How the team plays against ASU will obviously give us a good idea of their mental/emotional state. I also think that as horrible as this tragedy is, eventually people will get over the shock and resume their lives. That's the way life is. I think that the effect on the team will lessen as time goes by (unless, of course, they are forced to play away from Tiger Stadium), and in a few weeks we will not even be debating the issue any longer.
What about us Fans ??? How many of us really care right now if LSU wins or loses, look I am not saying people who do are heartless jerks, not at all, everyone has their diversions at this terrible time. I can only speak for myself, this is the first time in my life I really dont care about football, yesterday I was in Kenner and the North Shore helping family and friends, I spent all afternoon in Mandeville with a chainsaw, usually I would be elated that Auburn and A&M lost, but I just found out by coming here which shows you how disinterested I am right now. My point - What happens if LSU is out of sorts and ASU comes to town and wins, can us fans and the people deal with more sadness ? Sure its just football but its life for many of us, its in the fabric of all of us in this state. How many fans will even show up, how many fans drive from effected areas that wont even come and dont really care right now. I am sure we will be crazy, I will go but right now its so far from my mind as I am sure it is with others, if LSU doesnt play this year I think I will be O.K. I am sure some of you think I am a bad LSU fan, fine I guess but right now my mind is elsewhere as is most of us, and its just hard to fathom having a beer and some food when there is a mourgue across the street and military on our roads. Football seems so trivial now. I think without question this season is basically a season of surviving for all of us, yeh we will be pumped up at first but what happens if LSU falls behind, will our kids who have left their hearts at their homes have the gall to pull themselves up in teh face of more saddness, maybe they can, I know it would be hard for me. Many of these kids are from the effected areas, and they are young kids who really have not had major crisis in their lives except maybe 9-11. They I am sure are struggling like the rest of us right now
Afew Points: 1.) These guys are young and can overcome or can succomb to the adversity. I think alot of this depends on the Coach's. And alot of this depends on the support of their family. 2.) Coach's need to make sure players get proper rest 2 days before game. Have a speaker come in and talk to the team and help them mentally. 3.) Ask for security help from surrounding areas. Use high schools for fans coming in to the area and offer camping places with showers. 4.) Tell people stadium dr will be used for emergency vehicles only in and out. Make sure everyone gets there early. 5.) Offer to bus people from shopping centers further from campus. Use school busses if neccesary. 6.) The people of Louisiana need a tiger victory. They need to feel something positive in their lives to let them know their is hope . They need to know life will continue. I know there are alot of scared families and people that dont know what is in store for them. Lets see if we can give them a good day to give them hope for the rest of their lives. God bless the people of the gulf coast and their families. It may not seem like it but God is there and he is watching how well we take care of our fellow countrymen.
Nobody thinks your a bad fan. I don't personally feel the same as you, but, to each his own. A lot of the feelings pertaining to the season are based on somehow carrying on some sort of normalcy. Yesterday my family and I enjoyed traveling to shreveport and watching West Monroe play, we discussed Katrina, and the aftermath, a great deal. Being together and doing something familiar was a good healing experence for me. All of us coming together in BR and strengthening each other will be good also. I believe that playing the season will do a lot more good than harm. JMO. No one thinks you are a bad fan. We are all just fans.
I still expect nothing less than a 1 loss season. They should be locked and loaded when we get back on the field.
If LSU has to cancel any games it may take the starch out of this team. You can't compete for the national championship with a 9 or 10 game season. But if we can manage to play all 11, I expect the Tigers to overcome all adversity. I predicted 10-1 or 9-2 for this team before the storm and I'm sticking by it.
I have to disagree with you here, Red. If schools (USC) who play in conferences without conference title games--and, therefore, play only 11 games---can compete with teams that play in conferences with a title game---and produce teams like Auburn that finish 12-0---then why would an 11-0, SEC Champion LSU team be at a disadvantage?
I personally think to much is being read into how a team of college football players, some expecting to make a carrier out of football, are going to perform on the field. I am sure the ones that request are getting grief counseling and the team as a whole has probably had it just like they did for 9-11. One of the things that had an effect on that season was if s stadium was going to get attacked. Still a concern but life goes on under different circumstances. I realize a complete town no longer exist but I still believe the LSU football team and people resonsible for it need to take care of business and get this season started as scheduled from here on out and play NT on the 29th help from ULM. Not playing will change these conditions none what so ever. Also if LSU looses more games than expected I will not blame it on Katrina aftermath but on execution, game planning and other football stuff.
