(EDITOR’S NOTE: Retired pastor/centerfielder/
For 42 years, there was a confrontation. As a pastor who loves both LSU football and delivering the Word to the Lord’s people, there was an issue. As much as I loved Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, I couldn’t justify wheeling into Shreveport at 3 a.m. and then rising two hours later to prepare to preach two or three times that morning. That would be ministerial malpractice.
Therefore, for 42 years Sunday morning in the pulpit was undefeated. That all changed on September 1, 2026 when I began my first day of retirement. Saturday night in Tiger Stadium was unopposed, and I took advantage of it.
A friend gifted me and my bride 40-yard-line tickets to the Clemson game. I was like a kid at Christmas, and we were in our seats two hours before kickoff. It was then that the first lightening delay occurred. Then the clouds opened up. At the scheduled kickoff time, we were standing shoulder to shoulder beneath the stands with other fans when another lightning bolt struck. That meant that, with the mandatory 90 minute warmup time, we were at least two hours from kickoff. I turned to the Clemson fan beside me and said, “Y’all gonna have to throw me overboard.” It was a redneck paraphrase of Jonah in Jonah 1:12 when he looked at the frightened mariners and declared, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”
Undeterred, I was able to attend the Louisiana Tech game the following Saturday as a member of the press. The sky was clear. No lightning in sight. I guess that previous experience was just a coincidence. I wouldn’t be standing beneath the stands when the inevitable torrent fell from the skies. I wouldn’t have to be thrown overboard. Or would I?
Then the first half occurred. Or more specifically, the second quarter happened. Sam Leavitt threw three interceptions in the second quarter alone. During his two-year career at Arizona State, his highest number of interceptions in an entire game was two, and that happened only once.
When the second quarter ended, we were handed a sheet with the first half statistics. LSU led in total yardage 278-0, and the score was 10-3. I am guessing Coach Kiffin’s halftime speech would not have been fit for the pulpit.
Y’all gonna have to throw me overboard.
I was a devoted pastor for 42 years. I never attended a single night game in Tiger Stadium during those four decades. Growing up, I went to several. My devotion to the pulpit was so firm that, the last time I sat in Tiger Stadium at night, Sid Crocker was the public address announcer. His 30-year tenure lasted from 1955 to 1985. The last time I was in Tiger Stadium, there were no LED light shows, no fireworks, no basketball goals on the sideline. And get this, there were huddles! Yes, the players huddled between plays. The only thing of familiarity was the band marching onto the field before the game and playing “Hold That Tiger.” And now I am being treated as Jonah fleeing God’s command to go to Ninevah?
By the end of the second quarter, I was looking up Ninevah on Google Maps to get driving directions. It was then that I realized I would also need a boat, and you can be absolutely certain this Jonah wasn’t getting on a boat. Therefore, I had to investigate other options. To my dismay, I discovered that the first direct flight from Baton Rouge to Ninevah wouldn’t leave until after the second half ended. I guess y’all gonna have to throw me overboard.
Tiger fans, far and wide, I encourage you to relax. Jonah isn’t getting on the boat for the remainder of the season. Jonah and Mrs. Jonah will view the remaining games from the comfort of the sofa in their den. So if the season goes sideways, know that I am not the Jonah in the boat. But if you find another Jonah, throw him overboard. Having him swallowed by a big fish is preferable to losing to Ole Miss.
Contact Rev. Pourciau at sports@journalservicesllc.com