The announcement that Charles Alexander’s name will forever be displayed inside Tiger Stadium is not just a moment for LSU football; it is a moment for college football history. Known affectionately as “Alexander the Great,” the legendary LSU running back was the epitome of excellence and grit during his years in Baton Rouge. For fans who witnessed his dominance on the field, this jersey retirement ceremony scheduled for Saturday will serve as a culmination of decades of respect, admiration, and gratitude for what he meant to the program. For those too young to have seen him play live, the ceremony offers a chance to learn and appreciate the enduring legacy of one of the greatest players to ever wear the purple and gold. The weight of this honor is immense, considering that only a select few players in LSU’s long, storied football history have earned the right to see their name forever immortalized inside Tiger Stadium.
Charles Alexander wasn’t just a star; he was the kind of player who could change the entire direction of a game with one play. Born in Galveston, Texas, Alexander grew up in a state that produced countless great football players, but he would carve out a unique legacy by bringing his immense talent to Louisiana. He arrived at LSU at a time when the Tigers were striving to cement themselves as a true powerhouse, and he quickly became a fan favorite for his bruising running style, his ability to find gaps in opposing defenses, and his relentless drive to put the team on his back. In an era before spread offenses and quick-hitting passing attacks, Alexander’s style of play defined what it meant to dominate as a running back in the Southeastern Conference.
When people look back at Alexander’s LSU career, one of the first things they remember is his 1977 season, which is still widely regarded as one of the most remarkable seasons ever produced by an LSU running back. He rushed for 1,686 yards that year, a record that stood for decades. The consistency and durability he showed across that season made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. What set him apart wasn’t just his raw physical strength or ability to shed tacklers, but also his endurance and ability to perform week after week against SEC competition. By the time his LSU career was over, he had become LSU’s all-time leading rusher, and though records have since been broken, the legacy of his impact remains firmly in place.
Retiring a jersey is about more than numbers and statistics, though. For LSU, it is about celebrating the athletes who embodied the spirit of the program and left behind a legacy that shaped the culture for years to come. Alexander’s toughness on the field mirrored the kind of resilience LSU fans pride themselves on. He wasn’t just about the glory of touchdowns; he was about the grind, the kind of hard-nosed football that Tigers fans live for. His jersey retirement now ensures that every future generation of LSU players and fans will know his story, will see his name in Tiger Stadium, and will understand that he set a standard that others are expected to strive toward.
The ceremony on Saturday will undoubtedly be emotional, not only for Alexander but also for his family, his teammates, and the LSU community. Fans who watched him dominate in the 1970s will relive the memories of watching a young man carry the hopes of a football team and its passionate fan base. Younger fans will be introduced to his name in a way that connects the dots between LSU’s past, present, and future. Tiger Stadium, already filled with the ghosts and legends of LSU’s storied football history, will become even richer in meaning when Alexander’s name is permanently displayed.
This honor also highlights the continuity of LSU football’s greatness. From Billy Cannon to Leonard Fournette, from Kevin Faulk to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, LSU has produced a long line of exceptional running backs. Charles Alexander’s place in that lineage is unique because of the time in which he played and the impact he made during a critical period in LSU’s development as a national contender. His performances on the field gave LSU fans a sense of pride and identity, especially in the years when the program was fighting to prove itself on the national stage. His jersey retirement ensures that his contribution to that story will never fade.
It’s also worth considering the broader meaning of jersey retirements in college football. Unlike in the professional ranks, where jersey retirements are more common and often tied to business or branding, in college football, such honors are rare and deeply significant. They carry with them the acknowledgment that a player’s time at the university went beyond wins and losses, beyond touchdowns and statistics. It is a recognition that the player became part of the university’s soul, part of the identity that future players will look to as a model of excellence. Charles Alexander’s inclusion in this rare company speaks to the lasting impression he left, not only as a player but as an ambassador for LSU long after his playing days ended.
As fans gather in Tiger Stadium on Saturday, the atmosphere will be electric. The stadium, already one of the most iconic venues in all of sports, will serve as the perfect backdrop for such a historic moment. The halftime ceremony will bring together generations of LSU supporters. There will be alumni who cheered for Alexander as students, families who have passed down LSU fandom through generations, and new fans who are only just beginning to appreciate the rich tradition of the program. For all of them, this ceremony will symbolize the unbreakable bond between past and present, between the players who built LSU’s foundation and those who continue to carry it forward today.
Beyond LSU, this moment also speaks to the role college football legends play in shaping their communities. Alexander wasn’t just a running back; he was a symbol of LSU’s fighting spirit, and his success helped inspire countless young athletes to pursue their dreams in Baton Rouge. His jersey retirement will remind everyone that when a player gives his all for his school, the school never forgets. Decades may pass, the game may change, but the legacy remains. For LSU, Saturday’s ceremony is about ensuring that legacy lives forever.
In today’s world, where college football has become increasingly commercialized and dominated by the pressures of recruiting and NIL deals, moments like this stand out as reminders of the game’s deeper meaning. While fans will always celebrate the victories and championships, it is the players who define eras and inspire loyalty that truly endure. Charles Alexander is one of those players, and his enshrinement inside Tiger Stadium ensures that his greatness will continue to be celebrated for generations to come.
When Alexander steps onto the field Saturday and sees his name unveiled, it will be a full-circle moment. From the young man who once dreamed of greatness, to the running back who carved his name into LSU’s record books, to the legend who is now being honored by the very program he helped elevate, his journey embodies everything that is special about college football. Fans will cheer, his teammates will remember, and future Tigers will look up at his name and understand the standard they are expected to meet. That is the power of jersey retirement, and that is why this ceremony will be more than just a halftime spectacle—it will be a defining moment in LSU’s ongoing story.
Charles Alexander’s name will now join the other immortals who have shaped LSU football. His contributions, his toughness, his leadership, and his relentless drive are the reasons he is remembered as “Alexander the Great.” For the LSU family, there could be no greater honor than to ensure that his name and legacy will echo through Tiger Stadium every Saturday, long after the final whistle blows. This weekend, as the crowd roars and the banners fly, one man’s greatness will finally be etched permanently into the heart of LSU history.
