It’s November in Baton Rouge. It’s a time when the days still run hot but the night’s tease with a fall breeze.
On LSU’s campus, students go about with more life in their steps, a glow in their eyes, and hate in their heart.
It’s Bama hate week, and at LSU, its significance trumps any attention given to the week of final exams.
“I can’t describe how much I royally hate Alabama,” said LSU sophomore Ethan. “Bama hate week is like my favorite week of the school year pretty much.
Each season, the seven days leading up to the Tigers battle the Crimson Tide on the first Saturday in November, it’s a time-honored tradition for LSU students and fans to proudly proclaim their hatred for the University of Alabama.
Unfortunately, the week of Alabama abhorrence is nearing an end which means Tiger fans’ opportunity to express themselves by posting Alabama jokes on Facebook and Twitter is dwindling. A simple search of “#BamaHateWeek” will bring up a number of examples.
LSU and Alabama’s rivalry has heated up over the last decade as the game has been decided by seven points or fewer in seven of the past 11 meetings.
But the Tigers have other storied rivalries with teams like Ole Miss and Arkansas. So why do LSU fans hate Alabama so much? That seems a silly question to even ask.
“I feel like it’s a sin to not hate Alabama if you go here,” said LSU freshman Kristen.
“I’ve been raised an LSU fan all my life and I’ve learned to hate Bama,” said LSU sophomore Mackenzie.
LSU fans’ hatred for Alabama seems innate but some students point to Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s career choices as the cause.
“As much as we hate Bama it’s because…they tend to beat us a lot,” Ethan said. “And I think Nick Saban has a huge part to do with it. When he left I think the rivalry got a whole lot bigger.”
“There’s just a whole list of reasons.” said LSU sophomore Cade Marsh. “The fact that they don’t consider us a rival but we consider them one of our biggest rivals.”
Until Saturday night arrives, LSU fans will continue to intensify their hatred for Alabama in hopes that their passion will inspire the Tigers to defeat the Crimson Tide.
But when LSU and Alabama officially kicks off, it’ll be a game we all love.

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