LSU Back in Gold: 1996 May Not Be the First Gold Game?

LSU will be back in an "Athletic Gold" jersey for the first time since 1998. LSU has worn "Vintage/Old Gold" before but this is LSU's gold. Thanks to an NCAA rule change in 1995, giving home teams the option to wear white at home with their opponent's permission. 1996 saw the Tigers debut gold jerseys when Vanderbilt refused LSU's request to wear white at home.

Gerry DiNardo, previously the head coach at Vanderbilt, in a great act of pettiness came out in gold against Vanderbilt. The Tigers wore this combination two more times afterward, in 1997 and 1998 making slight changes to the numbers.

LSU will repeat the White, Gold, and White combination from the 1997 Independence Bowl game against Notre Dame (center), the only difference being the number. The jersey's last game was a 10-22 loss to Florida in 1998 (right).

1996 May Not Be the First Gold Game?

Need to thank PrimatePulse on Twitter for pointing this out and the 1958 Gumbo Yearbook. All Uni-Trackers know that any school yearbook will be the best option to find the changes in uniforms. Now, I am still looking for more information on these 3 games in 1957. Even if they are black and white, the jerseys are clearly not purple and look to match the color of the yellow helmet. Before 57' LSU has Vintage Gold but not this Athletic Gold.

Below are pictures from the Florida, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, and Ole Miss games. Ole Miss is the one away game that LSU is in white. Notice how the shade of grey from the helmet to the pants matches exactly, while the White is very noticeable for the Ole Miss game (far right). The picture of the Vanderbilt game (middle left) is directly from the Vanderbilt Yearbook.

The next year, 1958, features a new uniform with numbers on the shoulders and a change in the helmet number font to that known stylish slab serif, Billy Cannon's iconic #20 helmet. The yellow-ish shade will not reappear until 1996.

I've never heard this before, and it's partly why I am skeptical in believing that the jersey is gold; it could be the lightest shade of purple for all you know. Even though it is clear as day in the photos, that the jersey matches the shade of the rest of the uniform. If that's the case, LSU is 1-1 against Vanderbilt, 1957 being a 0-7 loss, in a gold jersey. Let's hope this Saturday we make it 2-1.

Share or let me know if you know more about this 1957 Season and Paul Deitzel's impact on LSU's uniforms. Shoutout to PrimatePulse again.