Editor’s note: This staff editorial was written by Editorial Board member Gerri Sax. We support her views expressed in this column.
Last weekend was one of the most surreal experiences of my life, and I’m not talking about the football team’s heartbreaking loss to Alabama.
I’m talking about the hours I spent around campus tailgating — but not as a regular Tiger.
For this game, a fellow staffer and I, armed with a video camera and microphone, ditched our normal attire, threw on crimson-and-white sweatshirts and walked through campus to see what it would be like behind enemy lines.
Most people know how aggressive LSU’s fans are. But to see first hand just how hostile and offensive Tiger fans can be really opened up my eyes.
The final video of our experiences on lsureveille.com is an accurate depiction of what we encountered, but it was only the tip of the iceberg. Here are a few things we couldn’t fit in the video.
Vulgar language has never really bothered me, and the incessant “Tiger-baiting” and
“Around the bowl and down the hole, Roll Tide, Roll” mocking were the least of my worries.
Almost every tailgate spot we visited greeted us with the same expressions. The women called us “bitches,” and the men called us “cunts” followed by the traditional “Rip. Rip. Rip. Rap. Rap. Rap. You ‘Bama girls got the clap, clap, clap!” cheer.
And if that wasn’t enough, the amount of times we were spit on also struck a nerve.
Spitting on someone is one of the most degrading things a human being can do to another.
Verbal abuse is powerful, but when things get physical, that’s a little more effective.
The most significant physical encounters were from male Tiger fans. And they all involved some kind of inappropriate gestures. We were groped and squeezed by just about every guy we interviewed.
Not only did things get physical for us personally, our camera equipment also has some bruises as well. I can’t even count the number of times a Tiger fan ran up to the camera and shouted expletives or just yelled at the lens.
We witnessed what other teams’ fans encounter every home game and just how animated Tiger fans are before a big game.
But maybe we need to tone it down — just a bit.
----
Contact the Editorial Board at editor@lsureveille.com
Our View: Tailgating as 'Bama fans highlighted LSU's belligerence
Published: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Updated: Tuesday, November 11, 2008
148 comments
Rullie
Garri, good thing this was a day game. You would have had a worse time with a night game. More time to let the fans get even more intoxicated..
Saban made LSU his bitch
Tiger bait has to be the dumbest thing to yell at anyone at anytime. Stupid LSU fans.
Denny Crane
I'm not the least bit surprised at this type of behavior. Especially in Louisiana, the armpit of America.
27-21
LSU fans are just pathetic. Classless losers.
Lsu11
Be fair and got to bama next year with your lsu gear on the report back to me K????
santa
Unbiased journalism. Sure.
Go Gator 1
Thug life is alive and well in Red Stick. LSU fans are the most disgusting form of fans alive. One tried to start some crap with me a few years ago in the restroom. I gutpunched him when he grabbed me. He then fell down and started groveling and crying on the piss covered floor. He was crying and telling others to call the cops. What a coward, like all LSU "toughguys". Next time one tries to start something, just face him down they are all mouth and "pissbombs". I used to live in Lafayette, and had to drive by that cesspool to get home..
Your name
While other fans of other colleges may have these same type fans, LSU fans got caught on tape. The video and article are convincing enough to me. The camera doesn't lie.
Denny Crane
I'm not the least bit surprised at this type of behavior. Especially in Louisiana, the armpit of America.
DREAUX
That is what you get for dressing like a bama fan. I would bet you enticed them for the story. Get a life
RollTide
I tailgated with Tiger fans I knew and they were all cool of course and most of the people walking by were. Of course there were some that got a little carried away but thats to be expected. The people in the stadium in my section however tried to bully me into not cheering with threats but turns out it was all talk.
shar
I have been going to LSU games for years and I have never seen behavior like this! Where were you tailgating? We enjoy friendly conversation with the opposing teams fans and they seem to enjoy visiting with us-sure some people act crazy and yell tiger bait-that's what it is all about. Ever been to a TEXAS game?
Your name
Typical of what is encountered at LSU games. It demonstrates a complete lack of class that fans allow other fans to behave this way. If hundreds of your fans cheering on a burning cross on Friday wasn't pathetic enough, now your own papers are condeming your action. Shame
Mike the Tiger
go straight to the cops with the pics of the men who groped you, and press charges.
Your name
If you were groped, you should press charges.
bama1975
while i have seen some of this, for the most part, all of the LSU people we encountered were gracious, not only before the game but also in defeat. I just wanted to give another perspective.
Your name
Roll Tide !!!!!
Your name
A louisiana native ever since the ship came in - have yet to (doubt i ever will) send a family member to that university; LSU fans are simply trash wherever the game is played. I'm sure there are some good apples - but the rude fans surely make up the difference. My window was bashed in one year as it had a tulane plate; a neighboring tulane car was keyed.
LSU ANNOYED
post the video and let the public judge for themselves. Every school has their share of MORONS. It isn't just LSU.
Your name
did you expect anything different from the corndog nation? Rude and crude best describes the fanbase.
