Alabama Football: Tiger Stadium has earned a reputation for toughness

Every other season, Alabama football competes in one of the toughest environments in college football. Tiger Stadium crowds are fueled by hatred of the Crimson Tide.

Alabama football vs. LSU is being billed as the game of the season. That’s a long way from being a ‘Game of the Century’ as the matchup was in November 2011. There is only one way what happens Saturday night in Baton Rouge becomes the ‘game of the season.’ Only an LSU upset win will qualify. A Crimson Tide win will be just another win on the potential path to another championship.

Based on the fever pitch environment in the State of Louisiana, should LSU lose, more than a few fans leaving Tiger Stadium may struggle to cope. I know from experience that a portion of LSU fans like to talk about fighting Alabama football fans.

Years ago, my wife and I, along with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law had an LSU loudmouth shouting from above us that he was going to kick our ass. The best I could tell, the affront that riled him was us wearing Crimson Tide caps in Tiger Stadium.

As we waited for the game to begin, his shouts became a tedious distraction so I stood up and looked around, trying to locate him. The heckler shut up, but before I sat back down, a young LSU fan seated next to me said, “don’t worry about him. If he comes down here I’ll get him.” Then the young man pointed further down our row and said, “and if gets through me, that big-un over there is my brother and he won’t get through him.”

Thinking about the current acrimony between LSU and Alabama football fans, I know from personal experience some of it is an ingrained bellicosity that goes back decades, perhaps more than a few generations. Nick Saban certainly did not start it. Even though he has inadvertently made it worse.

You have to admire the fierce loyalty of LSU fans. They make the Tiger Stadium experience one of the best in college football. Even their delusional claims of collusion between Alabama football and the SEC have a kind of appealing quaintness. I mean going ‘full-tilt bozo’ supporting your team is one reason why SEC football does mean more.

My guess is a Tiger Stadium crowd is worth more than the three points oddsmakers apply to the toughest places for visiting teams. Five to seven points seem more appropriate. Not that the advantage has helped LSU much against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama football has won more Tiger Stadium games this century than has LSU.

I have little doubt it will be another Tide win in Baton Rouge Saturday night. Short of losing Tua to injury or an explosion of Tide turnovers, LSU will not win. It is pretty simple – Alabama is the better team. So much better, a Tiger Stadium crowd cannot make up the difference.

LSU football has fans who appreciate the outstanding performances of great players, even those clad in Crimson. Leaving Bryant-Denny in Nov. 2011, I briefly chatted with a few LSU fans. They were all gracious winners. I may have wished them well only half-heartedly but at least I did not challenge them to a fight.