LSU’s football team showed tremendous resolve in Saturday night’s 40-31 come-from-behind victory against Troy.Unfortunately, a large number of Tiger fans didn’t show the same level of commitment and consequentially missed the largest comeback in LSU history.”If they lose this game, I’m done with LSU football,” one fan said.Students don’t seem to realize having the opportunity to watch a football team — a national championship football team at that — is a privilege, not a right.If LSU had not come back to beat Troy and that fan decided to never attend another LSU game, it wouldn’t hurt anyone more than him. Another student would gladly take his place in the student section and cheer for the Tigers.But the student section showed how ungrateful it was even before the fans rushed out of Tiger Stadium in a mass exodus at halftime.Students booed and jeered their team — whether it was deserved or not.For example, the crowd booed Jarrett Lee during the announcement of starting lineups and again after his first incompletion. Tiger fans have become more accustomed to booing Lee with each pick six he has thrown.But when Lee dropped back under pressure and threw the ball out of bounds instead of forcing a pass or throwing up a blind lob, fans booed him anyway.All in all, the student section showed not only ungratefulness but also inconsistency and ignorance.The football team deserved support — just like the support it got last weekend when a blood-thirsty crowd filled the stadium for Nick Saban’s return. But Saturday they found it only in small doses from the few loyal fans who stayed.It’s easy to cheer for your football team during the good times, but support during the tough times is what makes a true fan.LSU pulled off the greatest comeback in school history without the help of most of its fanbase.And maybe the fans that left didn’t deserve the Tigers’ effort in the first place.—-Contact the Editorial Board at [email protected]
Our View: Student section disappoints in Tigers’ comeback
November 16, 2008