In The Tiger's Den: The 2nd Half

By Spencer Hall

9:39 p.m. I'm now watching the second half from a house party stuffed with LSU fans. No one's throwing bottles on the ground here, though I did see some festive fans mooning traffic from the fourth floor of the Jax brewery.

10:06 p.m. The difference could not be more profound between the OSU and LSU crowds. At this point in the game, LSU has just thrown a pick six and momentum is teetering towards Ohio State, yet aside from few angry pounds of the couch, there's few signs of distress. The sound's not even up on the television; instead of Thom Brenneman, we're listening to "Born on the Bayou."

Did I mention dancing? Oh, yeah. There's dancing.

10:10 p.m. Scene: game on in background. Apartment full of people of all ages dancing to "Carnival Time." Like a herd of prairie dogs attuned to the approach something important, they all turn to the television. A pause, and Todd Boeckman is clotheslined by Alley Highsmith and fumbles the ball on fourth down. The crowd explodes, exchanges high-fives, and continues the dance party without a hitch.

10:54 p.m. The party really refuses to die. Everyone's on cell phones organizing the next party, calling relatives, dancing small dances while heading out to Bourbon Street. If there's such a state as casually giddy, LSU fans are it. It's carnival time-hand me down my cape and crown.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.