BATON ROUGE — Instead of their usual Saturday night kickoffs, the LSU Tigers took the field early for an 11 a.m. homecoming game—meaning tailgate action started before sunrise.

When LSU fans swap jambalaya and gumbo for breakfast casseroles and sausage burritos, you know it’s an early start.

While homecoming excitement never fades, early kickoffs aren't always a hit with hardcore Tiger fans, mostly because pregame prep begins well before dawn.

"Sometimes we have to get up this morning, somewhere a little after 5 o'clock. We already pre-gamed last night and set up a lot of the tents. But it was very windy last night, so we had to tie them back down, so we had to do a lot more than we usually do," LSU fan Ronald Lahasky said.

For early kickoffs, location is everything. Fans like Lahasky and Robert Karam hit the jackpot with spots along South Stadium Drive, right next to Tiger Stadium.

"From right here, it's actually 72 steps in Spot 6, and one day I want to get the camper that's about two doors down because it'll only be about 70 and it'll help me out when I walk there," Lahasky said.

Karam told WBRZ that his crew, the Party Box Tailgate, has parked by the oak tree at the corner of South Stadium and Nicholson Drive for nearly 40 years.

"Established in 1987 by my uncle and my dad just wanting to start a tailgate, and they bought their first little RV in the 80s when it was free to park here, and it's evolved into what you see now," Karam said.

That oak tree holds special meaning for Karam, who dedicated it to family: "For my uncle's 60th birthday, we actually named the oak tree after him, so there's a plaque over here for him."

Saturday also brought the coldest tailgate of the season, with temperatures dipping into the 50s following a Friday night cold front. While fans had to bundle up, most welcomed the crisp morning air as a relief from the usual heat and humidity. 

"We usually have tents everywhere because it's so hot and we need shade, but today it's like no tents; let's enjoy the cool weather."

As temperatures warmed throughout the morning, energy picked up. Fans brought their signature passion into Tiger Stadium, cheering LSU on to a blowout shutout win.

Both LSU and Southern are either on the road or on byes over the next few weeks. Tailgate on 2 will return Saturday, November 7, when LSU hosts Alabama and Southern hosts Bethune-Cookman.

If you want to show off your tailgate, then email jcollins@wbrz.com. Tell us where you'll be set up and what game you'll be at.