LSU Tigers football, 1893–99

Overview
1893 was the first year that LSU sponsored a football team. The Tigers were coached by university professor Dr Charles E. Coates against in-state school Tulane University of New Orleans. The game sparked a rivalry between the Tigers and the Green Wave that has lasted generations. Future Louisiana governor Ruffin G. Pleasant was the quarterback and captain of the LSU team. In the first game against Tulane, LSU football players wore purple and gold ribbons on their uniforms. According to legend, purple and gold were chosen because they were Mardi Gras colors, and the green of Mardi Gras was sold out. An LSU baseball team had also worn purple and gold in its first varsity game against Tulane earlier in 1893, even though LSU's official colors at the time were actually blue and white.

Overview
The Tigers adopted a new coach, Albert Simmons, for the three-game 1894 season. This season marked LSU's first ever victory with the 26–0 win over Natchez Athletic Club. The team's captain, Samuel Marmaduke Dinwidie Clark, became the first LSU player to ever score a touchdown during the game against Natchez A.C. The first football game played on the LSU campus was on December 3, 1894, against Mississippi. LSU's only touchdown in that game was scored by the head coach, Albert Simmons.

Overview
Coach Albert P. Simmons, in his last year at LSU, helped the Tigers to an undefeated season in 1895. 1895 was the first unbeaten season in LSU football history. The season also featured the first home victory in LSU history with a win over Tulane in front of 1,500 spectators. This was LSU's first season playing as a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA).

Overview
The 1896 Tigers, with coach Allen Jeardeau, went undefeated and were the SIAA co-champions. The 1896 team was the first LSU team to use the nickname "Tigers". The Tulane game of this year was forfeited during the game due to Tulane having fielded an ineligible player. At the time that the game was declared forfeit, Tulane was leading with a score of 2 to nothing. Due to the forfeiture, the official score was set at LSU 6, Tulane 0 by the game's referee.

Schedule
Tulane forfeited the October 24 game in New Orleans.

Overview
Coach Allen Jeardeau returned for his second but final year at LSU in 1897 for two games in Baton Rouge. A yellow fever outbreak throughout the South caused the postponement of LSU's classes starting, and the football season being cut back to only two games.

Schedule
The 0–26 loss to the Bearcats is disputed.

Overview
The Tigers, with new coach Edmond Chavanne, played only one game for 1898 season. Another outbreak of yellow fever similar to the one in 1897 caused LSU to play only one game. By the time LSU was able to play its only game of the season, Allen Jeardeau had departed from the school as head football coach, and no provision had been made to replace him. The job of coach then fell to the team's captain, Edmond Chavanne. He holds the distinction of being the only player-coach in LSU football history.

Overview
New coach John P. Gregg led the 1899 Tigers to a 1–4 season. The only wins were in an exhibition game against a high school team (which LSU does not officially record as a win) and against rival Tulane along with the huge win against Ole Miss.