There are many things you’ll hear in the buildup to Saturday’s crucial game between the Tigers and the Virginia Tech Hokies. You’ll hear a lot of talk about two of the best defenses in the country. You’ll hear predictions flying left and right.
What you won’t hear is exactly what you need to hear. Namely, the LSU community should be more ashamed of itself than the Michigan football team after the Wolverines’ loss to Appalachian State.
Before I’m chased through campus by a purple and gold crowd wielding torches and pitchforks, let me explain. Soon after Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people in the cruel massacre in Blacksburg, the LSU community felt compelled to respond immediately. We put a wreath in front of Memorial Tower and held a service memorializing the victims. We wanted to do everything we could to support Virginia Tech.
This outpouring was particularly seen on Facebook.com when, for about a week, many profile pictures were variants of black ribbons. Many joined groups like “LSU, Virginia Tech, We are all Hokies Now” or “Pray for Virginia Tech.” The most touching of these groups were the ones noticing Virginia Tech would play in Tiger Stadium this fall. These groups asked Tiger fans, for one game, to put aside their purple and gold. Instead, Tiger fans would show support for Virginia Tech by wearing either black or the Hokies maroon and orange.
It was too good to last. As news from Blacksburg faded off front pages and profile pictures returned to normal, the idea was largely abandoned. Groups like “There’s no question who I’m supporting September 8” popped up, which argues in its description that “We, as students of LSU, need to show pride in our school and our football team.” As game day approaches a few months after the shootings, all we can think of is the need to do our best to beat the Hokies in order to earn the chance to play for a national title.
I didn’t think wearing black on Saturday was a great idea from the start. Louisiana learned first hand that sporting events are poor places for heartfelt tributes after Hurricane Katrina. No Saints fan will ever forgive the NFL for the laughable “home game” the Saints played in Giants Stadium immediately after the storm. In the heat of the battle, allegiances will understandably fall with the home team. I don’t think wearing black and shouting “TIGERBAIT!” would demonstrate unity with Virginia Tech.
What I do have a problem with is our unwillingness to give up anything for them. If we were rejecting the gesture of black clothes because we didn’t think it would be meaningful, that would be one thing. Instead, we’re pretending we have an obligation to support LSU football, whatever the cost. If we’ve really gotten to the point where a football game outweighs helping people deal with tragedy, then we need a priority check.
Football is so important to campus life at LSU. It helps build the community; sparks discussion, and allows us to have a great time a few fall Saturdays. It’s so important that to give it up would be a major sacrifice and would show a commitment to Virginia Tech.
When celebrities fail to do this, we mock them. When Paris came out of jail to a “Larry King Live” interview, she claimed jail “really changed my life forever.” We had no problem seeing the insincerity because she gave nothing up. We question the sincerity of the rich who give to charity, knowing they won’t miss the money and it probably gives them a tax break anyway. We see this in others, yet we can’t see it in ourselves.
We were the school recovering from a tragedy a mere two years ago, and now by fate we are the first school to host another university in recovery. We enjoyed such generosity in August 2005, and now we have a unique opportunity to repay it. This stubbornness brings questions to mind. Would LSU be willing to give up the joys of a single football game if it would actually help Virginia Tech? What about a season? What about a national championship?
Unless the answer is “yes” to all of the above, then LSU with its Flagship Agenda is an utter failure. If we don’t learn to value the inherent dignity of every human person, we are truly uneducated.
—Contact Michael Denton at [email protected]