RUSTON – On September 30, 2009, Joe Aillet Stadium wasn't just lit up by the bright lights of ESPN2 cameras – it was bathed in a sea of red. Louisiana Tech hosted its first-ever Red Out game, a midweek showdown against Hawaii that became as much of a festival as it was a football game.
The marketing for the game was in full effect. Students poured in wearing scarlet shirts, with 2,000 official Red Out tees flying off the tables before kickoff. A special $1,000 student sweepstakes added more fuel to the attendance, while the pregame Hawaiian Luau tailgate theme encouraged Bulldog fans to fire up their grills with roast pork, glazed ham, and pineapple chicken.
And in the ultimate show of Lincoln Parish unity, Grambling State students were invited free of charge, flashing their IDs to join the celebration and bolster the atmosphere. Even reality TV joined the mix: the cast of A&E's
The Exterminators was on site, signing autographs and mingling with fans before kickoff.
For older Bulldog fans, red stirred up memories. Red jerseys were once a signature part of LA Tech's football identity. For decades, LA Tech teams stormed the field in bright scarlet tops, but by the mid-1990s, the program shifted away from red, opting for more traditional blue-and-white combinations.
Red jerseys were brought back to life in the 2008 regular season finale against Nevada. Fast forward to 2009 and red was taken to another level. For one night, the color that used to be regularly seen came barking back – this time not just on the field, but in the stands. The nationally televised stage gave fans a chance to celebrate their history while uniting behind a new tradition.
By the time the ball was kicked off under the Wednesday night lights, the scene was electric. It marked the first nationally televised midweek football game ever played in Ruston. In the stands, a raucous crowd of 21,260 fans delivered the atmosphere. On the field, the Bulldogs made sure the Red Out matched the name: they turned the lights out on Hawaii.
Most experts expected a shootout against one of the nation's top-ranked passing attacks, but Derek Dooley's squad had other plans. LA Tech's defense suffocated the Warriors, delivering seven sacks and holding the Warriors to negative seven rushing yards. The Bulldogs snapped Hawaii's streak of 63 straight games with a touchdown, grinding out a commanding 27-6 victory.
Senior running back Daniel Porter found his stride, rushing for 160 yards and two touchdowns, to help fuel a ground attack that piled up 352 yards. But the story remained the defense, forcing three turnovers including a recovered fumble by Chad Boyd to keep UH from ever finding the end zone.
By the time the final whistle blew, the Bulldogs left the Warriors battered, giving them plenty to think about on the long flight home.
The tradition has only grown stronger ever since, now heading into its 16th annual Red Out game this Saturday.
WEAR RED AND BEAT SOUTHERN MISS!
