Usually I refrain from inserting my personal feelings about an upcoming LSU game in my columns, but this game is personal.
You see, I am from Ruston, population 20,546 and home to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Growing up in a small town is different than most people would think. For a preacher’s kid in what I call, “The Capital of the Bible Belt,” life in Ruston was full of pressure. But the pressure during that part of my life pales in comparison when matching it up with the way I feel this week as my beloved Tigers take on the Bulldogs.
I got together with a few of my good buddies from Ruston, strong safety Jack Hunt and defensive tackle Kyle Williams, and we discussed the upcoming game and the startling realization that the day Tech fans have awaited for so long has finally approached.
“I’ve been getting text messages from my friends back home,” Kyle said Monday afternoon. “All my friends back home are letting me have it, so I’m sending them back some messages saying ‘Tiger Bait.'”
For years now, Kyle, Jack and I (and the many other Rustonians here on campus) have endured Tech fans’ comments such as, “LSU is scared to play Tech,” or “We would beat y’all this year.”
Like Kyle so poetically put it, “It’s kind of like the old thing, ‘If ifs and buts were candy and nuts …'”
This is a game Tech fans have been looking forward to long before Athletics Director Skip Bertman’s decree that LSU would begin playing more in-state schools in football, besides just Tulane.
“I know Tech was buzzing about it when it first got scheduled,” Kyle said. “I can only imagine what it’s like this week.”
We all have friends that play for Tech, and we have friends who will be staying with us this weekend who will be pulling for Tech (even my roommate, who attends LSU Law School).
“They’ll be down here [this weekend],” Kyle said. “And they better be wearing purple and gold when I see them after the game, or they’re not hanging out with me.”
Having spent some time in Ruston this football season, I know that this is Tech’s Super Bowl. They will come into this game with nothing to lose. And by listening to its fans, I’ve learned Tech is going to upset LSU because they did the same to Alabama twice during the late ’90s, both on the Crimson Tide’s Homecoming game.
The win against Alabama was so meaningful to the program, Tech placed a football-shaped sign in the end zone of Joe Aillet Stadium to brag on its 1999 win against the nationally-ranked opponent. What an amazing accomplishment.
Note to Tech fans: this is not 1997 or 1999.
Kyle said Tech fans have their following. Heck, he said his uncle is a true Bulldogs fan and will not be cheering for his own nephew, who will be making his third consecutive start for the fourth-ranked defense in the country.
“My uncle, he’s got problems, I’ll tell ya,” Kyle joked.
The repercussions of this game could end up with a catastrophic episode. As sad as it is, this game will not be played on paper, and Tech could wind up winning this game. If that happens, the world as we know it would come to a fatal halt.
“I’m lucky enough to where I live about 30 minutes outside of Ruston,” Kyle said. “[When I go back] I’d probably stay at home, not have to listen to my friends rib at me. But Jack lives in the center of town, he’s not as lucky as me. I’ll let him come camp out with me for a while if he wants to.”
But just like this sportswriter here, Jack said he would have nothing to do with that.
“I would never go back to Ruston. Never,” Jack said with a surprisingly serious look on his face. “I already told my parents I would never go home, ever.”
When his preacher asked him if he would still go to church, Jack said with a chuckle, “I would have to sneak in there too. There are a lot of Tech fans there. That might be the worst place to go.”
For me, I also live in the center of town, and I don’t know if my life would continue to exist. The Reveille sports staff jokes around saying it may have to search for a new sportswriter if Tech wins, because I may not be around long after. I don’t want to say that is totally possible, but just like Tech upsetting LSU, anything can happen. Pray for me, please.