Tulane-LSU memories linger on ... and this goes especially for the players.
Here, briefly, four former stars of the annual classic, who knocked heads years ago, recall the moments they best remember.
Monk Simons and Abe Mickal were backfield rivals in the 1934 thriller won by the Wave, 13-12.
All-American Eddie Price was a fullback and Charley Cusimano a Tiger guard in the 21-0 upset sprung by LSU in 1949.
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MONK SIMONS: "My biggest thrill in sports by far was my punt return that won the 1934 game when LSU had us 12-7 in the fading minutes.
"I. remember I'd never thought we could score ... the Tigers were doing a great job of covering punts all afternoon . . , Gus Tinsley was wrecking our wide stuff and, every time LSU kicked, he was on top of the receiver.
"With time almost running out the Tigers were back up against their goal and forced to punt . . . Abe Mickal had left the game when his knee gave out and it was Bert Yates who was doing the kicking.
"He kicked to Bucky Bryan around midfield and Bucky ran toward me on an angle and, as I crossed over, he pivoted and pitched me a lateral . ,. .1 took it and beat it down the sidelines behind some great blocking ... the lateral was something we had picked up from Colgate and really caught LSU off guard.
"I remember just as I was crossing the goal Jess Fartheree hit me from behind and broke a bone in my shoulder ... I played with protective padding in the Sugar Bowl against Temple ... I was lucky enough to run a kickoff back for a score . . . but that wasn't near as thrilling as helping to beat LSU."
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ABE MICKAL: "I think one of the best pressure catches I've ever seen was made by Pete Burge in the 1933 game.
"Tulane had us 7-0 and we later moved down to about the Greenie 15 .. .1 threw a pass to Pete who was in the midst of about two or three green jersies.
"He leaped up and sort of collared the ball • • e then
his legs came from under him ... he fell backward and didn't have complete possession of the ball until he landed in the end zone on his back • . . the catch gave us a 7-7 tie.
"The next year, in 1934, we put in a special pass play for the Greenies . . . everything went to the left . . . Jeff Barrett, our left end, went downfield and cut to the right.
"I let go a long pass — I forget how far it traveled — and Jeff caught it and went in to score ... we had the Greenies 12-7 when Monk Simons beat us on a punt return in the last few minutes."
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CHARLEY CUSIMANO: "There were a couple of things I'll never forget about that game in '49 ... for one, I was game captain . . . and then there was our scouting report.
"Ed McKeever, who was assistant under Gus Tinsley, prepared a 31-page book on the Greenies—the most complete I've ever seen ... we knew how all their linemen liked to charge . . . how the backs veered to the right and to the left.
"The best thing was the defense we came up with to stop Eddie Price's trap play . . . we kept knifing a linebacker into the gap . . . Eddie made his best runs early in the game but, after that, we held him pretty well in check.
"So far as I'm concerned, I especially remember Lee Hedges' 65-yard touchdown run . . . I blocked Jerome Hel-luin out and Hedges shot through and went all the way."
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EDDIE PRICE: "Naturally, I'll always remember the 1948 game when we beat 'em 46-0 . . . and how can I forget the next year when we lost 21-0.
"But something that will stay with me always was the 1946 game when LSU had Y. A. Tittle.
"The Tigers had us at half time but then Don Fortier went to work . . . I've never seen a ball carrier—or a team, for that matter — hotter in the second half.
"One time Don was supposed to hand off but he bobbled the ball . . . and then ran for a touchdown', .' . Ed Heider made some great catches . . . if we had had one more quarter I believe we would have beaten 'em ... the final was 41-27." PHOTOS: MONK SIMONS; DR. ABE MICKAL; EDDIE PRICE; CHARLES CUSIMANO
