I feel the same way. We got bent over by ASU in our time of need. I support the LSU administration and understand why they had to let this happen. But i wouldnt be thanking ASU for this. Its win win for them. Even if we beat them the impact of positive forces doesnt come till Tenn. if it is at Tiger Stadium. Something inside me says ASU played hardball and said they would not send their team to LSU to play at this time. If they dont come or agree to an alternate site then their is no game anyway. What choice did LSU have faced with an ultimatem. I would be willing to bet LSU Representatives wanted this game at LSU. This is all moot now. Let's go kick some sun devil ass.
I'm really surprised LSU picked Tempe for a game site. Ole Miss offered their stadium and so did the Independence Bowl in Shreveport. LSU fans could have attended those games. Just a long 5-hour drive home at night to deal with. But Tempe is a 2800-mie round trip and there won't be much of a fan presence for an LSU "home" game. Our opponents will fill the stadium. Moving the game I understand, but moving it to our opponents field when there were closer venues make no sense to me. The Advocate this morning states that O'Keefe picked Arizona State because of his close personal relationship with the ASU president. If true and he put personal ties above his responsibilities to the LSU ticket-holding fans . . . then I'm disappointed. Very disappointed.
How do you not take the Ole Miss offer to use their stadium? This is simply unnacceptable and Tiger fans should be outraged and demand an answer. O'Keefe's tenure at LSU looks to be off to a horrible start.
It is very disappointing that they couldn't (wouldn't?) move the game to a closer, neutral site. But I don't fault ASU for not swapping home games. As Wolf said in another thread, one week isn't nearly enough time for them to adequately push their own ticket sales for this game and have it count as their one home game. If a neutral site could not be worked out, it looks like the current situation was the best anybody could do. That's a big IF though.
Well, maybe they did it this way in order to make sure that all of the money is going to go to the Louisiana hurricane relief effort. Supposedly the ASU officials who visted Baton Rouge signed off on the game being played in Baton Rouge if LSU decided it wanted to do that. By doing this LSU willl be making sure that around $2,800,000 will be directed back to LA. Therefore when ASU makes a return visit in the future both teams will have had one home game where they got to keep the money. None of us can know all of the factors that had to be considered and I have to believe that all of these people that had imput are doing what they believe is the best for all concerned. By the way, I think O'keefe's tenure is getting off to an incredible great start, I've never been more proud of LSU than I am at the present time. Go walk around the campus and see what the university is doing right now, go meet the patients, relief workers, doctors, nurses and medics who are on campus. Go talk to the 1000's of students they are taking in from other schools. Go see how organized and successful this operation is, see how many lives are being saved, then form your opinion.
After cooler heads have prevailed, hopefully we'll see that ASU did the right thing. In fact they're making a heckuva contribution. Whoever decided what is another topic, as is the home and home series, etc. The fact is there is a game in Tempe, Az. that needs our attention. Would I rather the game be here, or in La, or in Mississippi or anywhere but there? Of course. Great people, great organizations, great teams, and great states rise above circumstances. That is why there are few heroes, because there are so few who choose to rise above adversity. I think that this Tiger team is special and will rise above whatever circumstances come their way, with dignity and purpose. We should do no less. :laflagwav
Everybody needs to settle down and wait until facts, not rumors, are known before condemning O'Keefe, Bertman and everyone else involved in this decision. It's only a football game after all. No lives are at risk here. LSU goes on the road and plays far from home. Big F'ing deal. It happens all the time. I really don't see the need for all of this whining.
SabanFan, you are the voice of reason on TF, but in this case you are wrong. If they would have played this game in South Dakota, I could have accepted it much more, but to make this a true road game was unacceptable. They should have come to terms with someone as close to home as possible. I just think they didn't try very hard and just decided the easy way out and let it play at Tempe. Not acceptable.
Once again, we have to remember there were two teams that "negotiated" the terms of this game. I don't for a minute believe O'Keefe and Bertman just gave it away. LSU could not afford to have the game cancelled, so ASU held the trump cards. I would bet good money that ASU insisted that it be in Tempe or not at all if it could not be in TS. If I am right, the best answer to any ASU demands will be a good old fashioned a$$ whoopin' on the field next Saturday. And if I am right, you know good and well Les is going to use it fire up the team. :geauxtige
