ULL fan letter to the editor in Reveille

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Night in Tiger Stadium insulting, unsatisfying

I was a guest at the ULL vs. LSU game last Saturday. This was an experience of a lifetime, but a very unpleasant one. Of course I was wearing red and screaming as loud as I could for my Ragin’ Cajuns.

At the game, I have never felt so targeted and personally harassed in my life for trying to support my own team, especially in my own state.

Tailgating was a different story; I was welcomed and had a great time with the LSU students. Even when we were walking to the stadium, they wished my team luck and told me it would be a good game. It wasn’t until I was in the game that this persecution started.

I was aware that I would get teased and taunted, but what happened was much worse.

I was being ridiculed for cheering for my team. The last time I checked, Ragin’ Cajuns is not profanity. A wise person told me, “These people at LSU are not fans, they are Fanatics!”

I realized that these fanatics were not the LSU students, but the alumni, their children, and those others other crazy Louisianans who think they have the right to persecute an opponent.

Never in my life have I encountered an adult telling their child to mock and insult someone else. I want to thank my parents for instilling the values in me that taught me to respect people and show them hospitality.

I don’t understand the mentality that people think they have the right to be offensive to others, even if you are national champions. You are not showing your pride and spirit; you are reveling an over inflated ego.

I would like to encourage those LSU students who are great hosts to continue to do this and try to encourage your classmates to do the same. You should also let your alumni and other fans know that such behavior is childlike and not appreciated.

I would like to tell those who are being unsportsmanlike to try to look at themselves in the shoes of those they are tormenting. Football is supposed to be fun and bring together people from different schools to celebrate.

I am so unsatisfied that I do not believe I ever want to set foot in that horrible place that you call Tiger Stadium again.

An unhappy guest at Tiger Stadium,


Ashley Carmen Bell
ULL student and Ragin’ Cajun fan

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