SEC 2010 // The Rivalries: LSU vs. ... Um ... Um ...
by cocknfire on Jul 17, 2010 10:30 AM EDT
in SEC Football
Email
PrintRivalries are part of the tradition that defines the SEC, which is one of the reasons we're taking a look at them in this offseason. But as I look at LSU, I'm reminded of a question that Richard Pittman, the former manager of And The Valley Shook, asked me on an edition of Team Speed Kills Now last summer.
Just who is our rival? he asked.
I forget the context of the question, but it surprised me on two levels. First of all, usually I ask the question on my podcast, not that I minded having a question asked of me. But then, I realized why he asked the question: I'm not sure I had an answer.
That's not to say there are teams LSU doesn't like; certainly the hate between all the SEC West teams is just as strong (if not stronger in some cases) than the hate between all the SEC East teams. But who is LSU's rival, the team the Bengals love to hate more than anyone else -- and the team that, to some extent, returns that hatred?
Certainly, LSU hates Alabama. But I dare say that, division standing aside, Alabama would rank at least two teams (Auburn and Tennessee) ahead of the Tigers on the hatred scale. And while the 72 times the teams meet would make it a candidate, that's fewer times than LSU has played Ole Miss, Mississippi State or Tulane.
Auburn and LSU certainly always seem to have something memorable about their games, but really -- Auburn cares more about defeating Alabama, Georgia and arguably Florida (when they play) than LSU.
Florida is the interdivision rival, but that match-up still seems to lack the requisite cachet; after all, Florida is more concerned with Georgia, Tennessee and probably Florida State (again, division and conference standings aside) than LSU. Besides, LSU has played Rice longer (non-continuously, of course) and only one fewer time.
Maybe Arkansas? Maybe. After all, it's always a close game and there are the seeds of rivalry there. But I'm still not sure they quite hate each other enough. And Arkansas has also played LSU just one more time than Rice. But they both lack anyone else to really call a rival -- though Arkansas at least has the excuse of not being in the SEC until 1992.
So I'm certainly open to any suggestions (and as we'll see later, I've asked for some from some LSU fans who would know). But it's hard right now to write about a rivalry I'm not sure exists.
25 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Rival reciprocity is the sticking point
Agreed that when you add “hates you back most” into the equation LSU’s “rival” question gets murky. You have to disqualify Alabama and Auburn in that instance, and Florida as well.
Arkansas? Not enough history to qualify. Tulane? Historically, sure, but they are a non-factor even if we still played them every year. No other in-state school qualifies, of course.
So in that context, I think it’s Ole Miss for sure. And even discounting the “hate you back” thing, I think it’s Ole Miss.
Florida really only matters in the competitive sense (if they weren’t good, we wouldn’t care), and to an extent Auburn is the same way, though that’s become a more consistent “rivalry” that I think has stuck. Alabama is Alabama – always feels like slaying the dragon when you beat them.
As LSU has become consistently more competitive and Ole Miss has lagged, there’s a tendency to overlook that rivalry. But culturally, geographically and historically that’s the rivalry that prevails. Oxford looks down so much on MSU that I don’t think they accept that as their big rivalry, so it’s remained LSU for them as well.
Go To Hell Ole Miss!
I think it's Huey Long's fault.
Unless I’m mistaken, I think he either killed or ran out of business anybody who hated LSU back in the day.
by vineyarddawg on Jul 17, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Reciprocity is very important.
As Razorbacks, I think I speak for us all when I say that we consider you our main rival. However, most of us understand that a majority of your fans don’t feel the same about us. That’s fine, for now. We’ll just have to ruin a few of your seasons or something. Had we actually kept you from the NC game in 2007, that would have gone a long way.
Key game, but not rivalry
When the division title is in doubt that last weekend, obviously LSU and Arkansas are going to play and that game wil be important. But I don’t know any LSU fan who would say Arkansas is our main rival, No. 2 rival or No. 3 rival. Nothing personal, but you really just don’t mean all that much to us compared to traditional SEC rivalries. If it has been Texas A&M instead of you joining the SEC, they could have become our chief rival.
I get how it might be different for Arkansas, since you’re the new kid at school. You lost most of your old connections, so LSU makes total sense as your rival now.
Main rivalry? No.
But, I do know some LSU fans (especially those near the border) that consider us a secondary rival.
Of course, Arkansas and LSU first met in 1901, and we’ve played 55 games, so it’s not like we’re the “new kid”, as you point out, as far as LSU is concerned. We probably would have dumped you for TAMU, as well, for what it’s worth.
We'd BOTH rather be playing A&M
I respect Arkansas and the end of the year game is always really good. I just don’t HATE the Hogs. Actually, I kind of like ‘em. Obviously I want to beat the Hogs, but I don’t relive the games years after the fact.
Though I will say 2007 was the single most demoralizing loss I have ever experienced as an LSU football fan. It all worked out, but at the time… that was even worse than the Hallman Era, if only for a moment. that loss was a gut punch. Why the #&%* didn’t Miles go for two in 2OT?
Fake Pundit. Real Fan.
And The Valley Shook!
Ole Miss
Any Tiger fan that doesn’t blurt this out immediately probably hasn’t been a Tiger their whole life or is some sort of bandwagon/frontrunning fan.
I’ve always hated Ole Miss. I learned this as a child. And I know Rebels who are the same way about us.
Ole Miss all the way
Granted I benefit from having a father and five of his siblings that went to LSU. Most people I know, however, hate whoever is the hot team of the moment – Florida/Auburn/Bama.
by janepriceestrada on Jul 17, 2010 12:33 PM EDT reply actions
Ole Miss
Purple Shirts and Yellow Britches, Go to Hell you Sons of Bitches
I arrived on campus at Ole Miss in the fall of 2003. Col Reb had just been banned over the summer, so I technically never knew him as my mascot. A student led initiative caused a campus wide vote to keep Col Reb alive. Though the vote passed to keep him on life support, the administration still pulled the plug on him. Though I never knew him, I was there and witnessed Col Reb's Last Breath.
by ColRebsLastBreath on Jul 17, 2010 2:21 PM EDT reply actions
I'm a rebel, I'm a rebel...
I’m a rebel through and through. And I rather be a rebel than a coon-ass from LSU.
CAPS LOCK IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL YAKNAWIMEAN?
As much
As Ole Miss fans may hate to hear it, they don’t really matter to us any more than Mississippi State does. Beating them has been important because it’s a conference game, but that’s about it. Auburn, Alabama and the Florida/Georgia/Tennessee eastern division crowd have been the teams we’ve really battled with the last 15 years or so.
And before that, well, Tulane mattered too at one time.
But it's always been something
I’ve enjoyed as an LSU fan that if you ask 5 different Tiger fans, they may each tell you a different rival.
by Billy Gomila on Jul 17, 2010 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Almost 30 years Josh
I’m not new to this,
by Billy Gomila on Jul 18, 2010 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions
I've got you by 4 years Bill
there’s a -ua on the end of that.
And that four years makes all the difference. Trust me, it doesn’t seem like it makes sense, but it does.
Haaate LSU
A loss to MSU hurts, but an LSU loss is even worse. I know we haven’t been relevant for a long time, but there always seems to be genuine hatred when LSU and Ole Miss play.
by ARebel21 on Jul 17, 2010 11:15 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Ole Miss
Go to hell LSU.
I mean, our national anthem, fight song, and the Hotty Toddy chant all unofficially end in “go to hell lsu”—even when we aren’t playing them.
I’d rather be at the LSU-ole miss game than the egg bowl any year.
If you see J.T. Bowtie, tell him to find me in the grove... if he can get in.
by Jevan Snead's Agent on Jul 18, 2010 9:28 PM EDT reply actions
At least we have a mutual hatred of J.T. Bowtie.
He got his ass kicked this past year in Baton Rouge. Seriously, if you’re going to put your face on Youtube and talk shit about other schools, don’t go to bars in the town where said school is located.
As of late the main focus of our hatred is focused at Bama. But, I’m sure the atmosphere will be no less hostile when you Ackbars come to town. Y’all go to hell, now.
"Tiger Stadium is by far the worst place to play for a visiting team. It's like being inside a drum." - Paul "Bear" Bryant
by Chinese Bandit on Jul 19, 2010 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I love JT Bowtie.
If you can’t understand that it’s an act and you take it seriously, then well… I don’t know. I think it’s pretty funny stuff.
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
Well obviously
Its just funny. If we had some kid posting shit on youtube, I’d expect you to make fun of it.
If you see J.T. Bowtie, tell him to find me in the grove... if he can get in.
by Jevan Snead's Agent on Jul 19, 2010 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Not necessarily.
I really like that Bigvoldaddy that’s also on youtube.
What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.
-Hank Hill
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
