Few traditions capture the spirit of Louisiana quite like tailgating on LSU gamedays. Even before sunrise, the air around Tiger Stadium fills with the aromas of Cajun delicacies. Friends and strangers clad in their best purple and gold greet one another with cheers of “Geaux Tigers” throughout the day. For many, tailgating is just as important as the game itself – a time to reconnect, celebrate team pride and welcome new fans into the Tiger family.
Bradley Ferguson and Kenny Nichols were ready to go ahead of LSU’s 2025 home opener against Louisiana Tech. Ferguson shared more about their setup and tradition.
What’s the name of your krewe? The 985ers. We named ourselves after our area code since we’re from the Northshore.
How many people are usually at your tailgate? 10 to 20.
How long have you been tailgating at LSU games? About eight years. We usually do a few home games a year now.
How do you prepare for a Saturday tailgate? It’s a week of prep just to get everything ready and loaded. We usually get there on Fridays. We’re getting things set up on Saturday mornings at 5:30 am.
What do you enjoy the most about tailgating? With our daughters graduating from LSU, it has meant a lot as a family tradition for all of us. My daughter graduated in 2019 but she has season tickets now and goes to every game, so it really is a family event. This year, it was great to be out there since we had won the first game of the season at Clemson. It made the atmosphere even better.
What is your favorite tailgate memory? Winning best food tailgate in 2019.
What makes for a perfect tailgate? Having a lot of family and friends around to share the experience. We just enjoy the energy and atmosphere. It’s a good crowd to hang out with.
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