The Tigers’ extensive list of hated foes is missing one ingredient: a viable in-state rivalry.
Sure, the Battle for the Rag filled this void for a time, but it’s difficult to justify calling it a rivalry, as Tulane has topped LSU just five times in the 57 matches between the two schools since 1944, and the schools discontinued the annual rivalry in 1994.
“Where I come from, it’s Saints football and LSU football, and that’s it,” said junior linebacker and Marrero, La., native Lamin Barrow. “It didn’t matter [that] we were right down the street from Tulane.”
But this season has seen an increase in the success of football programs in Louisiana and, in turn, has given hope to the possibility of creating a significant in-state opponent at some point in the future.
“I think in-state rivalries are always good, especially if they’re competitive,” said junior defensive end Barkevious Mingo. “[Louisiana Tech] is coming up in the standings, and I think to have an in-state rivalry like that would be good for [Louisiana].”
No. 20 Louisiana Tech’s run-and-gun offense implemented by head coach Sonny Dykes has the Bulldogs forcing themselves into the national conversation.
The Bulldogs have dominated for most of this season, their only defeat coming in a 59-57 shootout with then-No. 22 Texas A&M in which they were a two-point conversion away from forcing overtime.
Louisiana Tech’s entrance into the Bowl Championship Series standings Oct. 28 marked the first time since the inception of the BCS in 1998 that Louisiana has been represented by two schools simultaneously in the poll.
Louisiana-Monroe is also making a lot of noise this season. A program that has never even received a vote in the Associated Press poll, the Warhawks shocked college football fans early this season by beating then-No. 8 Arkansas, and barely being edged out by Auburn and Baylor.
Louisiana-Lafayette has also had a fairly successful season and is now only one win away from bowl eligibility after defeating Louisiana-Monroe last Saturday.
But can any of these programs maintain success long enough to influence recruits to choose them instead of LSU?
Barrow doesn’t seem to think so. While schools from Louisiana will always root for each other, he said there is no doubt LSU will always be a player’s first choice.
“I know guys that went to [Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe], and they are having a great year, but those players I feel like kind of look up to us,” Barrow said. “… LSU is like the mecca of football in Louisiana. … This tradition here, it’s never going to stop.”
In this Nov. 3, 2012 photo, Louisiana Tech quarterback Colby Cameran (10) is brought down by Texas-San Antonio's Brian King during an NCAA college football game at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La. Cameron passed for 348 yards in a 51-27 win. (AP Photo/The El Dorado News-Times, Michael Orrell) MANDATORY CREDIT
