As an LSU alumna, avid LSU football fan and LSU student section season ticket holder from 2003 through 2007, I would like take this opportunity to call out the current LSU student section on inaccurately representing the spirit of LSU. You all have done a lackluster job representing LSU the past few years; however, this season is exceptionally appalling.
The controversy and circumstances surrounding the “Neck” cheer are embarrassing and trashy. As if you didn’t learn your lessons the first time the band removed the cheer due to your vulgar language, you all had the audacity to pull the stunt again after the powers-that-be gave you a rare second chance.
While student sections of the past have had their fair share of raunchy cheers (ie: Tiger Rag, Oo Ee Oo), they all fail in comparison to the disgusting, degrading lyrics you have added to this otherwise perfectly normal cheer.
You all are bright, educated college students. You all obviously had high grades and high test scores to get into LSU. You may not realize it but these lyrics not only reflect poorly on you, they reflect poorly on LSU, on the students who have come before you and on the students who will come after you. Show some class and learn some respect.
The overall lack of enthusiasm from the LSU Student Section is upsetting. During the LSU vs. Florida game, I glanced over at the student section several times each quarter. I was blown away to see students leaving the game early. Some students even left after the first quarter! There were empty gaps scattered throughout the student section while those of us who no longer have the luxury of paying a negligible amount for tickets stayed the entire game to show support.
In case you all haven’t realized, this year’s LSU vs. Florida score was the biggest victory LSU has had over Florida in recent history. If you know your LSU football history, that reason alone should be enough to make you want to stay through the end, celebrate the victory and sing the beloved Alma Mater with the team. What did you all have better to do that afternoon than cheer on the Tigers anyway?
In my opinion, the diagnosis is simple. You all are “spoiled” Tiger fans. When LSU won the 2007 championship, you all were underclassmen in high school. When LSU won the 2003 championship, you all were probably still playing with Barbie dolls and G.I. Joes on the floor of your parents’ living rooms.
A 10-win-per-season LSU football team is the norm for you and you accept nothing less than a National Championship season. Please take the time to review the history of the past 50 years of LSU football. Once you do, you will see that you all are LSU students during one of the most exciting periods in LSU football history. Enjoy it!
On behalf of the thousands upon thousands of students who have sat in those exact seats years before you, please do not ruin the tradition that is the LSU student section. Get in the stadium early and watch the pre-game show. Cheer so loud that you lose your voices during the games and see to it that the opposing teams are forced to call time out whenever they near your end zone. Stay until the end of the game and savor every moment of singing the LSU Alma Mater with the No. 1 team in all of college football and arguably the best LSU football team of all time.
When your time at LSU is up and you’re stuck paying $75 a ticket to watch LSU roll over a D2 school, you will fully understand what I’m talking about.
 
Amy Burants
LSU class of 2007
 
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