this south lafourche tarpins were did louisiana state champions with you saturdays were all about collegeall. what did lsu football mean to this family? >> it was a big part of our family, but it wasn't something we could go -- and go to the game. >> reporter: why not? >> we could not afford these -- that was an outing. it was ex pens -- you couldn't get a tickets, even. >> reporter: when his son asked for tickets, ed senior delivered the ultimate pep talk. >> he said son, we can't afford that but let me tell you something. if you keep on working, you won't need a ticket to get into tiger stadium. >> reporter: he did get in. lsu gave him a college scholarship but overwhelmed and home sick, he high stald it back to the bayou. >> he woke me up, said let's go. i was digging dichls. people were passing on the side of the road, you quitter. you couldn't take it. it was the worst day of my life. my father looked at me and said -- >> he dug his way back to baton rouge of course but it took him 35 years to go those 75 miles. first he went to northwestern state. then after graduation took a volunt