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At the end of each men's basketball game John Brady walks across the court and recognizes the student section. The die-hard fans cheer upon Brady's acknowledgment.
But after each women's basketball game Pokey Chatman does not approach a roaring crowd of LSU fans. Instead she walks with the team out of the arena.
She most likely does this because there are only a small handful of fans gathered to root for the team.
Before the University of Conneticut game students waited outside the arena for days. The entrance line stretched past Mike the Tiger's cage two hours before tip-off.
But the next day when the Lady Tiger's kicked off their first SEC game against the University of Georgia, the student section remained bleak and empty.
I've heard the arguments: "women's games aren't as interesting," "the women play slower" or "there's no dunking in women's basketball."
None of these excuses are true.
When the women faced off against Georgia, the final score was a nail-biting 57 to 55. The Lady Tigers' 6-foot-6-inch junior Sylvia Fowles shot over triple-team defense, blocked shots and scored 20 points.
But unlike the telling last minutes of the first half and first minutes of the second half at the UConn game, the arena was not being led in cheers by the student section when Tasha Humphrey went for a failed layup.
About 1,200 students were in attendance for the UConn game, but only about 75 students attended the women's Georgia game.
The Lady Tigers are just as much a part of Tiger athletics as the men. The women are currently ranked No. 8, and the men hold at No. 16.
Both teams made it to the Final Four last year and had players enter the pros.
But students still pour into the PMAC for the men's games and leave the women's games underattended.
At men's basketball games and football games, students who claim to be "die-hard," camp out early, wave signs and don costumes.
Where are you when the women take the court?
With the fear that the Athletic Department could cut the student section in Tiger Stadium, don't give adminstrators fuel to axe seats in the PMAC as well.
The Lady Tigers play University of Arkansas on Thursday night at 7 p.m. I'm imploring the student body to start showing up to support the Lady Tigers.
----- Ginger will be at the game. Contact her at ggibson@lsureveille.com
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