and other indoor officers to the armed forces. sporting events. Tiger Stadium was completed in 1943 1924 and on Thanksgiving Day of that year, In , the LSU Band invited its first coed Tulane and LSU played the first game on the member. new campus. In 1928, upward expansion added 10,000 seats to the already 12,000-seat stadium. 1950s In 1950 LSU enrolled black students into its The formal dedication of the new campus took graduate program for the first time. Throughout place on Friday, April 30, 1926. The date was the 1950s, air conditioning slowly began to be chosen because on April 30,1803 the United phased into administration and classroom States Congress signed the Louisiana Purchase buildings throughout the campus. documents. A.P.Tureaud,Jr.,enrolled,but resigned before 1930s the end of the fall term in 1953, while Brown vs. During this time many of LSU's live oaks and The Board of Education of Topeka,Kansas, magnolias were planted by landscape artist struck down racial segregation in public schools Steele Burden for what has become a symbolic a year later. part of the great legacy at LSU. The live oak 1957 trees on LSU's campus have been valued at $36 Tiger Stadium was expanded in with the million.Through the LSU Foundation's "Endow south endzone providing the final piece of the an Oak" program,individuals or groups are able puzzle to completely enclose the stadium.The to endow live oaks across campus. enclosure provided not only additional seating but also men's dormitories.Capacity now reached 67,720. 168 I N T R O | P R E V I E W | T I G E R S | C O A C H E S | R E V I E W | H I S T O RY | R E C O R D S | L S U History of LSU The LSU Tiger Football team won the 1958 1980s National Championship, defeating Clemson, Former professor John Kennedy Toole posthu- 7-0,in the Sugar Bowl and finishing with an mously won the Pulitzer Prize for his fictional 11-0 season. work,A Confederacy of Dunces. 1960s In 1985, the Natatorium was built for the LSU In 1964, a $5.5 million student union was built Swimming & Diving program as the United with 200,000 square feet of entertainment.The States Sports Festival came to Baton Rouge. three-story facility accommodated a 1,315 seat theatre,333 seat movie cinema,bowling alley, James Wharton introduced a new admissions game room and pool hall, post office,cafeteria policy that would increase university admission and craft shop as well as ballrooms and confer- standards.The standards would require high ence rooms for hosting seminars and special school students to complete a list of core events. requirements throughout their high school careers.In 1987, the board of supervisors Also that year, six black students enrolled in approved the proposed admission standards. undergraduate studies. In 1987, LSU was designated as a Research By the end of the decade,rising tensions due to University I,putting it in the top 2% of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War were nation's colleges and universities. Only 70 uni- mounting.The LSU ROTC program became a versities, 45 public and 25 private,have this des- target for protestors as dissatisfaction with the ignation. war increased.The pressure increased for LSU to either cancel its program or make it volun- 1990s 1968 tary. In October , the LSU Faculty Council In 1992, The Student Recreational Sports voted to make the ROTC program voluntary, Complex opened to rave reviews by LSU stu- 1969 and on May 26, the LSU Board of dents and faculty. Supervisors made it official. On May 20, 1994, the LSU Alumni Association 1970s dedicated its new home.Special honorees Former professor T. Harry Williams was honored attending were Lod Cook,President Gerald with the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Huey Ford, President Jimmy Carter, President George Long in 1970. Bush,White House Chief of Staff Mac McLardy, and Governor Edwin Edwards. With the growing popularity of collegiate athlet- ics,two new athletic facilities were built and Head Coach Skip Bertman built the LSU base- another was being expanded. In 1971, LSU bas- ball program into one of the most dominating ketball not only welcomed new coach Dale programs in the country. With National Brown,but it also introduced a state-of-the-art Championships coming in 1991,‘93,‘96, and ‘97, 15,000-seat multipurpose arena.The Assembly the Tigers would continue their dynasty into the Center would eventually be known as the Pete next century by winning their fifth title in 2000. Maravich Assembly Center and nicknamed "The By the late 1990s the LSU Tiger baseball team PMAC" after the death of LSU basketball and became known as the "Program of the Decade" NBA legend "Pistol" Pete Maravich in the late by all of college baseball. 1980's. Speaking of dynasties,LSU Head Track & Field In 1974, Athletics Director, Carl Maddox Coach Pat Henry has managed to reach major expanded the growing LSU athletic compound milestones throughout his 14 years at LSU. He with the addition of a multi-purpose sports and has led the Lady Tiger track & field team to 18 recreational complex that now bears his name, National Titles,11 outdoor and seven indoor. the Carl Maddox Field House. Tiger Stadium His men’s teams have won three NCAA titles, again expanded in 1978 by adding 8,000-seats in most recently the 2001 indoor crown.Henry is a new West Upper Deck to lead the Tiger foot- the only coach in NCAA history to guide both ball program into the next decade with a capaci- the men’s and women’s team to NCAA titles in ty of nearly 80,000-seats. the same year. Under Henry's direction,the LSU track & field program has attained unparalleled In 1978, LSU was named a sea-grant college success: 21 NCAA titles and 19 SEC crowns. becoming one of only 25 universities in the country recognized as both a land and sea-grant As a university, LSU has accounted for 36 institution. NCAA titles.Henry has served as head coach for better than half of LSU's national crowns.