Bossier City 'Humongous' LSU Tiger Fan is First Winner of Capital One Bank's 'You Rule Death Valley' Sweepstakes

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 4, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Wearing his purple LSU lounge pants festooned with images of Mike the Tiger and the LSU logo, self-described "humongous" Tiger fan Kris Baxter was home in Bossier City when an overnight package arrived. When he opened the package, all he could say was "Go Tigers!"

The special delivery package informed Kris that he is the first winner of Capital One Bank's You Rule Death Valley sweepstakes, the unprecedented partnership with LSU Athletics Tiger football that will put Kris in the middle of the action on the field before kickoff of the LSU-Alabama game November 6.

As a guest of LSU Athletics and Capital One Bank, Kris will take an unprecedented back-stage tour of the television and radio production of the game, stand in the bench area when the Golden Band from Tigerland takes the field, then join the football captains at mid-field for the coin toss.

A lifelong Tiger fan, he attended his first LSU football game in 1999 with his father, who passed away in 2002. "I'm really stoked to go back and relive some of those memories with my dad," he said. Today Kris works as a tech support specialist for a Shreveport telecommunications company.

"We at Capital One Bank in Shreveport could not be more excited that the first winner of the You Rule Death Valley sweepstakes lives here in our area," said Keith Bergeron, Shreveport market president. "This promotion has generated excitement among our customers like we've never seen before, which tells us how deeply local residents follow LSU football."

"You Rule Death Valley represents a truly historic opportunity that makes our partnership with Capital One Bank so productive and positive," said LSU vice-chancellor and athletic director Joe Alleva.  

As the winner, Kris will bring his girlfriend, Holly Borne of Ponchatoula, on the trip to Baton Rouge. She has never been to a major sports event, much less an LSU Tiger football game.  

He said Holly is indirectly responsible for his winning the You Rule Death Valley sweepstakes; he entered the promotion at the Capital One Bank Main Branch in downtown Shreveport, where he brought Holly to open a new account for her.

He has been a Capital One Bank customer for about a year, after signing up at his office when the bank staged an on-site employee seminar. Perhaps prophetically, he carries a signature LSU Death Valley debit card linked to his Capital One Bank account.

His name was drawn from more than 35,000 entries to Capital One Bank's historic You Rule Death Valley sweepstakes. One more lucky person will be announced to realize a Tiger fan's dream of a lifetime, when the second winner will attend the Ole Miss game Nov. 20.

In addition to the on-field and backstage experience, Kris will receive a package of experiences and merchandise that will make the memory stay vivid for life:

• Special game-day parking
• VIP passes to the LSU Sports tailgate party before the game
• Tour of Cox Sports TV booth and production trailer to meet the CST announcers and have photos taken with them
• Photos taken on the field before the game with LSU cheerleaders and Mike the Tiger
• LSU football jersey personalized with his name to wear out on the field for the coin toss
• VIP seats in the catered Stadium Club to watch the game
• A visit with the Voice of LSU Football, Jim Hawthorne, in the radio booth during the game and his name announced on air as the winner of the historic sweepstakes
• A commemorative football signed by LSU head coach Les Miles.

SOURCE Capital One Bank