Louisiana State University - Gumbo Yearbook (Baton Rouge, LA)

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Football rules have become considerably more complex since this 1902 LSU-Auburn game.

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This early veterinary science class was an important stage in the development of L-S.U. ' s agricultural pro- gram. that the first football team was organized under two of the professors, Dr. Charles Coates and Dr. H. A. Morgan, and the first in the LSU-Tulane grid classics was played. The purple and gold colors were chosen because the local merchants happened to have an abundance of those colors in stock for the impending carnival season. Early losses caused the administration to decide to enlist the services of a professional coach; therefore in 1894 A. P. Simmons of Yale was hired. LSU ' s first home game against Ole Miss on December 3, 1894, was a 26-6 loss, even with Coach Simmons playing in the backfield. In the following year it was a different story, however, as this Simmons-coached team, was the University ' s first undefeated team. Since various teams around the country were adopting the names of ferocious animals and since purple and gold looked tigerish enough, the University team in 1896 became the I SU Tigers. The first undefeated and unscored upon team came in 1908 with E. A. Chavanne, left tackle and captain of the Tiger team, as head coach. For the next 50 years the 1908 team was the one by which all the teams were measured. Until 1958 it was the only undefeated and untied team in the history of the University. Colonel Nicholson, being primarily interested in the writing of textbooks, resigned the presidency in 1896. He was succeeded by Thomas D. Boyd, the brother of David Boyd. Under this younger Boyd ' s administration, which lasted for thirty-one years, the University grew from a small institution of less than 300 enrollment to a well-financed University of nearly 2,000 students. Thomas Boyd had to cope with many problems ranging from low student morale to lack of funds. Systematically and effectively he solved these problems and parallel to his accomplishments the University took on a new life. With greater financial support the University grew, resulting in a need for the replacement of the out-moded structures built nearly 100 years before. It was during this period that several contributions The members of this 1907 squad are the rugged ancestors of our present-day Fighting Tigers.