re: Origins of Apathy: LSU Has Not Won a Big Game in Three Years

The theory of a "big" game is relative.

LSU's program has reached a level of success where there are very few games a year that are considered to be "big" games. Think about the 90's, there seemed to be a "big" game each week. The reason was that LSU was struggling so much and almost every team they played was ranked higher and had a better record. For example, I remember being in TS in 1993 pulling hard for a 5-5 LSU team to beat a 6-4 Arkansas team, just so LSU could become bowl eligble. That was a "big" game for us fans then because our expectations of the program were so low. Would the Independence Bowl be a "big" game this year? It sure in the hell was in 1995

The apathy of the fan base is due to elevated expectations.

In 2000 a game between LSU and Miss. St where both teams were ranked in the 12-25 range was "big." This season fans were apathetic about the LSU/WVU game, a game between 2 top 25 teams. The fact is, the expectations of the fan base (stated or not) is SEC and National Championship or bust. We veiw "big" games as those that are only against teams ranked in the top 10. Once you've reached the pinnacle of the mountain, people feel that anything lower is unacceptable. It's human nature. Very few people want to leave thier $200K job and lifestyle to return to their status when they were making $25K.

Fair or not, LSU as a program is judged upon how they compare to similar programs, and those programs are the elites: Fla., Bama, AU (this year), USC (pre-probation), etc. The apathy comes from viewing a very small and select group as equal or better than you. Only playing and beating that small group will constitute as a "big" game anymore to the majority of the fanbase. The bitching and loathing comes from the fear of falling out of that select circle.