About LSU Tigers
LSU Tigers football program was founded in 1893 whereas basketball joined in 1909. The Tigers are currently members of Southeastern Conference, Western Division, NCAA Division I (FBS for football).
The university colours are purple and gold and the college is represented by usually a live Bengal tiger, although costumed versions are not strangers. The name given to either of mascots is Mike The Tiger.
The Tigers have fierce rivals in Ole Miss Rebels, Alabama Crimson Tide and Arkansas Razorbacks among few other colleges.
Tigers are well known amongst the football program as the three time national champions that left unclaimed five more titles and were national finalists 18 times in total.
The university won its conferences titles 14 times and added further 8 divisional championships to their tally. LSU also produced one Heisman Trophy winner in Billy Cannon whose punt return on Halloween night of 1959 is considered one of the most notable plays in LSU sports history.
Cannon played running back and later fullback and tight end positions for few AFL teams, including the Raiders where he spent most of his career, that resulted in three AFL championships, 2 AFL All- Star nominations and leading the AFL in rushing yards among other accomplishments.
From current crop of Tigers among the NFL ranks Odell Beckham Jr. is making a name for himself mainly with his crazy one handed catches that end up being highlights of so many Giants games as he is in his second year with them. To date he caught 25 touchdown passes and 2755 receiving yards are counted toward the production of AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year 2014.
It is not an easy task to keep up with the football program achievements at LSU but the basketball tries its best. To date, the Tigers went to 21 NCAA tournaments, reaching the Final Four on four occasions, the last one being in 2006.
LSU was conference tournament champion once, in 1980 and added further 10 conference regular season titles to their trophy cabinet.
The most famous basketball product to leave the LSU doors is Shaquille O’Neal, a very dominating center who was drafted 1st overall in 1992 by Orlando Magic. He played in NBA for 19 seasons, eight of which he spent in LA where he won three NBA titles playing for the Lakers. Few years later he added the fourth championship, playing for Miami Heat.
O’Neal was once NBA MVP, three times NBA finals MVP, two times scoring champion, NBA Rookie of the Year as well as gold medallist from Olympic Games in 1996 and World Championship in 1994.
It is quite easy to see that LSU and sports go well hand in hand and there should be plenty of talented athletes coming into pro leagues from Tigers for years to come.
