New Year’s Day bowl games are coveted places to be for coaches, players and fans.

And this year, Natchez has a bigger role in a big game than normal.

When the LSU Tigers take the field at noon in the Capital One Bowl, Natchez will be with them, on the shoulders of Stevan Ridley.

The 2006 Trinity Episcopal School graduate is set to start in the Tigers Bowl game, and he can be rest assured Natchez will be watching.

It’s the first big-game start of Ridley’s college career, and he’s excited and ready, he said last week.

But no matter the outcome of the game or the performance of Ridley, we are proud of him.

He worked hard in high school, leading the Saints to a state championship. And he’s continued to work hard at LSU.

It took strength and perseverance for Ridley to come back from a torn ACL this year, and we are happy to see that his hard work is paying off.

He’s only a sophomore, so the opportunities certainly don’t end today either.

We know plenty of Natchez natives, Ridley fans and Trinity alumni will be rooting Stevan on today, but the cheering section is likely larger than Ridley will realize.

This time, Natchez is playing.