LSU cheerleaders ride in atop Mike V's cage. Mike also plays a mean defensive back. Steve Franz

AFTER 2 A.M.: Louie's Café, open 24 hours, has greasy, alcohol-absorbing hash browns that students love. Tougher to find an open table at 2 a.m. than 6 p.m.

DOSE OF CULTURE: Visitors who wander the tailgating sections with a friendly face (and perhaps a few cold ones) will be invited to try local fare such as crawfish, jambalaya and alligator.

PREGAME: The Chimes. Just a keg toss north of campus, this popular saloon boasts the rowdiest fans and the widest assortment of brews in the bayou.

MUST MUSIC-STOP: The Varsity Theatre has street cred with the alt-rock crowd and is a fave haunt of Better Than Ezra, whose lead singer attended LSU.

ONLY AT LSU: Mike, a real live Bengal tiger, makes his home just beyond Tiger Stadium. His cage is bigger than your dorm room.

TICKET MASTER: The LSU.edu website's ticket message board is your best bet.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Tennessee-LSU football, Sept. 24. A "gold out" game: wear gold, not purple; Auburn-LSU football, Oct. 22.

PACK YOUR: Extra shirts. In this stifling heat and humidity, you'll sweat like Albert Brooks in Broadcast News.

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