It’s finally Bama week! My superfan husband, Matt and I were at the Mississippi State game two weeks ago. There was so much excitement and noise, and all I could think about was how much fun the Alabama game is going to be. We could only fit in three home games this year, and I had to fight for the Bama game. Matt was convinced that the Georgia game was the way to go, but I’m an old school LSU fan. My animosity towards Alabama goes back decades. I grew up in a family that would sing “Bama, Bama. Bama won’t you bite my (ah, you know the rest)!” regardless of the team LSU was playing. No matter how low the team starts in the rankings each year, I hold out hope that this will be the year that LSU beats Bama. And you better believe that I want to be there when they do.
The upcoming game against Bama has so many factors that are hyping it up to be the best game in college football this year. A win would put LSU one step closer to playing in the SEC Championship and even the national playoffs. We haven’t beaten Bama since 2011, and it’s starting to become a “thing” … like how the only time you run into an old boyfriend is when you’re wandering through Target dressed like a homeless person. Also, LSU fans are MAD. (See below.) And we all know what LSU fans do when they are mad. They tailgate really hard, then they scream and stomp so loud in Death Valley that their rage registers on the Richter scale. So on that note, let’s start with why superfans are so angry.
#FreeDevinWhite
During the Mississippi State game, the “worst call of the century” (superfans become very dramatic when they witness injustice) was made against LSU linebacker, Devin White when he was ejected from the game for targeting and suspended until the second half of the Alabama game. I tried to translate the definition for “targeting” into layman’s terms for you, but it was too technical and, honestly, not worthy of your precious brain space. Just ask your superfan (if you have an hour). According to Matt, he is an important part of the defense (Got another hour? Ask your superfan why), and his absence will definitely be noticed. Superfans recognized the significance of this penalty and booed the officials continuously for the rest of the game. Sports announcers have been denouncing it for two weeks, and “#FreeDevinWhite” billboards have been put up near the SEC headquarters. It appears as if this incident might have been the final straw for those who believe the next talking point …
The Southeastern Conference wants Bama to always come out on top.
I have been waiting all season to discuss the popular LSU football superfan conspiracy theory that the SEC is biased towards Alabama. Perfectly reasonable people will turn into foil-hat-and-the-truth-is-out-there-tshirt-wearing conspiracy theorists at the mere mention of SEC and Alabama in the same sentence. The previously referenced targeting penalty doesn’t exactly help disprove this theory, and I have to admit there is a lot of circumstantial evidence pointing to the bias being true. Superfans love to talk about them, so ask yours where the SEC headquarters are located or where the head of the officiating crew went to college and watch them go. (BTW, the answers are Birmingham, AL and University of Alabama, respectively.) Every superfan has their example of a time that the bias was obvious. Matt likes to bring up the 2009 game where Patrick Peterson’s interception was ruled an incomplete pass. The latest instance of hypocrisy involved a Bama player punching a player on the opposing team three times with no official penalty being called. So, I guess it’s time to get fitted for that foil hat, everybody!
On paper, it looks like Alabama is going to win.
For all intents and purposes, it appears the odds are stacked against LSU. Vegas has LSU at a 14-point loss, and Bama has been beating opponents by 20+ points all season. But just like Matt pointed out for the Georgia game, they haven’t really been tested yet. Their lead after the first quarter is usually enough to sustain them for the rest of the game, so they have never had to come back in the fourth quarter. Also, (Superfan-approved statistic alert!) LSU has played five teams that are currently ranked in the top 25 teams, while Bama has only played one. Not to mention, crowd noise should be a huge factor. This is the game superfans have been waiting for. Their participation could actually be a contributing factor in beating this seemingly unbeatable opponent. The “Absolute Unrelenting Noise” meme has been making the rounds all over social media like a bat signal for superfans. So, get your superfan suited up. It’s finally their time to shine.
This is one of those rare times where I might be as excited as my superfan husband to watch LSU football, and the fact that we are going to be in Tiger Stadium has bumped it up a notch. So, give your superfan a break this week. It’s like the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules premieres happened the same week as a royal wedding. And if it gets to be too much for you, simply yell “Beat Bama!” and take another sip of your adult beverage. It will all be over soon.
