Terry Gagliano, a fun-loving LSU Tiger fan who's traveling with 17 family members to Saturday's Tigers/Huskies game, predicts the result of this weekend's influx of Cajun Staters: "Seattle will never be the same."
A 30-year LSU season ticket holder, he says he's traveled to five different states for LSU games. Seeing Seattle on the schedule galvanized him to make another.
"I said, 'Look, we got to go to Seattle. We got to see that football game .'"
"We" has ended up including 17 members of Gagliano's extended family. They all met in Portland, where son Troy lives, and are chartering a bus to take them to Seattle Friday. They're staying at the Arctic Club Hotel and are planning dinner at Sazerac that night.
"We're going to spend a lot of money in Seattle," Terry told me. "I'll hate to see to see my VISA bill."
Other Tiger fans I spoke to are turning the game into the centerpiece of a longer trip.
Lester Giordano, his wife, and another couple got in last Saturday, went up to Victoria for a couple of days, and then to Vancouver before heading to Seattle late this week. I asked his impression of the area and he gave me one word: "Beautiful."
David Duval called me from the New Orleans airport on Wednesday; he said he saw more than 200 LSU fans in the airport. How can you tell they are LSU fans, David? "Oh, they've got LSU suitcases; and there are a couple of little girls in face paint." These people do not mess around.
Duval's staying at the W , and had tickets for last night's Seahawks/Raiders game. I asked if he had gotten any scoops on Seattle nightlife. "I heard I should go to Spitfire ," he said, "but other than that I don't really know anything." (David had described himself as someone who liked to "party hard," so I suggested Cowgirls Inc. )
To identify LSU fans, look for gold clothing. The LSU athletic department has encouraged fans to wear that color , instead of the team's other color, purple, to differentiate themselves from purple-clad Washington fans.
Before Saturday's game, Gagliano and his clan are meeting up with a Husky season ticket holder and avid tailgater who's planning a Northwest/Southeast food mashup: salmon, gumbo, jambalaya and hurricanes for about 35 people.
If you're lucky, you're going to that party, where you'll hear what Gagliano plans to tell Husky fans: "Go easy on us, you Huskies. Don't beat us too bad." It's his standard line for fans of the host team when he travels.
Next year brings Nebraska to Husky Stadium, but forgive us for thinking that Louisianans will bring a slightly more fun-loving attitude. Barring an unexpectedly successful Husky season, this will be the best pre-game at Husky Stadium all year.
