I went to the ‘07 Florida game by myself. Tickets were expensive and none of my tailgating group wanted to pay. I had driven in from Austin, and wasn’t about to drive all that way and not go to the game. So I found a ticket for $150 ands went and sat down.

Easy to make friends at an LSU game. 1st huge play by LSU I turned high-fived everybody to my right and left, then turned around and high-fived the 2 people directly above me. Then I got a tap on my shoulder. Turned around and dude pointed at his shirt. Had “Gators” written across it. His wife had the same. I laughs and apologized. He said, “shite, no, man. Don’t apologize. We’re the only Florida fans around. We’ll high five you for every big LSU play if you high-five us for every big Florida play.”

So the of us high-fived for every big play of the whole game. And there were several. Besides it just being one of the best games ever, it was a great experience for not just me, but then too. Despite the heartbreaking loss, they had a great time and were in good spirits. We talked all the way down the ramp. I’m sure that wound up not being their last trip to Tiger Stadium, and I’m sure they’ve told that story from their perspective.

THAT is how we should treat opposing fans inside the stadium. Friendly shite-talking outside and some good natured “Tiger Bait”-ing encouraged. But have some couth once inside. I’m not saying for everybody to high-five opposing fans when their team does well, but that was so much more enjoyable than the shite-talking/harassing that I may have been a part of while a drunken college student. And I was just in my mid-late 20s. Constant assholes that add unneeded tension can ruin the experience for the entire section. I want to watch the game, not keep my head on a swivel waiting for a fight to break out.