BATON ROUGE — Originally known as the “Ballet Corps,” the LSU Golden Girls are almost as popular as the football team on a Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
Tiger fans’ love affair with the flamboyant LSU dance line has spanned five decades. On Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, the Golden Girls will celebrate their 50th anniversary. Over 200 former LSU Golden Girls will take part in a 50th anniversary celebration held in conjunction with the 23rd-annual Tiger Alumni Band Reunion sponsored bv the LSU Alumni Association.
Over 250 Tiger Band alumni will join the Golden Girls in the largest Alumni Band performance in the history of the event. After a weekend of festivities, the Alumni Band and Golden Girls, almost 500 strong, will perform at halftime of LSU’s clash with Tulane Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
“This is no doubt the largest Alumni Band we have ever hosted in the 23-year history of the event,” said Charlie Roberts, president of the LSU Alumni Association and former assistant director of the Tiger Band (1964-67). “We think the fans in Tiger Stadium will enjoy the show as much as the alumni band members will have performing.”
There’s no doubt the band alumni enjoy the chance to return to the halftime show under the lights in Death Valley.
“It took me 20 years to realize how much fun it could be,” said Baton Rouge radio personality former Tiger Band alum Scott “Scotty Mac” Carwile. “I had all these preconceived notions about how it would be (performing again in the alumni band). And I had no idea. I had the time of my life.”
Carwile, who was a member of the Tiger Band from 1975-78, said when band alumni come back to Tiger Stadium it is a little different from when former players return to be honored.
“All they (former players) can do is step onto the field and wave,” Carwile said. “They can’t play anymore. But when we come back, we can still do our thing just like before.”
A cocktail reception honoring the Golden Girls will be held Friday afternoon from 6 -7 p.m. at The Cook Hotel followed by a banquet in the Noland/Laborde at the Lod Cook Alumni Center.
Reunion participants will be treated to a breakfast Saturday morning followed by rehearsal at the LSU Indoor Facility. Over 900 people are expected for an afternoon tailgate party inside the Pete Maravich Center before the game and halftime show later in the evening.
“This is my first time to come to the reunion,” said Claire Hatty Crye, a former Golden Girl (1999). “I remember most of the routine but I have to admit, I have been practicing just in case.”
All slots are filled for the 2009 band reunion, but if you are a Tiger Band alum and want more information about taking part in the 2010 reunion, contact Jason Ramezan at 225-578-3838.