re: Landon Collins to Willis, Get out of Louisiana

From the original post...

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Probably has been brought up but Willis said in an interview his brother basically told him don't go to LSU.

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It has been brought up. What hasn't been brought up is exactly what Landon told Gerald. We will likely never know that, and while I honestly suspect at least some of the posts in this thread are actually Bama trolls, I think any true LSU fan having such a strong emotional response to Landon without knowing what he actually said seems motivated by either self-centered frustration (understandable, I guess, if you're young and lack life experience) or by an inability to comprehend the possible dynamics of a mature relationship (for those with limited mental faculties who can't consider more than one point of view).

For example, there is a world of difference between...

"Hey Gerald, I don't like LSU / those a-holes on tigerdroppings keep talking crap about me. Your choice, but I say screw them; I'd rather you come to Bama with me, but if you don't want to do that, go to UF."

and

"Hey Gerald, I know there's pressure to stay home, but it really is your choice little brother... don't let the pressure be what makes you decide. Just choose what you feel is right for you. If that's LSU, it's LSU; if it's UF, then choose UF."

Either one of these, or a million variations in between, could lead Gerald to state that his brother "basically" told him to go to UF. And consciously or not, Gerald bringing that up at all-- unless directly asked what his brother thought-- may be a way for him to deal with potential guilt for leaving the home state. To be clear, I don't know if he feels any guilt, but it is a possibility.

To the posters who made the the following comments:

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Because he's afraid of his brother making LSU better.

It's been the back and forth banter between Landon and LSU fans. He wanted to do all he could to not let LSU fans have the satisfaction of his brother playing there/or compete against him.

Its become personal for him.

I think losing Gerald and Speedy really is as simple as this:
They wanted to "get back" at LSU.

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None of you know anything. You hear the incomplete story that Landon & Gerald spoke, you don't know any context, and you're simply jumping to conclusions. I wouldn't care, except I've seen on this board too many times when people with similarly small minded thinking add their uninformed two cents, the next small minded person ends up reading it and taking it for truth because it suits their own selfish "to heck with ___" mentality. Thankfully, the athletes themselves, who are under the pressure to make these decisions and face backlash, often show much greater sportsmanship towards the fans and towards each other than the petty sentiments bandied about on here. If you think a few of those athletes show pettiness in return, then understand that you reap what you sow. If you're petty to others, they might just reciprocate.

As to the poster who included this comment:

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Collins is and always was a Thug POS... anyone who disses momma like that is trash.

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This is the most unintelligent and uninformed opinion on the thread-- congratulations!

1) Collins was widely considered a well behaved, quiet and humble kid throughout his recruitment.

2) I have not seen or heard of any thuggish behavior at any time from Collins. Enlighten me if I'm wrong.

The closest I've heard to a complaint is that "the media" said Collins was looking forward to the LSU game because he felt the fans in La. mistreated him. I'm sure very few did. But there was certainly no lack of people here verbally abusing him as they are again. I'm sure some of it is Bama trolls, but undoubtedly some are supposed LSU fans. And I'm sure Nick had someone printing every negative comment here to have him read, which likely did get under his skin.

3) Not choosing to go to college where your mother wants you to go to college does not in any way, shape or form make someone a thug. If your parents are doctors and want you to become one, are you a thug for not being interested in becoming a doctor? If your parents own a small store and want you to take over, but you have a passion for science and want to become a doctor, are you a thug if you pursue your passion?

I speak from experience on this one. My own mom had an old world sensibility and wanted me to stay home to be doted on. I joined the Marines against her wishes. I then went to the the Naval Academy against her wishes. I have not met anyone in my professional life to this point that considers my decisions to be thuggish.

I wanted Collins and Willis to commit to LSU as much as anyone. I was disappointed when they didn't. Every time they make a mistake that I see or when LSU burns them in a game, etc. I will be more pleased than I would be if it were just some other player. But some of the things said in these threads goes beyond being a passionate fan and beyond just uninformed douchiness-- it's classless.