College Football 2012: Top 25 Reasons It's Great to Be an LSU Tiger

By Spencer Tracy | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Fri, Jul 20, 2012 3:34 PM EDT.. .

LSU football is one of the most prominent programs in the SEC, the most dominant conference in NCAA football, so it should come as no surprise that there are many great things about being a fan of the LSU Tigers.

Being an LSU fan isn't always easy, as the Tigers are a very polarizing team whose mere mention rarely elicits a neutral response. This is indicative of a team with a strong history and a passionate fan base that rivals the best in all of sports. LSU football is more than just a sport -- it's reflective of the unique culture of Louisiana's people and the team shares a unique bond with its rabid fan base.

Should you need a reminder why it's great to be an LSU football fan...

1: Night games in Baton Rouge allow the fans time to mentally prepare for the battle ahead. LSU football is 221-60-4 during night games at home since 1960, 55-5 since 2000 and 30-1 during the Les Miles era.

2: We have a 75-18 record under Les Miles.

3: Billy Cannon's Halloween night run.

4: Football is the main generator of revenue for the LSU athletic department, which annually gives millions of dollars to the academic side of the university, making it one of the few athletic programs that actually contributes funds to the university's academic endeavors.

5: The "Welcome to Death Valley" sign adorning Tiger Stadium.

6: Under Les Miles, we are 21-0 against non-conferences opponents in Baton Rouge.

7: The Earthquake Game.

8: "Baton Rouge happens to be the worst place in the world for a visiting team. It's like being inside a drum." - Bear Bryant

9: Drum cadences.

10: We have a 17-game home winning streak going into the 2012 season, the best in the nation. Our last home loss was in October of 2009 to the then top-ranked Florida Gators.

11: The Parade Grounds.

12: LSU has the 4th most valuable team in college football and the most valuable team in the SEC.

13: Louisiana ladies in game-day purple and gold.

14: Mike VI is a real tiger that lives in a multi-million dollar habitat. How many other teams have a Tiger mascot? A live tiger? I thought so.

15: Tailgating for DAYS.

16: Louisiana doesn't have seasons in the traditional sense, but we have football season, as well as crawfish and hurricane seasons.

17: The LSU Tigers are one of only two programs to win two national championships in the BCS era.

18: The Tiger Band marching toward Victory Hill.

19: Death Valley and its raucous atmosphere provide such a home-field advantage that LSU has a 73-11 record when playing in Baton Rouge since 2000.

20: Other football fans tailgate with a BBQ. The Cajuns down here serve up the best and most creative tailgate food you have ever seen. Jambalaya. Oyster and duck gumbo. Alligator sausage. You think it up and it's probably in the pot.

21: The Golden Girls.

22: Since its inception in 1893, LSU football has an overall home record of 464-164-19 and a home record of 384-143-18 since the 1924 opening of Death Valley.

23: Unlike some other fan bases, we don't riot when we win championships.

24: Hot Boudin.

25: Cold Cous Cous.

The author is a Baton Rouge-native whose childhood Halloweens were marked by viewing Billy Cannon's 1959 Halloween night run against Ole Miss. He even owns replicas of the 2003 and 2007 BCS National Championship crystal footballs made by Waterford.