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
Atlantan
There's no doubt that LSU has had their best decade of football by far. There's plenty to rub in/taunt and all that if you're that type of person. But I recall this attitude even prior to the 03 national championship. The question is why? Who here knows the last time LSU went through a season undefeated? A: 1958. 40 years. If you take a moment to ask yourselves Who Dat, you'll find a historically mediocre football program.
Dawn M.
I'm an Auburn fan, but feel the need to correct a few of Anarchist's errors for my Tuscaloosa brethren. Wallace stood in the schoolhouse door...when? '63? That was 45 years ago. When's the last time some Louisiana redneck put a noose in a tree to intimidate black kids? Couple years ago? Also, Wallace is dead now. Pulaski, Tenn., is the so-called "birthplace" and headquarters of the KKK, not Tuscaloosa. You can look that up since you can apparently read just a little. And for the record, I love Louisiana. Go as often as I can and never had any trouble. But I've never been to an LSU game and don't plan to.
Seen it all
I think the video is more of a commentary on alcohol abuse than bad sportsmanship!
Trooper17
I quit going to Baton Rouge because of the LSU fans. They are nasty whether they win or lose. Must be in the water down that way. It hasn't always been that way, it just happened in recent years. For a great University like LSU, the fans need to show class and pride rather than anger and nasty comments. If not for Tennessee, LSU would be the worst place to attend a football game.
road dog
Hey,bama fan here.Every S.E.C. team has good fans & bad fans,good years & bad years.Just remember "It's just a game."
Anarchist
Tuscaloosa- City with a smelly papermill,and a nuclear waste dump west on 59,. Red necks from Coaling come out of the coal mines , while your Govenor stands in the school house door blocking blacks from enrolling. Now that's class bama, keep telling us you got class. Tuscaloosa was also the national headquarters for the KKK and home of the imperial wizard of the Klan . That's what Crimson is !!!
BamaFan
You LSU fans are truely a class act. You've represented your university well and have lived down to the expectations of college football fans all over the SEC. You are exactly what we thought you were.
Tiger in T Town
I love how the Bammers come to the LSU paper's website and trash the behavior of "ALL" LSU fans and then in the next breath call us "Corndogs", "Trash", "Armpit of the Country". How is their name calling any different than what supposedly happened to all "Tide" fans in Baton Rouge on saturday? I attended the game with a Bama friend and encountered only friendliness and hospitality.
Tom Marcello
don't you think having a visible camera sort of skewed the results?
Well traveled fan
I have been to over 30 different campuses for football games. No one...and I mean NO ONE...compares to what you find at LSU. Yes, all schools have their jackasses. The undeniable truth of the matter is that LSU simply has more of them....a LOT more...and those take it to a completely different level. As an LSU fan, if you don't believe this then you are just in denial.That is the downside...albeit a huge downside.On the upside. People from Louisiana are the most hospitable and generous people in the country. It is hard for most of us outsiders to understand how such a huge variance in behaviour can coexist. The thing that strikes me the most is the lack of indignation by the 95% of the fans who do carry themselves with class and dignity. It isn't that the whole place is morally bankrupt it is more of a matter that the minority that are so brazenly expressive of their lack of parenting and their absence of social mores are so passively condoned by so many good people.The best evidence of this is, after describing their experience at being cursed, groped and spat on, these courageous reporters had only this admonishment..."Maybe we need to tone it down - just a bit."
Tom Marcello
don't you think having a visible camera sort of skewed the results?
Joesmoe
Funny, the UA school newspaper also did an article on the gameday experience in Baton Rouge and the guys discusses how it was one of the most polite game day experiences he's ever had. It's in the opinion section of the paper for anyone that would like to check it out.
Brant
...and I'll add. NOTHING in the article surprises me. It sounds like exactly how we were treated down there. The spitting on people crap is just unreal. Doesn't surprise me one bit.
Brant
Outside of a war... I've never seen humans treat other humans as me and my family were treated at the OU / LSU game. Every fan base has there idiots... but I had more random LSU fans call me the "f" word than I could even count. I've been on over 40 road game trips and bowls. There are a lot of classy programs out there and great fans. LSU is the absolute worst... and it's pretty well known by anyone that's had to deal with their fans or play them. Some programs just don't know how to win... or lose, with class.
blaze_lazer_blazer
"hmmm funny how the article doesn't match what happens on the video" The article specifically says, "Here are a few things we couldn’t fit in the video." Obviously reading comprehension is not a requirement for admittance to LSU.
Guy
"We were groped and squeezed by just about every guy we interviewed. "That is almost certainly just a flat out lie.
Matt
Some very good friends of mine from Alabama were in town for the game. We walked around all day and heard a few "Tiger Bait" chants, but nothing vulgar or disrespectful in any way... I find this story very difficult to believe.
Reveille=Joke
hmmm funny how the article doesn't match what happens on the video...as a manship grad I hate to see such sloppy, sensationalized reporting.
LSU Fan
Well a rather accurate portrayal of Bama co-eds. When I go to T Town it is the most immoral women I've ever encountered(no complaints)
Well traveled fan
I have been to over 30 different campuses for football games. No one...and I mean NO ONE...compares to what you find at LSU. Yes, all schools have their jackasses. The undeniable truth of the matter is that LSU simply has more of them....a LOT more...and those take it to a completely different level. As an LSU fan, if you don't believe this then you are just in denial.That is the downside...albeit a huge downside.On the upside. People from Louisiana are the most hospitable and generous people in the country. It is hard for most of us outsiders to understand how such a huge variance in behaviour can coexist. The thing that strikes me the most is the lack of indignation by the 95% of the fans who do carry themselves with class and dignity. It isn't that the whole place is morally bankrupt it is more of a matter that the minority that are so brazenly expressive of their lack of parenting and their absence of social mores are so passively condoned by so many good people.The best evidence of this is, after describing their experience at being cursed, groped and spat on, these courageous reporters had only this admonishment..."Maybe we need to tone it down - just a bit."
