re: What does the nation outside of Louisiana say about LSU?

Have been out here on the west coast since 2000 and benefited from the fact that my first boss was a huge Laker fan. Jackson had just arrived and it was the first of championships for Shaq and Kobe. Most people that I encounter are very curious about Louisiana culture and have Tiger Stadium (as well as NOLA Mardi Gras) on their bucket list. They are aware of college baseball, thanks to CS Fullerton, Long Beach, Stanford, USC, UC Irvine, etc.
Regarding academics, if they look down their noses at LSU, it isn't apparent. Most people here didn't attend Stanford, USC, but the smaller, over-crowded state schools. I hold my own in my field and that carries more weight than the esteem of the school(s) I attended.