Less than 36 hours after their first Super Bowl title in franchise history, New Orleans Saints fans are showing no signs of moving from celebration mode.But while Saints fans and University students continue the celebration, the sports world must go on.LSU’s campus was a ghost town Monday morning, with a scattering of University students present to turn in homework or papers or to partake in clicker quizzes, as well as express their sports viewing plans foreseeable future.Sports fans of all kinds will turn their attention to everything from LSU baseball to the PGA Tour.”I’m looking forward to seeing how the baseball team bounces back from losing Jared Mitchell and Chad Jones,” said Tom Schexnaildre, biology senior. The defending 2009 NCAA College World Series Champions return to the diamond in Alex Box Stadium Feb. 19 against Centenary.Kristie Larson, Spanish junior, agreed LSU baseball is a top priority on a list of things to see this spring.”I’ve never been to an LSU baseball game … and I don’t know why because I’m a huge baseball fan,” she said. “I’m on a mission to go.”With baseball etched in many sports fans minds, LSU football seems to be an afterthought following nine losses in the previous two years.The Tigers are scheduled to break out fresh helmets and pads Feb. 25 for the start of spring practice. LSU will endure four weeks of 15 practices before playing in the annual spring game on March 27 in Tiger Stadium.Stephanie Stevens, sociology and mass communication junior, is ready to see what improvements LSU football coach Les Miles and his staff will make.”I like seeing them get out there,” Stevens said. “You get to see who has developed since the season ended and to see if we have any talent out there.”The Saints’ Super Bowl victory Sunday signified not only joy for Saints fans, but it gave hope to some LSU football fans as well.”Those are the two big football teams in the state, so when one does bad, the other can win a championship and pick up everybody in the state,” said Brad Lawrence, history sophomore. “It gives everyone hope for LSU football now that the Saints have won a title.”Regardless of sport, Lawrence said any part of the sports calender is just as exciting.”Pretty much any sport going on right now I try to follow close,” he said.Although LSU football is only two and 1/2 weeks from starting back up, Sunday signified the culmination of the NFL season, leaving some University students in a state of confusion.”If you’re a football guy, after football season you’re kind of at a loss for what to do,” said William Sain, English junior. “It gets kind of boring.”Sain considers football, baseball and hockey his top three sports and will turn his attention toward the Washington Capitals now that football has ended.”It’s hockey season,” he explained with a grin. “I’m a huge Washington Capitals fan, and I’m excited because we recently won 12 [games] in a row.”Schexnaildre said professional golf is something to keep an eye out for in the coming months.”I’m concerned for golf,” he said. “You lose a guy like Tiger Woods, who is the face of golf, and the ratings are down and golf is hurting.”Schexnaildre said the PGA Tour will rebound when viewers realize there is more to golf than Woods.One thing many sports fans forgot about amid the Saints hoopla is the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.”I almost forgot about them because of the state of shock I’m in,” said Olivia Leblanc, chemical engineering sophomore. The Olympics are slated to start this weekend, which interferes with one of the most popular times of the year in New Orleans — Mardi Gras.”My friends and I even thought about going to the Olympics but it’s Mardi Gras so I really didn’t think about it,” she said.—–Contact Sean Isabella at [email protected]
Spring season: Sports fans’ focus shifts to LSU
February 8, 2010