Judging from Saturday's game vs. Vanderbilt, we apparently have a lot of new fans coming to games who are there to experience the atmosphere of Tiger Stadium but are unaware as to how to contribute to it. In light of that, I thought I'd take this opportunity to explain a couple of things that make the 12th man a force to be reckoned with in Tiger Stadium.

What is the 12th man?: The 12th man is the crowd. At Tiger Stadium, the crowd is well known for being very loud.

Why the 12th man?: There are 11 football players for each team on the field for each play. These players determine the outcome of the play. But the crowd can influence that outcome by making noise and thus become the "12th man".

The purpose of the noise is to disrupt the opposing team's communications and, in the process, intimidate the players. Now it seems this would go without saying, but in order for the crowd to be loud, the people in the crowd must make noise.

How do you make noise?:
1.) Yell. Yell at the top of your lungs. Yell so loud your head hurts. You should not leave the game without a hoarse voice.

2.) If you can't yell, whistle. Practice your loudest whistle at home. If you can annoy your neighbors, you're on the right track.

3.) Hands. Your hands should be doing one of two things. One is clapping. Better, though, is using your hands to direct your voice toward the field. Try to get in the opposing players ear.

4.) Feet. Sometimes the situation calls for a little extra umph. If this situation arises, stomp your feet. Remember when you were six and mommy and daddy wouldn't get you that video game you wanted so bad? Channel the foot stomping temper tantrum you threw. I promise, you won't hurt the stadium.

5.) Join in the cheers. LSU has many cheers. Pay attention to them. Learn them. Ask the person next to you how to perform them. Then execute them (the cheer, not the person next to you) at the top of your lungs.

When do you make noise?: This is perhaps the most important part of this class. You want to make noise when the other team needs to do the most communicating which is when they are on offense (they have the ball). The importance of this noise is directly relational to the importance of the play.

3rd down is always an important play. If a team cannot make a first down on this play, they typically are stopping there. So on third down, ratchet it up. Make the players ears hurt.

4th down when not punting is even more important. Sometimes an offense will decide to try and get a 1st down instead of kicking the ball. This must be stopped at all cost. Since the noise must match the situation, yell like life depended on it.

The goal line is another dire circumstance. The other team is about to score and this, again, must be stopped at all cost. If your face isn't red and your head splitting with the blood pressure created from your yelling, you're doing it wrong. Yell louder.

Also, make more noise when the opposing team gives you an opportunity to ruin their world.

No huddle offenses don't get in a huddle to call the play. Now they have hand gestures and all, but at some point, the QB must communicate verbally with at least some of the other players. As a member of the Tiger Stadium crowd, you should try to deny them this opportunity. Yell louder.

If, by some stroke of luck, the other team scores, take a ten second moment of silence then start yelling again. In 2003 after Georgia scored a go ahead touchdown, this policy was enforced with the L-S-U chant. It was later commented on by Georgia players and coaches that this was one of the most intimidating things they had ever faced. They just scored, expecting to silence the crowd. Instead, the crowd got louder. Their players got intimidated while our players got pumped. We won the game.

When do you NOT make noise?: All this noise goes out the window when our Beloved Tigers have the ball. We need to make sure they have a nice, quiet environment in which to call the play and execute it to perfection.

When a player of any team gets hurt. We are intimidating but we have class. No one likes to see a player hurt on the field. Pay respect and keep quiet.

Take these opportunities to rest and get a sip of water to hydrate your vocal chords. You should spend this time preparing for when the opposing team gets the ball back after our score.

In Conclusion: Some people worry that they will look stupid and be embarrassed if they yell loudly at a game. In Tiger Stadium, the opposite is true. If during a time when you should be loud you are instead being quiet, you look stupid and should be embarrassed. No one wants to look stupid and be embarrassed so start yelling.

Tell your kids to yell. It will wear them out and they will enjoy the game more. Plus, you won't have to hear them the next day because they will be too hoarse to talk.

Intimidation in Tiger Stadium is every fans responsibility. If you buy a ticket, you are agreeing to a code of conduct that calls for you to enhance the reputation Tiger Stadium. This code is not to be taken lightly. Now get out there and yell!