LSU-Arkansas and "The Golden Boot"--A Phony, Manufactured Rivalry

Arkansas is not our "rival."

Some PR firm came up with the "Golden Boot" in 1996 in an attempt to manufacture a rivalry where there was none.

Rivalries and trophies are born out of small things that become tradition.

Michigan and Minnesota's "Little Brown Jug," for instance--in 1903, Fielding Yost brought his "point-a-minute" Wolverine offense to Minneapolis. (I wish Les Miles would emulate Yost instead of Schembechler.) He was suspicious of Minnesota perhaps doctoring Michigan's water and sent a trainer out to buy a water jug for 30 cents. After losing the game, Michigan left the jug behind in the visitors' locker room.

A Scandinavian janitor told the Minnesota coach: "Yost left his yug." A Minnesota student painted the jug in Gopher colors with the game score, and a tradition was born--spontaneously, not manufactured.

LSU tradition is Ruffin Pleasant going to buy Mardi Gras ribbon before catching the train to play Tulane--he wanted a purple, green, and gold swatch on his jersey. Alas, the store was out of green ribbon and he could only get ... purple and gold.

What kind of uniforms would we be wearing if the fabric shop had been out of purple ribbon instead of green over 100 years ago?

That's tradition. It's spontaneous and grows from small, seemingly inconsequential beginnings--not some phony manufactured big-arse trophy--"Hey! We'll increase the TV ratings because now we have a rivalry!"

Don't misunderstand me. I hate these Arky fans probably second to gump fans--but not because I think they are our "big" rival because some people thought it would be a good idea.

Rivalries and the trophies and traditions that go with them are born--they are not made in some public relations office.