Interesting football scheduling

[zephyr]

_ Zeph, it isn't logical....but it's true. Southern fans would rather travel to an away game than go to one at home. They brought 30000 fans to Jackson State last year. They'll probably bring 10000 or more to Cajun Field. I talked with a sports show host in BR. They'll bring a lot more people than you're expecting. _

Understood. That's why I differentiate between "events" that will feature things outside of just a normal football game and a weekend of cultural events to be enjoyed. Here, I see a football game and there doesn't seem to be the attachment by Southern fans to playing UL vs another SWAC team. I think they are going to bring some people but I just can't think you're going to see 20,000. I would hope the university wouldn't do that since we will have as many Jag fans as Cajun fans.

[zephyr]

_ I've had some miserable experiences with opposing fans in Athens (in your face barking as we left the stadium), Auburn (tons of Katrina references fresh after the storm), Gainesville (hit in the face by water bottle), etc but that doesn't keep me from making these trips. However, these trips wouldn't be as attractive if LSU consistently got drilled by 40+ points. While I'm sure your theory does hold some water, I think a lot of it has to do with how poorly UL has played in Tiger Stadium. I believe the average score in the series is 45-1. If UL starts to field more competitive teams, then I think you will see the UL attendance increase. Our tailgate for the last few games has been 50/50 and nobody has had any problems. In fact, 2 of my 4 tickets are used by UL fans and we've had no incidents in the stadium. Having said that, I know there are isolated incidents that do ruin the experience for certain fans and I'm sorry for that. _

You are absolutely right.I have no doubts that the trip was obviously salted by the play on the field. Except for me personally, even if UL was more competitive, I still wouldn't attend the game. How's that? I've sat in great seats during my tenure as a grad student at LSU and seen opponent's fans be treated ruthlessly and it happened to me twice when we played. In 2006, I wasn't far from being in situation that would have likely led to jailtime if I wouldn't have stepped away. We can compare those situations all day but I choose to not put myself in a postion to have to make judgement calls all day in regards to enjoying a football game.

[4LSU]

_ I have had bad experiences too, but not for the reasons you are alluding to. My bad experiences are associated with watching our team get their arse kicked up and down the field. I have never been able to stomach more than 3 quarters.
I will be going again this year, only because I got free tickets. Judging by ticket sales I think the novelty of paying $50 to watch LSU embarrass us has worn off. _

Thanks for your frankness and objectivity.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I would feel much the same as you.

There is never a good excuse for poor sportsmanship, so I hope you have a safe trip, the game is injury free, you are not harassed too much, and both teams play well. After that, may the team who plays better on that nite win.

[bballholic]

Nothing wrong with that. Some of my family members don't travel to other SEC venues for those exact reasons. I'm very cautious on the road but I still can't always avoid the bad apples.

You are absolutely right.I have no doubts that the trip was obviously salted by the play on the field. Except for me personally, even if UL was more competitive, I still wouldn't attend the game. How's that? I've sat in great seats during my tenure as a grad student at LSU and seen opponent's fans be treated ruthlessly and it happened to me twice when we played. In 2006, I wasn't far from being in situation that would have likely led to jailtime if I wouldn't have stepped away. We can compare those situations all day but I choose to not put myself in a postion to have to make judgement calls all day in regards to enjoying a football game.

igeaux.mobi

[MetryCajun]

_ Thanks for your frankness and objectivity.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I would feel much the same as you.

There is never a good excuse for poor sportsmanship, so I hope you have a safe trip, the game is injury free, you are not harassed too much, and both teams play well. After that, may the team who plays better on that nite win. _

I have been to many LSU games and I can say for the most part OOC teams are treated pretty respectfully in Tiger Staduim. Sure there always a couple of jerks, but most of the ribbing I have experienced has not been over the line. SEC games are another story. I have been embarrased for LSU fans almost every time I have gone. Night games are always worse. In fareness to yall, I have experienced similar rudeness at other SEC stadiums. Florida in particular.

[4LSU]

_ I have been to many LSU games and I can say for the most part OOC teams are treated pretty respectfully in Tiger Staduim. Sure there always a couple of jerks, but most of the ribbing I have experienced has not been over the line. SEC games are another story. I have been embarrased for LSU fans almost every time I have gone. Night games are always worse. In fareness to yall, I have experienced similar rudeness at other SEC stadiums. Florida in particular. _

Traveling to an SEC conference game as an opposing fan/team is not for the faint of heart in any sport. It can be like taking part in a feeding frenzy and you are the food. lol

It can be ruff, but then there are lots of things in life that can ruff. We smile, bare it, and move on or we p#ss, moan, and stomp our feet. I have done both, but as I have matured I do more and more smiling.

Good luck with SU on the 5th. It should be an entertaining evening whether they bring 5k or 20k.

[bballholic]

_ I have been to many LSU games and I can say for the most part OOC teams are treated pretty respectfully in Tiger Staduim. Sure there always a couple of jerks, but most of the ribbing I have experienced has not been over the line. SEC games are another story. I have been embarrased for LSU fans almost every time I have gone. Night games are always worse. In fareness to yall, I have experienced similar rudeness at other SEC stadiums. Florida in particular. _

Unfortunately, I've also seen the good, bad and ugly at Tiger Stadium. I've called out LSU "fans" on several occasions for poor behavior. Unfortunately, I'd be willing to bet money that the majority of these rude fans never attended LSU. Life on the road in the SEC is interesting to say the least. I've been to Auburn four times, two of them were great trips, one was bad and one was horrible. I've been to Florida three times with two of them being bad trips and one was ok. I've been to Georgia once and it was very bad. I've seen the good and bad of Ole Miss as well. Miss State and Vandy weren't nearly as intense for obvious reasons. Basically, it all boils down to being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Cajunsmike]

_ Thanks for your frankness and objectivity.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I would feel much the same as you.

There is never a good excuse for poor sportsmanship, so I hope you have a safe trip, the game is injury free, you are not harassed too much, and both teams play well. After that, may the team who plays better on that nite win. _

Keep in mind that the Cajuns have two home games prior to the LSU game and they are being pushed hard in Lafayette. Many fans, especially those who come in from out of town will take a break in Week 3. Metry is also right in that the competitiveness of the last two games may have an impact. What I see as a bigger impact is the hassle you have to go through in regards to parking/traffic etc. to go to an LSU game these days. In 2006, I did not get out of the parking lot until after midnight. When I lived in New Orleans in the 80's and 90's, I occasionally went to Tiger Stadium and it was not nearly the hassle it is today. Stadium expansion has something to do with that. I understand fans not wanting to go through that if you are not at your school's stadium.

[MetryCajun]

_ Keep in mind that the Cajuns have two home games prior to the LSU game and they are being pushed hard in Lafayette. Many fans, especially those who come in from out of town will take a break in Week 3. Metry is also right in that the competitiveness of the last two games may have an impact. What I see as a bigger impact is the hassle you have to go through in regards to parking/traffic etc. to go to an LSU game these days. In 2006, I did not get out of the parking lot until after midnight. When I lived in New Orleans in the 80's and 90's, I occasionally went to Tiger Stadium and it was not nearly the hassle it is today. Stadium expansion has something to do with that. I understand fans not wanting to go through that if you are not at your school's stadium. _

That is so true. An LSU game is an all day and most of the night affair. Here in NOLA my LSU friend gripe about the amount of time a game takes out of their weekend.

[Cajunsmike]

_ That is so true. An LSU game is an all day and most of the night affair. Here in NOLA my LSU friend gripe about the amount of time a game takes out of their weekend. _

This next point is relatively minor and it does not bother me, but it does rub some people the wrong way. Some fans of opposing teams just don't want to have "Tiger Bait" yelled at them all day. LSU fans may say if you can't take that, you are not ready for the big time and nothing personal is meant by it. Response, and a valid one, is that you don't hear anything like that when you go to Texas or A&M. Again, it is not a big deal but I know Cajun fans who refuse to go to the LSU game becasue of that factor alone.

[bballholic]

_ That is so true. An LSU game is an all day and most of the night affair. Here in NOLA my LSU friend gripe about the amount of time a game takes out of their weekend. _

For us, it's more like a weekend affair. The family comes in on Friday and we go have a nice dinner. Saturday is obviously consumed by tailgating and the game. We do either brunch or lunch on Sunday to talk about what took place on Saturday and watch the Saints play. But you guys are right, things are much more complex these days. I forgot which game (maybe Saban's return) but they estimated something like 130,000 people on campus that day. We usually just hang out and watch TV at the tailgate spot after the game for an hour or two. I'd rather be stuck there than in the parking lot sitting in my car. I know some people that simply show up to tailgate without attending the game but I can fathom doing that.

[Cajunsmike]

_ Thanks for your frankness and objectivity.

If the shoe was on the other foot, I would feel much the same as you.

There is never a good excuse for poor sportsmanship, so I hope you have a safe trip, the game is injury free, you are not harassed too much, and both teams play well. After that, may the team who plays better on that nite win. _

The team that plays better will likely be the one that has the most talent and we all know which team that is. Talent differential is largely because of the difference in resources between the two programs. Resource difference is largely a case of conferenc affiliation and historical events. Getting several million dollars for having your conference champion in a BCS bowl every year is something mid majors can't take advantage of. Nothing will change that anytime soon and we need to work to increase our resources. Fortunately we have started to do that. It does amaze me how few of the fans of BCS schools realize how significant this issue is in how teams perform on the field. That is one advantage the NFL has over college. Resources are even in the pros and teams can't do things like playing 2/3 of their games at home.