On October 11, 1924, LSU played its first game against a school from the Western Con­ference (forerunner of the Big Ten). Mike Donahue's Tigers traveled 24 hours by train to Indianapolis to play the Indiana Hoosiers.

The day of the game was proclaimed "Dixie Day" in Indy, and a crowd of 12,000 filled the baseball field stands "to see Indiana take the Tigers like 'Grant took Richmond'" (to quote the impassioned prose of LSU's 1924 Yearbook). Almost all were Hoosier faithful except for the LSU Cadet Band that had traveled with the team. Back home, Tiger root­ers gathered at State Field (pre­cursor of Tiger Stadium) to follow the action by wireless on the GridGraph mounted on a stage and narrated by "Wild Bill" Graham.

"Beneath a summer sun which brought memories of Louisiana home to the men," the crowd of 25,000 watched the Tigers start badly when Daniel Bernoske, Indiana's "speedy lineman," picked up a fumble and ran for a touchdown. The PAT made it 7-0 Indiana less than two minutes into the game.

LSU responded with a 60y touchdown drive of their own using their "celebrated 'Line Divide' formation." Allen Connell's 15y scoring run should have tied the score, but the PAT failed. Indiana 7 LSU 6

The third quarter began with the Hoosiers leading 14-6. But the Tigers took advantage of a break when future judge and LSU Board member Oliver "Ike" Carriere ("the game little quarterback and lightest man on the team") made amends for his earlier bobble that set up Indiana's first touchdown by recovering a fumble on the Indiana 42.

Two plays later, junior HB Norman Stevens burst 38y to pull LSU within one as hats flew and cheers erupted 850 miles away in Baton Rouge.

More exultation back home when LSU methodically drove 67y in the final period to score on a short run by Gus Jackson for a 20-14 lead.

However, IU roared back, opening up a desperate pass attack. Victor Salmi connected with Frank Sibley for 25y and threw another pass to Templeton Smith for 11. Salmi then called his own number for 10y and a first down on the 12. Smith got three over left tackle before Salmi gained four and then two at the same spot for a first down at the two.

Salmi carried again. No gain. Smith rammed center. No gain. Salmi took another turn through the center. No gain. Donahue sent in several substitutes. IU captain Joe Sloate took the ball on fourth down, but junior E Ben Miller broke through to nail the ball carrier on the five. LSU ball!

After Charles Forgey gained 4y, Carriere asked Miller to punt the ball out of danger. He booted his first collegiate punt to midfield and then made the tackle just before time ran out.

Coach Donahue was afraid to look as Miller punted, but when the horn sounded, the little Irishman ran onto the field and shook the hands of his weary warriors.

Bedlam broke out in Baton Rouge. Hats flew in the air, and cheers rang out.

The victory removed the goat horns from QB Opie Dimmick. In the third quarter, upon in­tercepting a pass, he paused to yell to the stands "Bound for Dixie!" The delay allowed him to be overtaken on the IU six and cost LSU a touchdown.

Dimmick's boo-boo was not only forgiven by Donahue but provided the main topic of conversation on the train ride back to Baton Rouge.

The Indiana 1925 yearbook summarized the game like this: