I was only 10 when that happened, but I remember that sea of green. Jesus, it seemed like we were a much more enthusiastic (aka. batsh*t insane) fanbase back then. Of course, a decade of mostly futility will take it out of you.
We had won 7 in a row going into that game and the fan base was pumped. The defense was creating turnovers and the smoke and mirrors offense was scoring on short fields.
The LSU was even more batsh*t insane. No sea of green but the Irish fans were noisy. LSU rocks the house before the teams come on the field. The band marches to midfield and plays a rousing tune facing the home side of the stadium. After the tune the band bows to the fans on that side. Those fans stand and go apesh*t. The band turns 90 degrees and marches to the end zone. Repeat the tune, repeat the bow, and the fans standing and cheering. The band marches back to midfield faces the visitors side (filled with Cajun fans) and repeat the tune, the bow, and the fans standing. Then they march to the other end zone and repeat again.
The stadium is in a frenzy BEFORE their team takes the field. If you've never been to Death Valley at least half the fans are inebriated before they enter the stadium. ND security wouldn't let better than half of those people in ND stadium but it's S.O.P. in Baton Rouge.
ND wins the toss and returns the kick to mid-field. A few plays later it's 7-0 and the rowdies are hushing in disbelief. ND D holds the Tigers and stifles the LSU offense. Before half time fans are leaving the stadium. I've never seen such front runners. ND increased the lead in the 3rd Q and it was Exodus time. I taped the game at home and throughout most of the second half you can clearly hear "WE ARE ND!" and other ND cheers over the announcers. We were even cheering "SEC SEC SEC!" but THEIR HOUSE was IRISH!
Death Valley became Deaf Valley.
