Television isn’t just ruining traditional American values — it’s ruining our tradition as Tiger fans.Central to the history of LSU football is the experience of the game — spending the day outside of the stadium, tailgating and hanging out with friends and family. As the sun begins to set, the masses, full of anticipation — and liquor — file into the gates.Inside the stadium the fans stand cheering. You can feel the electricity as the band plays beneath bright lights and a dark sky.Then there’s the announcer’s voice just before the Tiger’s run out on the field: “It’s Saturday night in Death Valley.” Nothing gets the crowd — or the players — more fired up.But this weekend, as most fans know, the Tigers will play Georgia in Death Valley at 2:30 p.m.”It’s Saturday afternoon in Death Valley.”The reason? The game is being broadcasted on TV.According to Michael Bonnette, sports information director, the University recognizes the historic role of the night game time and tries to schedule all of its home games at 7:00 p.m.But because of LSU’s membership in the Southeastern Conference, LSU is contractually obligated to change game times to meet the demands of the television networks the conference does business with.CBS, who has contracts with the SEC along with ESPN, often uses a 2:30 p.m. time slot to cover the games. Hence the unorthodox kickoff time.”If none of the games were on TV, we’d play at 7:00 p.m. because that’s our tradition,” Bonnette said.It should be pointed out that LSU’s participation is voluntary. Being part of the SEC means big business. Last year the organization brought in more than $127 million to be distributed among the 12 participating universities.This figure is astounding, particularly considering these revenues have more than doubled over the past decade. In 1980, the conference posted a meager $4 million. Inflation isn’t the culprit. Rather, college athletics has become quite the cash cow.Starting at 2:30 p.m. doesn’t just take away from a time-honored tradition. There are several practical ways in which the television adversely affects the game.The early time poses a unique challenge to partygoers — cut back on pregame timeand then muster up enough energy to keep it together during the awkward limbo hours of 6 to 11 p.m.Then there is the issue of advantage. Death Valley has a well-deserved reputation as being one of the toughest places for a visiting team to play — at night.LSU coach Les Miles addressed the break in tradition caused by the arbitrary game time, downplaying the significance for his team.”I know that Tiger Stadium at night is a great advantage for us — I certainly understand that. But considering they’re teeing this thing up a 2:30 [wink], I’m gonna be excited about that time too,” Miles said.Shouldn’t we be using any advantage we can get?Perhaps the Tigers’ recent success has led to more extroverted     aspirations for the football program. Maybe we have become too concerned with the University’s place in the national picture that we are losing the essence of LSU football — the experience at the game.Maybe it’s just about making money.Maybe it’s about exposure. The common thinking goes that this national exposure is good for the team and ultimately, the University.Because of the broadcast serves as a “three and a half hour infomercial,” Bonnette said the game time change is a “minor deal in terms of the big picture.”For whatever the reason, a central part of LSU football’s tradition is being taken away. We need to decide whether the benefits that come with this drawback are worth it.What is the big picture? To have a great time in Death Valley? To be an advertisement for the University?The way things exist now it appears the latter comes at the former’s expense.But maybe the two won’t have to be mutually exclusive — maybe we can have a national powerhouse of a football team, promote our institution and maintain a core component of our tradition all at the same time.Leaving the SEC is an obvious overreaction. The benefit of organizing with the 11 other member institutions is clear in both financial terms as well as the prestige for the team and the University.But playing one of LSU’s most exciting games of the season just after lunch doesn’t sit right either.The University needs to really go to bat on this issue. Maybe it means negotiating with CBS. Maybe it means revising parts of the SEC agreement.Maybe it means forgoing the revenues of a game.One thing is clear: When we drop the night game, we drop an important part of our tradition. Because of LSU’s tradition is so rich and entangled with the state’s culture, maintaining it should trump revenues or commercials any day. —-Contact Mark Macmurdo at [email protected]