LSU Tigers football , 1893 – 99 1893 . 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 . 1894 . 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 . 1895 . 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 ) . 1896 . 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 . 1897 . 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 . 1898 . 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 . 1899 . 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 .