It's time for Tiger Fans to expect better of each other ...

I have bled purple and gold for a few decades now. I have seen the good bad and ugly. I've gone through seasons where any victory was like Christmas morning and I thoroughly enjoyed that Opus X in the middle of the Superdome in 2004. I have traveled the country to all four corners and many spots in between proudly wearing my purple and gold.

This past Saturday I was a little less than proud and it had nothing to do with what happened on the field. I was with some very good friends of mine. One of whom is a Tide Fan. Before and after the game a number of our "fans" peppered him with relentless "F*** Bama", "F*** the Tide", "F*** Saban" and more. At one point as we waited for the LSU band to march past, a young man walked up and said, "do you holler Roll Tide when you're f***ing your brother?". Inside the stadium we receive a great chorus of "suck that Tiger d***, b****", and "f*** you Saban" echoing from the South End Zone.

I respect that everyone has their right to free speach. I understand fantacism. I understand being out on your own for the first time. I understand being young. I understand the hatred for Bama and Saban. I get it. But that's not an excuse.

Isn't it time that we started acting a little more classy? Isn't it time that we stopped being known as a place where the fans "love to hate"? Isn't it time that we rise above all this juvenile behavior and carry ourselves with pride?

Since when did it become an acceptable idea for young men to walk up to a man 30+ years older and drop F Bombs or talk about their brother? Really? What makes it ok to treat a complete stranger like that? Is there no respect? Is there no self-respect? Is there no class?

Where is that South Louisiana atmosphere? You know the one where we're glad you're here? That hospitality that welcomes everyone to the party?

As a fan base we should encourage sportsmanship and creativity without stooping to hatred. We should encourage class and some level of dignity. When it is all said and done, this is only a game. That's it. There are winners and there are losers. We don't play it, we watch it. The sun rises tomorrow and life goes on. So why do we put so much into it that we absolutely forget about treating our fellow man the way we would want to be treated?

I don't care if this is just the 1%, 5%, 10%. It looks bad, it sounds bad and we should expect and encourage better.

Show some self respect, show some decency.

Show some pride.

 

That South Louisiana atmosphere is there, just not with Bama.

 

I actually heard one guy bitching going on and on how he no longer believes in God after that lost because no God with let them win that game, then he yelled at a couple of Bama fans that looked as if they were freshmen because it looked like they were trying to "cut" in front of him. I was embarrassed for him and his wife who looked like she wanted to do nothing more than leave his ass and let him walk home.

 

That is well said my friend. There is a difference between being a enthusiastic fan and a pig. Too many people think that they have to show how tough they are by dropping F bombs and cursing and acting like they are in a video game. I was taught that a real man knows he is tough and doesn't need to act out unless physically pushed. It is the coward and bully that acts out to mask his fear and weakness. I was taught that courtsey is a strength and to treat outhers as you would wish to be treated. I was also taught that because someone else acts the fool is not liseince to do it as well. Finally I was taught that people who curse and threaten show that they are ignorant fools by their actions.
We can yell and cheer and exchange friendly taunts (Tiger Bait) all in good fun and release all the emotion needed. I know I did Saturday night. At the end of the game I felt no need to tear into some poor sucker in crimson.
It may only be a small percentage of boors but rather than encourage them, let them know they are trash and don't deserve to call themselves fans.

 

Yes, they did Ramma Jamma. I also hate that cheer. It doesn't show much class and it doesn't make any sense to me especially after this game. I was sitting with a number of Bama fans who were congratulating me and picking up their stuff getting ready for the exit. Then 90 seconds later they are shouting "we just beat the hell out of you". Ummm, you won. Not sure that I would pick that same description.

However, as much as I don't like that cheer, it doesn't come close to some of the vitriol and filth that was being thrown from my fellow Tigers.

 

200,000 drinking rabid fans and some were beligerent and cursed.? Thats gonna happen when it involves gumps and Saban with everything on the line.

Drunk college kids do this all the time. It sucks when you are with visitors however and are hoping to make a different impression.

 

That's just human nature. When I saw UAB play LSU in 2000 (and win, oddly enough), I was cussed at, insulted, and a couple fans attempted to spit in my direction. After the game was over I saw a few cups being slung toward our fans.

I didn't take offense. That's college football+alcohol. Same thing happened when I saw MSU play Auburn in Jordan Hare last year. Can't handle the heat? Get out of the kitchen. I don't take it personally.

 

sorry, but the F U saban came from the student section. i was in the south end zone and could hear it clearly coming from the students.

 

yes they chanted that stupid cheer. I could hear the fans that sat behind the bama bench saying it. I can't stand that either..especially when they barely won.