A vacation that consists of stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami is always going to provide you with some highlights but, like the last time I travelled to the U.S, it was a small-ish town in Louisiana that stole the show.In 2014, I embarked on a similar sports-thirsty holiday with teammate Tom Lynch. Our final stop was Baton Rouge in the heart of college football country. With a population of around 200,000, Baton Rouge is very similar to many of Australias large rural towns like Townsville or Cairns in far North Queensland. However, the LSU Tigers dont reside in far North Queensland - they live in Death Valley!Baton Rouge is home of Louisiana State University - a mighty college that competes in the southeastern conference of NCAAs collegiate football. Its basketball team has seen players like Australias No. 1 overall NBA draft pick Ben Simmons, the legendary Shaquille ONeal and before him Pistol Pete Maravich go through its doors.Aside from Simmons, LSU has an ever-growing Aussie contingent among its ranks with three boys from Down Under having played for the Tigers football team. Brad Wing started the trend and is now enjoying a promising career in the NFL with the New York Giants. Rockhamptons Jamie Keehn followed Wing to Baton Rouge and just last season, he graduated after four years in the Bayou. The latest addition to the squad is South Australias Josh Growden, a former Greater Western Sydney AFL player, who battled injury before packing his bags for Louisiana.The game we were in town for just happened to be among the biggest in world sport annually. When LSU and Alabama get together, fireworks ensue, both literally and figuratively. Tiger Stadium holds just over 100,000 people and whilst there were a tick over 102,000 in the house, the noise the crowd made felt like 102,000 jet aeroplanes.Games like these attract people from far and wide.NFL alumni like Patrick Peterson, Kevin Minter and Tyrann Mathieu were on-hand to see their beloved Tigers in action. Mathieu, like many before him, was presented on the field during a time-out after making a $1 million donation to the university.But there were a few more recognisable faces inside Tiger Stadium.Newlyweds Rory and Belinda Sloane called in from New Orleans and despite being anything but gridiron addicts, told us they had the time of their lives. Adelaide club doctor Marc Cesana and his partner Tara also caught the game. Doc is a huge college football fan and he had stops in South Bend and Tuscaloosa before Baton Rouge. Three more iconic college towns you will not find.NCAA football is a brief season, just 12 regular season games meaning the crowd only gets six opportunities to see its team at home. Trust me when I say this, they make all six a party worth remembering. Camper vans fully decked out in LSU purple and gold park in the adjacent streets, BBQs are stoked up and the southern food is cooked to perfection - food and drink is available to all.?If you are here for a good time, youre in the right place.Jamie and his American girlfriend Helen were kind enough to take myself, Hannah, Rory and Belinda to a few tailgates - something all sports fans must experience. It was tent after tent after tent of endless food, drinks, entertainment and excitement as the hours counted down before their Tigers took to the field. Jamie estimated that as the players arrived roughly three hours before the kickoff, 150,000 people would have been surrounding the stadium, all partying like there was no tomorrow.You just asked yourself - 150,000 people does not go into a 102,000-seat stadium - great math, you are correct. At every LSU home game, there are always tens of thousands who come for the party but dont have a ticket to the game. Its truly a mind-blowing event to see live.The match ended up 10-0 in favour of the unbeaten Crimson Tide of Alabama but even me, a now avid LSU fan, could hardly care less. The game day experience was something none of us will ever forget and it is something we all want to experience again.I must say an ENORMOUS thanks to Jamie Keehn who looked after Hannah and I all weekend. He took care of Lynchy and I in 2014 and he came though with the goods again. Josh Growden also deserves a mention, we had the pleasure of sitting with his parents for the game and theyre extremely lovely people who hail from Clare in South Australias wine region. Its a small world.A popular hashtag used by fans of the team is #ForeverLSU - I can say that after two games in person, I am an LSU man forever!#GeauxTigersOur final night was spent in LA watching another famous sports team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Kobe-less Lakers put in a stellar performance despite 39 points from my man Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Staples Center is a remarkable arena and it was a stellar way to cap off an amazing and memorable holiday.Thanks to ESPN Australia and those people I thanked above for making it all happen and thanks to everyone who engaged with me on social media. I had a such fun bringing the games back to you as I did watching them.Well, we are literally just touching down in Adelaide. Time to go see the dog and get ready for pre-season but never fear, it will soon be time to start planning another U.S sporting extravaganza. Hayden Hurst Jersey . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Youth Ravens Jerseys . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. http://www.cheapravensjerseyschina.com/ . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. Jaleel Scott Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Orlando Brown Jr. Jersey . Tracey comes to the Blue Bombers after spending over a decade with Queens University. Most recently he was the schools assistant football coach. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Senior co-captain Danielle Harbin tied her career high with 14 kills Friday night but preseason No. 14 Illinois came away with a straight-sets win in front of 2,805 fans on their home floor. The Razorbacks return to Huff Hall for a pair of matches Saturday, beginning with a 12:30 p.m. (CT) contest against Missouri State.Harbins effort against the Fighting Illini marked the eighth double-digit performance of her career, and first against a ranked opponent. The Mobile, Alabama, native committed just two attack errors on 35 swings and finished the match with a .343 hitting percentage.?The Razorbacks middles combined for 10 kills with Breana Jones and Ana Sofia Jusino registering five each. Defensively, sophomore libero Okiana Valle picked up 10 digs to go along with two service aces, and in her collegiate debut, freshman Rachel Rippee tallied 27 assists, seven digs and an ace.The home team jumped out to quick starts in both sets one and two, forcing head coachh Jason Watson to use early timeouts at 9-3 and 8-2, respectively.dddddddddddd In the opening frame, the Razorbacks recovered to pull to within one at 18-17 on a Savannah Voelzke kill but Illinois won seven of the last nine points to secure the set win.After a back-and-forth start to the third set, Illinois gained control and took a 10-6 lead but the Razorbacks battled back and took their first lead of the match at 13-12 on a solo block by Barbara Dapic. In a set that featured 14 ties, Arkansas had its final lead when Harbin put down a kill to put her team ahead 19-18. With the score tied at 20-all, however, the Fighting Illini rattled off five of seven to seal the season-opening win.After three road trips to begin the season, the Razorbacks return to Fayetteville for their home opener Sept. 16-17 with the Arkansas Invitational at Barnhill Arena. Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Discount Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2020 Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2019 ' ' '