Point pulled from T-Bob thread: How much did 1/9/12 hurt future attendance?

I saw someone say that after LSU, which had put together the greatest regular season resume in CFB history, was "rewarded" with having to play the third place team from the SEC that it had already defeated on its home field for the national title, that it caused them to step back and not be as passionate about the team or attending the games. What sayeth the rant: Did 1/9/12 adversely impact the fan base to a point of caring less?

I have noticed the stands emptying a lot easier since the 2011 season than at any time before it. I also have attended less games than I used to and also have stepped back to have a reality check and to care more about the more important things in life. I think part of that is maturity, but part of that also was knowing that Oklahoma State deserved the title game berth that year over Alabama, and that LSU's team was less enthused about an undeserved rematch (and played like it) than it would have been against Oklahoma State. I also think ESPN robbed the game of the Miles-versus-his-previous school storyline to worship Saban - whom they gave an open mic to for the entire weekend of the SEC Championship to promote Alabama - which was so absurd because if they had been deserving they would have been playing that weekend. But I digress...

This thread is NOT about whether Alabama or Okie State deserved to be there, or about the game itself. It is solely about the impact of what happened then on the fan base since then, attendance wise and otherwise.

I'll hang up and listen......