I think we will see much of the same with A&M. LSU doesn't have a real rival and I don't see one ever being set in stone. We are fine with that.
I guess we'll see if it does or does not. I personally think aTm has a much, much greater potential to become that "set in stone" type rival because I truly believe given time they will transition to the style of play in the SEC and will be able to draw from a much more furtile talent base than Arkansas ever has. Purely from a record standpoint the series from 1992-2010 is pretty even with LSU leading 11-8. However, even still it just seems the LSU fanbase doesn't view them as a true rival. However, from what I witnessed last year and up 'til now regarding the emotion that is brought out in LSU fans when playing or talking about aTm I tend to believe that aTm potentially has a better chance at becoming to LSU what Arky couldn't. But time will tell.
We like it that way. Look Buzzard, we already have a traditional rival in Tulane, we just don't play them much anymore, since they fell on hard times. We have a long, annual SEC rivalry with Ole Miss, they just have fallen on hard times, too. Our rivalries are not sexy right now, so sue us. Arkansas is a totally phony rival, contrived by the SEC for the benefit of Arkansas. No offense intended, but the last thing LSU needs is a self-destructive rivalry like Auburn and Alabama. The hate is overwhelming and leads to idiotic things like doofuses killing trees and the inevitable retaliations. There is bad blood between LSU and A&M already, Arkansas and A&M can renew their old SWC rivalry and play on the day after Thanksgiving. I hate the game on that day. It ruins the holiday for travelers, the students are not on campus, and it gives LSU a short week of practice.
Oh no offense taken Red. You know (from being on Tidefans) I live in a very unique part of "Tiger Country" where it is a border town where alliances of Arkansas, La Tech, Texas, A&M and OU are very, very active. So, though this topic might not be very welcomed down where you are it is the talk of the town up here. So I apologize if it seems I'm beating a dead horse. I also completely understand how LSU fans want to keep things just as y'all have them. There are advantages (especially in recruiting) to aTm staying where they're at in the Big 12. And as you've stated in another post that nothing "positive" for LSU could come out of aTm moving to the SEC West. I'll now carry my Bammer butt back over to TF's and catch up on some moderating. :thumb:
Still manufacturing a rivalry no matter how you put it. Rivalries are breed over decades and easier for those to occur in the same state and/or in the same conference. It is not about not changing our ways it is just the way true rivalries are formed. I know plenty of LSU fans who hate Texas worse than A&M and that will not change in their minds and we hardly ever see each other on the field. Ask any LSU fan who they hate most or consider a rival and you will get 6 or 7 different answers. Adding another to the conference won't sway all those fans to change their minds even over decades.
Stepping in late, but I thought this post was very interesting. Oregon has two heated rivals, Oregon State, and Washington. We love to hate each other. The PAC conference is very special in this regard, natural pairs of intense rivals throughout. I think heated rivalries add a lot to the fun.
Texas A&M will only develop into a true rivalry if they become a factor in the West. Otherwise LSU fans will continue to focus hate on Alabama and Auburn, the teams usually standing in our way of Atlanta.
Good rivalries are primarily motivated by the seething contempt factor. The full blooded, unadulterated version of this LSU vs aTm rivalry is coming to a stadium near you. Arkansas is going to get a huge boost of contempt in other ways as well. Recruiting Texas has fallen on hard times. Before this late, late success by Petrino, many felt they were sitting in no man's land when it comes to recruiting. The recent permafrost grin on BP's face these days is probably the notion that recruiting just got a lot more fruitful in some historically familiar lone star places. Plus got to be some lingering disdain for two old southwest opponents. Lot's of distractions and many good reason's beyond the Houston TV market why this is a great fit and promises good theater.
