Fans Have a Job to Do

137.6 decibels.

That is the Guiness Book of World Records sanctioned mark for the loudest stadium noise ever recorded (note that a fighter jet launching from the deck of an aircraft carrier is about 130 decibels).

It wasn’t Tiger Stadium…it was Century Link Field in Seattle. It’s time to change that on November 3rd.

The LSU fanbase is passionate. We demand a lot of from players. We demand near-perfection from our coaches. On November 3, I think it’s time we demand greatness from our fans.

We cannot tackle, we cannot throw the ball and we cannot call the plays (no, Slinger is not monitoring the critiques of his play calling on the Scoreboard during the game). But that does not mean we do not have a crucial role to play as fans.

We have a job to do that is twofold: disrupt Alabama and energize the home team.

This Alabama team is really, really good. Many so-called experts do not believe they can beaten. Whispers of “greatest team ever” are starting. ESPN radio guys went on record that this game will not be close and that Tua will continue his streak of not playing in the fourth quarter.

Of course we have heard this all before.
Remember the 2003 national championship game? Our guys defeated an Oklahoma team that many said could not be beaten. Yet after routing #11 Texas 65-13 in the Red River Shootout, #14 Oklahoma State 52-9 in Bedlam and then skullfricking the Aggies 77-0, the Sooners were beaten consecutively, first by #12 Kansas State in the Big XII Title game and then by our guys for the MNC.

That Sooners team was actually tested, pummeling three top 25 teams. This Tide team has not been. Only Texas A&M was ranked when they played (and they remain the only ranked team Bama has played). Louisville (2-5), Arkansas State (4-3), Ole Miss (5-3), ULL (3-4), Arkansas (2-6), Missouri (4-3) and Tennessee (3-4). A real murderers row...

Tua is a wonderful QB, but he has yet to play against a defense as talented as LSU. Those young freshman and sophomore WRs are exciting but they haven’t had to get open against a secondary like what we have. And their defense, while always stout, has had teams put up decent numbers (e.g., Arkansas, 403 yards, 31 points; A&M 393 yards and 23 points).

And most importantly, they have yet to play in a truly hostile environment. Neyland Stadium in Tennessee can be hostile, but Bama was up 21-0 before Tennessee had taken more than 6 snaps on offense.
Our job is to make Death Valley the 12th man. We need to be amped up and we need to be louder than we have ever been. We need to make Tua’s ears bleed.

According to Dr. Daniel Wann , a psychology professor at Murray State, and the author of Sports Fans: The Psychology and Social Impact of Spectators, the biggest impact in crowd noise (that is not structural) is how much the fans are personally connected to the outcome of the game. To sustain a loud level of crowd noise, every fan needs to understand that they are not just there as a spectator.

Here are my suggestions, feel free to add others:

1. No one is allowed to sit down (except during CBS timeouts to rest up; when the CBS countdown clock hits 30 seconds, get your arse back up).

2. No one is permitted to bring someone who is not emotionally invested in this game. No buddy who just wants to see such a great game. No date, no matter how hot, who cannot name at least five players.

3. IF YOU SELL YOUR TICKET ON STUBHUB YOU ARE A frickING INFIDEL. There are plenty of Tiger fans looking for tickets. Don’t be lazy and replace a screaming Tiger fan with a Gump.

4. If you are a drinker, find the sweet spot. Almost everyone gets rowdier but there is a plateau which isn’t great and a crash point which is a disaster (the equivalent of Xavier Carter kneeling on the 1 yard line during a kickoff). If you allow yourself to be useless to us by the time Devin White makes his second half, Willis Reed-like appearance, you have failed your team and your school. And I’m not being preachy here. This happened to me in the 2007 BCS title game v. Ohio State. I was hung over the whole second half (started drinking at 10 that morning). Fortunately, by then the game was over. I pledge to not let that happen this time. Party your arse off, get loud but remember that you have a role to play. Love your Tigers more than the brown water.

5. Do not get offended by Neck or cuss words. Believe me, I think it’s trashy and I wish it didn’t happen but if LSU has momentum, I’m okay with a little STTDB (especially for Saban and the Bama players who are traitors – Dylan “Peaked Early” Moses, Isaiah Buggs, Chris “Bench Warmer” Allen, Saivion Smith, Shyheim Carter, Devonta Smith, Slade Bolden, Phidarian “I Never Spoke to Pete” Mathis, and Irv Smith). A related point (but since I’m not parenting anyone’s kids I won’t make it a separate item) but in my own opinion, this is really not a game for anyone under the age of 13 or 14.

6. Do go silent between plays when they have the ball.
Yell when they are in the huddle. Don't even let them know what damn play they're running!

7. If Bama has a good play or is having a good drive or actually scores, do let that “silence the crowd”. GET LOUDER! Remember in 2003 when Georgia tied it with an inexplicable 90 yard screen pass TD. How great was it that the crowd immediately erupted in “LSU! LSU! LSU!” No Surrender Cobra. No worried looks. And most importantly, do not let it reduce the noise level. Don’t get dismayed, get louder!

This fan base has a massive job to do Saturday night. We need nothing but Tiger fans in the seats, from kickoff to 0:00, in full throat. No letting up. Do your job. Let’s kick their arse.

Geaux Tigers!