Not often will I feel compelled to compliment a rival, but in this case I feel it is warranted. I am referring specifically to the LSU fan-base and the city of New Orleans. I, and many other, Buckeye fans traveled at great expense to attend the BCS National Championship in New Orleans this Monday past. And with very few exceptions were treated very well. Allow me to expand and categorize:
LSU Nation
New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and only 80 miles from the LSU campus in Baton Rouge. So it goes without saying that there would be excellent Tiger representation in New Orleans for the game. Any Buckeye fan already knows that although we may not be to adept at actually winning title games, our fan-base will out travel any school in the nation hands down. That is a battle we will never lose, and it was the case again this year. At times
Bourbon Street looked as much Scarlet & Gray as Purple & Gold. Thousands of fans poured onto the streets to prepare for the game.
I arrived Saturday afternoon and was sitting in Pat O’s by three o’clock with Hurricane in hand. Almost immediately I was introduced to the favorite greeting that LSU fans have for their intended victims: TIGER BAIT. If I had a dollar for every time I heard those two words from Saturday to Monday, I could have paid for my hotel room and drinks for my entire stay! Annoying as it was, it was harmless and eventually I developed a retort of “second place”, which worked well until after the game of course. The real story here is that the LSU fans by and large were not only friendly but down right respectful. Much more so than their Florida counter-parts last year (based upon reports from my friends who attended last year’s game in Glendale), the Notre Dame fans I encountered in Tempe, Michigan fans in general (easily expected), or pretty much any other fan-base I have encountered over the years. It might have been the location, in that it was essentially a home game for LSU and many LSU grads probably stay in Louisiana after college, so they are proud of New Orleans. It really doesn’t matter why, but it was not lost upon my self, or the countless Buckeye fans that I talked to down there that we all had the same experience with the LSU fans. Many times a few chants of “Tiger bait” were followed with “Y’all having a good time down here?” and/ or “What are you drinking”, which would be followed by a drink in my hand. I was double fisted most of the time I was down there, and that is a good thing in my book! I had many respectful exchanges with the fans… and a few not so much, but every fan-base has their ####s (right, Buckeye fans?). Even after the game there was a lot of respect. Most fans even said it was a shame somebody had to lose and that the Buckeyes would be missed. They complimented the way the Buckeye Nation took over the town and partied with LSU nation as we shared our rabid allegiances for our respective teams. Ohio State may or may not have been the correct opponent for the Tigers, but we were the correct team for the city of New Orleans and the LSU fan-base.
I am getting a little long winded. The trip was great and I am proud of our team for the season they had, for the way Buckeye Nation represented themselves in number and class in New Orleans, and for the example that both fan-bases set forth regarding how to respect your opponent and embrace the love for college football that we all had in common.
In closing I will say that this trip, even with the unhappy ending for my team, was one of the best I have ever taken. And to sum up my experience with the LSU fans, I will refer to the end of the game. We stayed until the gun and began to leave as the purple and gold confetti began to swirl in the Superdome. As my wife and I reached the end of our row, and it was our turn to enter the aisle, my wife looked at the gentleman in the LSU shirt who had stopped to let here exit and said: “You are going to let a Buckeye cut in front of you?”
He simply smiled and said, “I’m from New Orleans mam, and it’s ladies first down here”.
Pete, First of all great post and I am glad that for the most part you had a wonderful experience. I tried to call you the first afternoon you was in but by the time I called you was already gone from the room. Sorry about your Buckeyes and goodluck to them in the future. I went out to the quarters that night you came in and I have to agree there was a lot of Scarlet and grey around. Classy people everyone I met out there. The ladies from Ohio were nice to look at as well. Although I am convinced that you people have a funny accent lol! All in all it was great having fans like the OSU fans in New Orleans and I hope Ya'll(Naw'lins slang) make it back someday soon.
Gambit-
Sorry I missed you dude. I was with the wife and she had never been to New Orleans before, so she just wanted to head in downtown. We actually found a room downtown the next day and moved from Harvey. The cab fares back and forth were going to kill us out there.
Like I said, it was a fabulous time. So many great LSU fans I had the pleasure to meet. A few of my friends and my father-in-law actually stayed in the Quarter, so they got no sleep (noise).
AS much as it hurt for my Bucks to lose that game, it was really nice to see all the people down there celebrating after all the #### they have been through the last few years. I was happy to make a "sizable" contribution to the local economy.
I might be coming back this summer, so I will let you know.
Marty-
It was a great time and I am truly sorry I didn't hook up with Gambit. We thought we had a good plan. And you're right, it is hard for me NOT to have a good time. On to next year!!
pete, nice to hear you had a good time and not too many a-holes. Sometimes it can be down right horrid. Even the cops down there have mellowed a bit until someone acts the fool. But I have my life time get out of jail free card anywhere in these great United States...
Sorry I missed the gme but I still had a great time at my house with some good friends that flew into town. ven had an old OSU player at my house and he still got the "tiger bait" chant...
I look forward to OSU next year and they will still be a force and I am betting they will be better next year from what I see.
I wish more football stories were like this. There are tons of good hearted people down in the south. We aren't all hillbillies in overalls. Glad you had a good time. Maybe third times a charm.
Pete, that's cool you found a room out there. you got lucky with that one. Sunday befor the game was the start of the Carnival season for New Orleans. "12th night" is what it is refered to also called "Feast of the Epiphany" it leads all the way up to Mardi Gras. Wish you could have been here for that. Someday you should make it here and see what the worlds largest free party is like. Did your wife enjoy partying in a city that it's legal to be not only drunk in public but walk around drinkingin the public as if there is no law? Yes if you come back do let me know, I know some cool things that go on here for the Summer but be prepared as it is extremely hot and humid at that time. The fishing is great down here. Also I would like to take you on the Bayou and go shrimping. Just so you can get a taste of another part of Southern Louisiana...The commercial and recreational fishing industry.
Last edited by gambitxxx on January 9th at 11:48 AM.
great post. it does my heart good to read post after post about how everyone got along in n.o. i didn't know who to worry about more monday night; my 20 yr. old daughter in n.o. or my 24 yr. old son in iraq... glad everyone (so far) had a good experience in n.o. it's like they say, "if you can't have a good time in new orleans, you're probably already dead!!"
GEAUX TIGERS!!!
This is great Pete! Glad you had a good time down here! I have been around our nation enough to say that I cant find a nicer, "give the shirt off his back and feed you" group then the Cajun in South Louisiana. Yeah they can get nasty at times but for stuff like this, hospitality is the name of the game.
I wish I could have been there to meet ya Pete. I will forever kick myself for not getting tickets to this game or to any LSU game this year.
Sorry about your boys Petey... but hey, this was an interesting read, and it appears as if you managed to have yoursel####ood time anyway. Happy New Year - kp
Until games are bid for by host cities and played on a neutral field, it's ####.
Four teams had solid claims to play OSU.
This is the worst 'championship' since 1970 when Texas was awarded the AP championship before their bowl game, which they lost.
Wow, it's so nice to read nice things about LSU, New Orleans and our fans. The people you met down here are the true representatives of our state and our people. The rude smack talkers you encounter here at Fox are not real fans. Thank you for this post.
Thanks for all the nice comments guys. I am trying to catch up here at work after my various vacations the last three weeks. It really was an incredible trip and my group was totally blown away by the hospitality. Obviously they knew we wouldn't be happy after the game.
I guess I am starting to get used to the losing because it doesn't bother me nearly as much this year. I still think OSU was one of the teams that belonged in that game. Maybe USC, WVU, or Georgia would have played better, but OSU was one of the best teams this year...just not the best.
Many teams try every year to reach the championship game. Only two succeed. OSU has succeeded two years in a row, which is a great accomplishment in itself. Nobody, not even Buckeye fans, expected them to perform at this level after all the losses from last year's team. Great accomplishment, absolutely great.
So anybody out there who wants to be critical about OSU losing the title game, first must be able to say their team was there first. So basically only #### from LSU fans is legit.
"I guess I am starting to get used to the losing because it doesn't bother me nearly as much this year." You're coming along well as a Detroit Lion fan- sigh.
Like I told Marty, no shame for the Buckeyes. No one thought they would finish above #4 in the Big Ten, so the season was a great one for the Bucks.
So I heard Mr. Pryor is 50/50 on Ohio State and Michigan. What a steal that would be for Rodriguez to come out of nowhere and steal him from Tressel.
Thank you brother Hoit. It was a great and unexpectedly successful season. OSU will get no cred, but who cares? OK, I do, but whats done is done.
The TP drama is about to reach a fever pitch. He wore a Michigan t-shirt down at the Army All-American game, but he had a Buckeye on his helmet. One of the other OSU recruits put it on the helmet, but TP did not remove it. Now that Mallet is gone, it comes down to wether or not he wants to start right away. There is an article in the Detroit Free Press today that suggests he should go to OSU if he wants to eventually play QB in the NFL. Interesting take. I think he is a Buckeye on signing day, but I guess thats no shocker!
Hope all is well skunkbear, thanks for stopping through.
Great post and I agree 100%. Aside from a few ####s (on both sides), LSU fans were extremely gracious and friendly. While having dinner at Deannie's, several LSU fans came up to me and my wife and wished us and enjoyable stay in New Orleans.
As for Bourbon Street, that was something else. My wife and I stayed at the Ramada right in the thick of things and could not have been happier. What a party and what a great time. The only thing that could have improved the stay would have been a Buckeye victory. Oh well. Like you, this one doesn't bother me as much as last year but I think it is because I never expected this much out of this team.
BTW, I saw a Buckeye fan on Bourbon Street Sunday night just chillin' with a drink and leaning on a cane. I thought of you.
Right on DaddyFads. My buddy was staying in the quarter at Hotel Monteleone, and he loved it. I stayed over at the Wyndam by the Riverwalk and Harrahs. I am still raving about the treatment from the LSU fans. There were four a-holes standing on the corner of Canal and Royal (LSU fans) who were drinking and then spraying the beer into the air, thus showering passer-bys with their mothly contents. That almost caused a minor ruckus between themselves and some OSU fans, but there was a cop there 1-2-3 and the LSU guys were soon w/out their beers and escorted elsewhere. Other than that most of the "altercation" type situations involved anihilated LSU fans fighting each other. Crazy ####!
I was definitely on Bourbon, but the cane was not. I just leaned on my buddy. Those Hurricanes sure go down smooth.
Glad you had a similar experience. The crazy thing is that we could be back next year. Good to be a Buckeye regardless.
Thanks Rev, so did I. It was very ....familiar. Hopefully Tress can find the secret ingredients and whip up a nice batch of "Beat SEC". Hey, a boy can dream.
Nice to see your pretty white shirt. Were you in the Easy over the weekend? I swore I felt your presence Obi-Wan.
See you in Miami next year.
Last edited by pete_nice on January 10th at 10:40 AM.
Ahhhh, the personal matters. Got it. Well allow me to offer my condolances if she was one of the good ones, or an emphatic congrats if she wasn't.
I had such a good time in New Orleans that it truly did help deaden the pain of another lost title.
You know as bad as it hurts to lose two years in a row and not look very good doing it, the Bucks did lose to two very good teams. Florida was a team of destiny, like the 2002 Buckeyes, and I think with the game being in New Orleans and LSU kind of getting in the way they did, so were the Tigers.The Buckeyes didn't stand a chance....
Let me know if you want to troll for some northern honies.
I will be in Vegas for the first weekend of the NCAA tourney this year. Don't know how I talked Mrs. Nice into that one, but I won't stop to figure it out.
I'm so glad you had a great time down here in New Orleans. I was worried that some of the OSU fans would think bad about us (we can get a bit roudy at times, but that's only because football is king down here), but it looks like things were great for the most part.
I watched the game in several bars on Bourbon Street and I have to admit that I was one of the fans chanting "Tiger Bait!" to the passing OSU fans, but as you said, it was all in jest.
I met several OSU fans and got to talk to them during the game and after we won we even went out for drinks with some of them. That's the great thing about New Orleans... and that's why they call it "The City That Care Forgot."
I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and I still reside there today. I work for, root for, and defend the Scarlet and Gray. I love all things Buckeye and most things Big Ten. However, I am not above rationality when it comes to sports and would never be a complete "homer" who has no disregard for other opinions and/or viewpoints regardless of the topic....oh who am I kidding, unless you love the Buckeyes you don't count!!!
Go Bucks!!!!!!!! !!
