Louisiana Saturday Night in Death Valley![Gallery]

So,  a friend gives me 4 tickets to Saturday's LSU homecoming game against Western Kentucky at Tiger Stadium.  We have 5 people in our family,  my husband,  3 teenagers and me.   It became a values clarification battle -  who do you throw out of the lifeboat?

In the end,  Wayland lost because he has a heart of gold.  He wanted all the kids and me to enjoy watching the No. 1 team in the nation coming off a big win over Bama at home in the Cathedral of College Football.  And, he didn't want to fight the traffic and walk up 59,000 steps to the top of the stadium. Just kidding...

We all wore purple.  My 18 year old daughter, Casey wore an LSU t-shirt over long sleeves;  my 16-year-old daughter,  Jill wore an LSU ballcap, as did my 13-year-old son,  Shane, who also wore an LSU T-shirt over long sleeves.  I wore an LSU shirt and hooded jacket.  If you saw the game on TV, we were the ones wearing purple.

On the way to Baton Rouge we stopped for one of those famous Natchitoches meat pies..  mmmyum...

Traffic was at a stand still over the Mississippi River coming into Baton Rouge,  partly because of road construction,  but mostly because everyone was headed to the big game.

We parked several blocks down from the stadium and walked past tailgate party after tailgate party.   We finally made it to the stadium and took the elevator to the top floor.  Looking out from the West stands,  it was like a picture in a sports magazine.  THE Tiger Stadium,  Death Valley,  THE Cathedral of College football! Pinch me I must be dreaming.

The LSU Tiger Stadium experience lived up to all the hype and then some.

The band was amazing forming "USA" on the field at halftime, and playing throughout the game in conjunction with the student cheering section.  We learned most of the chants and cheers.  Fortunately a family from Bossier City with a student at LSU, kept us in the know on everything that was happening.

A major highlight  was when they wheeled Mike the Tiger (Mike the Tiger No. 6) in his cage around the field.  You could see his face up close on the giant screens.  I also loved that they ran every play as a replay on the giant screens.

Jordan Jefferson started as quarterback.  We got to witness him throwing touchdown passes,  Michael Ford's amazing running and Drew Alleman the now infamous field goal kicker who won the game in special teams against Alabama in overtime.   The crowd was yelling "Blue" most of the game for sophomore running back Alfred Blue, who stole the show.

The Boutte, La., native led the Tigers with 119 yards on the ground and scored twice Saturday in LSU's 42-9 victory.

But LSU started out a little sluggish during the first half.   They only led by one touchdown at the half, 14-7.  That was mainly because of  turnovers and  the Hilltopper's star running back No. 3  Bobby Rainy,  Jr.

But, by the end of the fourth quarter it was a whipping,  as Jarrett Lee came back in as quarterback, and the Tigers racked up another win, marking Coach Les Miles' 100th career win.

LSU is now number one in every poll and only has to get past Ole Miss and Arkansas before the big bowl game that will determine the national champ.

I'm picking LSU to go all the way.  And we had a blast going all the way down to Baton Rouge, and consider ourselves Cajuns now.  Geaux Tigers!