Why, as an LSU alum, I dread Saturday's game

Saturday night, on national television, Louisiana State plays host to Virginia Tech for the Hokies' first road football game since this spring's massacre in Blacksburg.

I dread it. Of all the schools in all the country, why do the Hokies have to have their first road game in Baton Rouge?

Here's why I am apprehensive: There are some things civilized people Just Don't Do, and LSU football fans, unfortunately, have been doing them for a long time now.

From USA TODAY, circa September 2005:

It was a stark contrast to the welcome Tennessee's team received when it arrived on campus two hours earlier. LSU fans rocked their buses and broke windows by throwing beer bottles at the Vols.

UT athletics director Mike Hamilton said the Tennessee party had four buses, and he was on the last one, which included other school officials and cheerleaders. "They were throwing bottles at the buses and that kind of stuff," Hamilton said. "The bus I was on, they broke three of the windows."

Vicky Fulmer, wife of UT coach Phillip Fulmer, was riding on the first UT bus and said fans threw beer all over it.

LSU officials explained that three cracked windows occurred after the UT buses mistakenly got behind the LSU team buses, which stopped as scheduled.

"Usually that never happens," LSU associate athletics director Herb Vincent said. "We keep the (visiting team) buses moving so the fans never get the opportunity to touch the buses."

From Amy Welborn's Open Book blog, September, 2005:

The report from Baton Rouge

-UT team busses stop, for some reason, in the midst of parking lots where LSU students have congregated. Students converge, start rocking busses, throwing beer bottles at them, break windows, including 4 on the bus holding the AD. Good move.

-A student with no money on him is approached by LSU coed, asking for donations for Katrina victims. He has no money. "F*** you, Tennessee fan!" she says.

-Weird security on the sidelines. Getting reamed out for standing - "Son, you must either kneel or sit." Getting reamed out for sitting with the managers. "Son, your coach has not given you permission to be here." Um, yes. "Son...."

This from someone who's been to games in every other SEC venue, I believe, and who is not, ahem, by any means a silent partner in defending his own teams. But he did, in the heat of after the moment, claim that this one was the worst in terms of fan reaction, even worse than Georgia, which, as I recall him telling me a few years ago after his first trip to Athens, was pretty bad.

Because, you know, the Vols are so polite.

LOUISIANIANS ought to think about that. Behavior like that is symptomatic. It just might be pointing to a serious disease lying just below the surface . . . or right out there for everybody in the world to see, except for the victim, who may be just too accustomed to being sick to realize anything's wrong.

For instance, here is what LSU athletic officials feel compelled to tell Tiger fans before the Virginia Tech game:

TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of LSU Athletics

FROM: Skip Bertman, Athletics Director

The excitement surrounding this football season -- and this week’s Top 10 matchup against Virginia Tech in particular -- is at an all-time high. Before I mention some of the things to look for as you come to campus, I am passing along a message from head coach Les Miles and the LSU football team.

WE SALUTE THE HOKIE SPIRIT: A message from the LSU Tigers

“The Virginia Tech community suffered the horrific loss of family and friends in the tragic shootings of April 16. All of us on college campuses across the nation shared in their grief and suffering.

“As students, fans and alumni from Virginia Tech come to the LSU campus for the Hokies’ first road football game of the 2007 season, we know Tiger fans will welcome them with open arms and sympathetic hearts.

“The people of Louisiana are known for their heart-felt compassion and gracious hospitality, and on this occasion we hope everyone will pay particular respect to the Virginia Tech players and their fans.

“The competition on the field will be healthy and fierce, and your Tigers will represent LSU with pride when the ball is kicked off. But in pre-game festivities, let us all be mindful of the difficult road our visitors have traveled since April 16.”

- Signed by Matt Flynn, Glenn Dorsey and Craig Steltz (team captains in last week’s season opener) and head coach Les Miles.

REMEMBERING THE VIRGINIA TECH TRAGEDY

At the game on Saturday night, it is important that we pay respect to the students and faculty members who were lost in the tragic shootings of April 16, and also to celebrate the spirit shown by Virginia Tech in recovering and moving forward.

We spoke with Virginia Tech officials during the summer as we prepared for this week’s pre-game activities. We wanted to strike the proper tone with any recognition we make of the events of April 16. It is important to be respectful of the individuals who were lost, and to also be encouraging and supportive of our visitors.

We will salute the Hokie Spirit with parachutists who will fly into Tiger Stadium with the flags of Virginia Tech and LSU and the game ball, weather permitting. We will also have a moment of silence in recognition of the students and faculty members who were lost on April 16. And, finally, the Tiger Band – one of the greatest assets we have at LSU – will play the Virginia Tech alma mater. It is believed that this will be the first time in the history of Tiger Stadium that the Tiger Marching Band will honor our visitors by playing their alma mater.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, similar public statements never have had to be issued at the University of Nebraska before a big game. I mean, this is a state where Memorial Stadium fans above the visiting team's tunnel applaud "the enemy" at game's end. Win, lose or draw.

I kind of like that.