LSU Spring Football to Overlap with Jazz Fest - and Lane Kiffin’s Learning Curve Just Got a Little More “Different”
Lane Kiffin is settling into life in South Louisiana with the kind of enthusiasm you'd expect from a coach who knows how to win over a fanbase - one bite of gas station boudin at a time. Since taking over as LSU’s head coach in December, he’s leaned into the culture with gusto.
He’s already coined a personal slogan - “It’s Just Different” - and dropped by local staples like Phil’s Oyster Bar. Even his Twitter feed has been part food tour, part football tease.
But as Kiffin embraces the unique rhythm of Baton Rouge and beyond, he’s run into one of Louisiana’s most sacred scheduling conflicts: LSU spring football and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival are about to collide.
Kiffin released the Tigers’ spring practice schedule this week, and while there’s a lot to like from a football standpoint - 14 practices starting March 24 and running through April 24 - two key dates stand out for reasons that have nothing to do with X’s and O’s. LSU will be practicing on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 - the opening days of Jazz Fest.
For the uninitiated, Jazz Fest isn’t just another music festival. It’s a cultural institution, a rite of spring in Louisiana.
And while football is king in these parts, Jazz Fest is royalty in its own right. When it comes to planning, most locals - including media, players, and even past coaching staffs - have typically tried to avoid any overlap.
It’s not just about the music; it’s about honoring the rhythm of the region.
Now, this isn’t the first time LSU football has stepped on Jazz Fest’s toes. Nick Saban’s spring schedules occasionally overlapped back in the day. But more often than not, LSU’s football calendar has found a way - intentionally or otherwise - to steer clear of the Fairgrounds during late April.
This year, though, it’s a direct hit. And while there’s no spring game on the docket - Kiffin stopped doing those during his Ole Miss tenure, and LSU’s haven’t exactly been marquee events in recent years - the practices on April 23 and 24 mean that players, especially those hailing from the New Orleans area, won’t be catching acts like The Blind Boys of Alabama on opening day.
And let’s not forget the media. Reporters who cover LSU spring football - whether they’re granted access to practice or not - may have to put their Jazz Fest plans on ice, at least for that first weekend. It’s déjà vu for some, like in 2012 when Bruce Springsteen played Fest on the same day LSU baseball hosted Georgia, and a few familiar faces in the press box were conspicuously absent.
Still, there’s a silver lining. Most of Jazz Fest’s heavyweight acts won’t hit the stage until after LSU wraps up spring ball.
That includes Stevie Nicks, Bruce Hornsby, Samantha Fish, Sonny Landreth, and Kermit Ruffins on Saturday, April 25 - a date that, under different circumstances, might’ve been ideal for a spring game. But with Kiffin opting out of that tradition, fans and media alike are free to enjoy the music without having to choose between football and funk.
Rod Stewart, Widespread Panic, The Eagles, Earth, Wind and Fire - they’re all set to perform after LSU’s final spring practice. So while the first weekend of Jazz Fest might be a little tight for Tiger fans and football staffers, the second weekend is wide open.
As for Kiffin? Maybe he’ll make it out there himself.
After all, he’s already shown he’s got an appetite for the local flavor. And if he’s going to keep using #ItsJustDifferent, he might want to experience all the ways Louisiana lives up to that motto - especially when the brass bands start playing.
Just don’t expect him to reschedule practice next time. Football may be life in Baton Rouge, but even here, Jazz Fest hits a different note.