Though it may not always seem like it, there’s a whole lot more more to LSU athletics than just football, basketball and baseball. And as 225 details in a feature from the current issue, the school’s ‘other’ sports are easy to get to and wildly affordable.
After a long and painful summer hiatus, football is back, to the delight of the more than 100,000 spectators who pour into Tiger Stadium during each home game. When that’s over, most fans will turn their attention to LSU basketball, and then to the boys of summer as they take to the field at Alex Box Stadium. These are unquestionably LSU’s dominant sports—the big draws, the ticket sellers and the moneymakers.
But there’s more.
As far as weekend activities go, the university’s 18 sports beyond the “big three” are among the Capital Region’s best-kept secrets, each with its own dramatic moments, impressive athletes and classic rivalries. They’re often much easier to access than football, basketball or baseball, and many are free to attend.
The public has started to feel more enthusiasm for these sports, too.
For the first time in the history of LSU gymnastics, attendance broke 10,000 twice this past season, including a high of 13,179 patrons during a meet against the University of Minnesota on March 6.
Moreover, attending a soccer or softball game, a tennis match or a track and field meet can really mean something to a young person who wants to excel in those sports, says LSU Associate Sports Information Director Jake Terry.
“Everybody looks forward to a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, but LSU athletics offers sports that are filled with hardworking student athletes who serve as great role models for local youth,” Terry says. “We encourage people to come out and take advantage of these opportunities.”
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