re: Self-Loathing & The Psychology of South Louisiana

part of why Saban worked here is bc a portion of our fan base needs to be told how to cheer, and how they should feel. A control freak like Saban didn't mind telling us the "process".

It is a ashamed how absolute value is place on winning. (Also something Saban was good at-both winning and placing absolute value on it)

It all boils down to the State needing to prove itself. When I was a kid it was always us proving ourselves by how hard we played. That has been lost and replaced with winning. It needs to revert back to hard play. Also the fans also always prided itself on supporting the team no mater what. Now the fan base prides itself on being associated with a winner. That has to revert back as well.

quote:

---

When I was a kid it was always us proving ourselves by how hard we played.

---

So true. We discussed that in the USC 79 thread. It was a regional thing. Us against them. We identified as Underdogs and it promoted a sense of Unity. That's why we could lose an epic game and chant "LSU" for a half hour after the game. Those days are LONG gone and they ain't coming back. But the self-loathers were there then too, I remember the old school Louisiana born and bred guys who idealized "the other" (Notre Dame, Oklahoma those who had more football status) and ridiculed the Duhe's and the Thibodeaux's who played at LSU.

I wish we had winning and tremendous effort,with fan cohesion as a bonus, for the record. It's elusive though, that thing we desire.

quote:

---

Self-loathing is part of the South Louisiana character . If you grew up in South Louisiana you know what I'm talking about instinctively. It has to do with French culture and Louisiana history. It has to do with being pushed-around , having Little Man's Disease. It's why half of every neighborhood in South Louisiana lives to troll the other half. It's why being a contrarian is so highly valued in South Louisiana culture.

When I was a kid it was people from say, Pointe Coupee Parish randomly pulling for Notre Dame and running down LSU, to the same thing now. I met a women this week that grew up in Baton Rouge, has ZERO connection to the University Of Alabama, and has two Bama flags in her yard, and sports a big Bama bumper sticker on her SUV. She knows less about college football or Alabama then you know about origami.She identifies with the flavor of the day to deny her neighbors in some way...and that is epidemic in South Louisiana. It's the psychology here. And right now it's time to get out the long knives . As a semi- outsider-someone from here, but not of here, I see it clearly.

I'm NOT telling anyone how to feel about Les Miles and LSU, I'm just dreading the whole soap opera that is about to unfold. The cannibalism part where everybody pulls out the long knives. All the malice everybody has for everybody else, and the way it's done for sport here, just wears my arse out.

---

+1 Bet that bama shirt she sports around in is 2 sizes to small,all that was left at wal mart was XL and below.

quote:

---

has ZERO connection to the University Of Alabama, and has two Bama flags in her yard, and sports a big Bama bumper sticker on her SUV. She knows less about college football or Alabama then you know about origami.

---

She's probably a broncos fan too.

Sounds about right. Living in Texas, I bring that Louisiana pride everyday, and I enjoy being the contrarian in my office.

quote:

---

Does it explain the extreme and delusional overreactions on this board? I don't know.

---

whether it explains it or not there is no question our fan base has some very vocal members that indeed overreact. they are the most critical fanbase I know of. hell winning a game doesn't make them happy unless it's a blow out.

quote:

---

Auburn played for a national championship last year. They look like they will be in a position to play for another one. We have a young team which will improve this season. Do adjustments need to be made?

---

I strongly think adjustments will be made by the coaches. BUT these fans won't notice them and will criticize them too. what this team needs is a field general. we don't have one. MOST of the time it takes a year or two for a QB to get good esp in the SEC west. our fans seem to ONLY SEE one or two QB's across the country that have progressed far enough to look great. the A&M qb is used as an example all the time here. of course, he didn't look so hot against MSU did he?

quote:

---

But your self worth shouldn't be based on the performance of a college football team.

---

some LSU fans are really bad at this. but so are fans of other college teams and pro teams as well. i'm sure books have been written about it. it is sad.

You need to surround yourself with better people because this is complete BS...generalizing an entire population is pretty ignorant too.

A lot of what you said is true. It took me moving to Texas to see it.

You are missing the true cause, self loathing is rooted in insecurity. Louisiana folks breed insecurity in our core. The banana republic is alive and well in our minds and hearts. A shyster like long or fast Eddie feed it for personal gain and set us back for generations.

This insecurity roots itself in our need to be "right" as opposed to being "happy" as fans. We can never be happy when we prefer to be right. The first to proclaim a demise and be right about it is more important than the team winning.

We had a coach with a win at all costs mentality and we still criticized him. We have a coach that wins ugly often and we want to fire him when it suits us.

This mindset has a forum here and it is sad.

I tell you what. You and OP can I both kiss my a@#. I just drove 14 fricking hours there and back in the hope that your magnificent coach would see the faults in the first games and change. Guess what, another arse whipping in a prime time national game. It wasn't even close from the start. The same old crap we saw the first game of the year. He hasn't changed a damn thing since the Miss St. Game. I also went to Ole Miss last year and watched that debacle. Two road games I made to watch crappy coaching. I am tired of it. I will not be going to another away game as long as he is coach. Not worth my time or money to watch a a 4million dollar coach be a stubborn moron. Ill do it from my couch for now on. Also, would love to know how many fans you talk to of other teams. Because most of them laugh their asses of when the subject of Miles comes up.

Sorry, meant away game.