THE SWAMP & its Claim to the Name

[Turbine]

"The Swamp"

The question is often raised as to when the University of Louisiana's Cajun Field first started being called "The Swamp"

Over the years football fields used by UL have been within a stones throw or less from an actual swamp on at least 3 different occasions, and actually straddled the famous Cypress Swamp of UL in 2 separate eras.

The very first time the football field was adjacent to a swamp was during the 1901-02 season while on the west side of Louisiana's historic Cypress Swamp. This was at a time when Cypress Swamp was fenced off and deemed unusable, and as late as 1907 a school drawing shows the swamp area completely fenced off. In the picture below you can see one of the many "V" shaped trees that are visible today at Louisiana's Cypress Swamp

1901-1903 Cypress Swamp in the background

The first football field location that was "swamp adjacent" lasted for just 2 football seasons 1901 and 1902. For the 1903 season the playing field was moved to an area inside the quadrangle, right behind Old Martin Hall, but still only 50 yards from the swamp.

Over the next 23 years, three different field locations were used, all inside the quad with any and all quad locations being only a few yards from Cypress Swamp.

The next football field was again directly adjacent to The Swamp when Southwestern Stadium was built on the east (opposite) side of the same Cypress Swamp in 1926.

Southwestern Stadium was built on the tail end of the Christian "Keener" Cagle era, him being one of the few who could claim playing on fields East and West of The Swamp.

In the early 40's the fotball field was moved a block away from The Swamp when McNaspy Stadium was built. It was on this field that the "Swamp Fox" Alvin Dark romped through the often muddy field of McNaspy Stadium for the undefeated 1943 season.

Even though these facts grant historical license to the term "The Swamp" they are not precisely what gave birth to Louisiana's Cajun Field being called "The Swamp." In fact in the early 70's when a new football field was built off campus, far from Cypress Swamp, (two miles) it was named "Cajun Field".

So, when did Cajun Field start being called "The Swamp"?

According to Louisiana's 1989 football media guide, it was prior to the 1988 football campaign, UL's weight lifting coach at the time Mickey Faulkinberry woke up in the middle of the night with the idea of calling Cajun Field "The Swamp."

It was a no brainer and was quickly adopted by Cajun Fans everywhere. Mickey even came up with the slogan "There are stories of people going into swamps and not coming out alive...."

This sign hung at The Swamp entrance for the 1988 football campaign.

Without Louisiana's history with the Cypress Swamp the term "The Swamp" may not have stuck so fast at Cajun Field. It was within one years time of the idea that future NFL Hall of famer Brian Mitchell was found on the 1989 media guide cover standing in Louisiana's Cypress Swamp, with the caption "Sultan of The Swamp".

The University of Louisiana's football team is and always has been at home in The Swamp.

It is a name so unique it had to be copied. Sure enough about 4 years after the phrase coining moment at Louisiana, it happened elsewhere.

After trading media guides for, an upcoming game with Louisiana, Florida head coach Steve Spurrier tags Ben Hill Griffin Stadium Field "The Swamp. " At the end of the 1991 season Spurrier declares, "The swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous." link

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, just remember flattery is not what makes Louisiana's grip as strong as quicksand. Its claim is relentless when you recall the east side of the swamp games of the early 1900's. The games on the west side of a dried out swamp in the 1920's
Yet the permanent carving of remembrance doesn't occur until recalling the unimitable Brian Mitchell running and passing on the actual field that was named "The Swamp" while he was Louisiana’s quarterback.

At two feet below sea level Louisiana’s Cajun Field really is the first football field anywhere to be known as"The Swamp"

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A 1930 game played on Southwestern Field with The Grove and Cypress Swamp in the background.

[CDeb]

Thanks for the research Turbine. I knew that UL had been referring to Cajun Field as "The Swamp" since I was a kid in the late 1980's. I was never sure when Florida had stolen the moniker, but was reasonably confident that we were using it first.

[Geaux clotille]

Thanks for the research Turbine. I knew that UL had been referring to Cajun Field as "The Swamp" since I was a kid in the late 1980's. I was never sure when Florida had stolen the moniker, but was reasonably confident that we were using it first.

You were a kid in the late 80's??? LOL

I did think we had been the Swamp for a very long time and glad to know it's for real!

[AirBill]

We never protect the names that we come up with. Look at what happened to the Bayou Classic. I still think basketball whenever I hear that name.

[BurninCayenne]

A 1930 game played on Southwestern Field with The Grove and Cypress Swamp in the background.

Trees fenced off to keep football in or alligators out? lol

[ltee67]

My memory is not what it used to be, but, I seem to remember that the backside of the old scoreboard had " THE SWAMP" on it way back in 1975 or so. And if someone has an old yearbook dated anywhere from 1974 to 1978, I believe that there is a picture of the old board with " THE SWAMP" on it.

[CajunFun]

The very first time the football field was adjacent to a swamp was during the 1901-02 season while on the west side of Louisiana's historic Cypress Swamp. This was at a time when Cypress Swamp was fenced off and deemed unusable, and as late as 1907 a school drawing shows the swamp area completely fenced off. In the picture below you can see one of the many "V" shaped trees that are visible today at Louisiana's Cypress Swamp.

The first football field location that was "swamp adjacent" lasted for just 2 seasons 1901-02 and 1902. For the 1903 season the playing field was moved to an area inside the quadrangle, right behind Old Martin Hall, but still only 50 yards from the swamp.

Unfortunately, in those days it was "Cypress GROVE." It didn't become a swamp until WWII...

[Turbine]

_ Unfortunately, in those days it was "Cypress GROVE." It didn't become a swamp until WWII... _

It didn't become a swamp "AGAIN" until WWII...

Someday I will try to expound on how the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1905 led to the Swamp being effectively drained. In short its natural water collecting abilities were stunted, on purpose.

[shasta]

turb, where do you find these great old photos, or is that a trade secret?

[CajunFun]

It didn't become a swamp "AGAIN" until WWII...

Someday I will try to expound on how the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1905 led to the Swamp being effectively drained. In short its natural water collecting abilities were stunted, on purpose.

Aha! Thereby hangs a tale?

[CajunsHat]

Here is a link on history of Florida gators football and the stadium...
http://www.secsportsfan.com/florida-...l-history.html
And here is when it says "the swamp" term was used...
"Stadium History"

"When the University of Florida stadium was first built in 1930, it was known as Florida Field. In 1989, it was renamed to pay tribute to a college benefactor by the name of Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. During the 1990s, the nickname of "the Swamp" was given to the stadium by former head coach, Steve Spurrier."

Now If this doesn't prove that we used it first, then I dunno what will? If LSU renames there field to the swamp, I guess we can all assume we stole that from them??
igeaux.mobi

[Turbine]

Fact: Spurrier took the Florida job in 1990.

Fact: While negotiating a future game UL sent Florida a 1989 media guide with Brian Mitchell on the cover. The headline read "Sultan of The Swamp" ... The two teams agreed to play in 1993.

Fact: At the end of the 1991 season, Spurrier notices, "The Swamp is where Gators live. We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous."

Fact: Not only was UL first with the Swamp. Florida (Steve Spurrier) got the renaming idea during negotiations to play UL.

[Professor]

And if you ask anyone in America where the "swamp" is they'll say gainesville. Sad but true

igeaux.mobi

[Tripple Threat]

We need to post that sign back up with an established date. The feet below sea level phrase is a cool piece of info as well. Does anyone know when Florida built their on campus Gator habitat? I’m assuming ours was also first.

[Turbine]

Louisiana's on campus Gator habitat existed before the school existed.

The Swamp was drained in the late teens, and renamed Cypress Grove.

It was reflooded in the 1940s and renamed Cypress Lake.

The Gators returned in the late 1950's and started showing up in school literature in the 1960's and the campus was protected with a barrier shortly thereafter.