LSU fans are second to none in the world of sports. It is more than just a game to Tiger fans; it is tradition, but more importantly, a way of life. As the echoing madness erupted through Tiger Stadium on October 25, the Tigers became victorious, and overnight, LSU senior tight end Logan Stokes went from just another player to a household name.
His catch in the final minutes of the LSU-Ole Miss game to give the Tigers the lead will be something talked about for years to come. A moment like this is a dream to any football player and for Stokes the experience was unlike any other.
“It was amazing.” Stokes said. “That was my first catch here and I got lucky with that being the first catch. It came at a great time for me. It’s something that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Stokes realized the rare and exciting achievement in his big catch but he was nothing but humble. Stokes’ character and maturity showed as he commented that his catch was a-once-in-a-career experience, but he will not be dwelling on it.
“I’ve put it behind me now and moved on,” Stokes explained. “It was a great feeling when it happened and after the game, the way the crowd reacted, that’s why Death Valley is the best stadium in the country. At this point though, I have put it behind me and it is something I will pull out when I get older. Tell my kids about it and stuff.”
As the first in the family to play collegiate football, his family and friends have been very excited for Stokes and have supported him every step of the way. His time in junior college helped prepare him for his time at LSU.
“The school part prepared me just being away from home and to see what it is like not to have anyone to wake you up in the morning or babysit you,” Stokes said. “In terms of football, in junior college you may play one or two or three or four guys in a game that are all Division I guys but in terms of here (LSU), everyone on the field is good. In junior college, everyone is good but not everyone is SEC, Division I good. Here every single person is good. The third-string guy isn’t going to be as good as the first-string guy but he’s still going to be really good. The speed of the game is also a lot faster.”
The team itself means a lot to Stokes. It is where he finds his motivation and some of his deepest friendships.
“My motivation comes from the guys around me,” he said. “These guys are my brothers. I see these guys and talk to these guys more than any of my other friends and family. It’s playing for the guy next to you.”
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The on-and-off field dynamic is obviously held in high regard by Stokes as the people around him are more than just his teammates.
“It’s a brotherhood. I’m out playing for those guys because they depend on me and I depend on them,” Stokes explained. “If I’m slacking, then I’m not doing my part and then they are going to pay for it.”
The brotherhood found in this LSU football team means a lot to the Alabama native far away from home. Although there is always some hometown rivalry, Stokes’ family and friends realize his personal career means more than what state you play for.
“The Louisiana people love me and they always thank me for coming to Louisiana to play and not going to the other schools, but when I go back home it’s always a lot of ‘Roll Tide, War Eagle’ and all that stuff. The people at home support me but not the team.”
Regarding the end of his senior season, Logan Stokes is very optimistic.
“Obviously I want to win out. We still have goals that pretty much can be reached, and so our goal is just to continue to improve each week as we have and continue to get better one day at a time,” he said. “To go 1-0 every Saturday is our goal. Let everyone else do what they do and we do our part and we will see where the season ends up. But definitely win out is our goal.”
Stokes and his team have overcome much and have done a great job of blocking out the outside noise and negativity. They still have a way to go, but with Stokes on their side, the Tigers have the right components to succeed.