If LSU had hired Houston Nutt, then this series could have turned into a real rivalry. But alas, LSU did not and this will continue to be the most contrived rivalry in all of sports.
"The Boot" is a manufactured rivalry with Arkansas. It makes good sense, in a way. We are the westernmost schoools in the SEC, we recruit against each other, etc. But until Arkansas challenges for the SEC football title regularly, the fans just don't get into it all that much.
I always told my friends that LSU fans don't see the boot as a true rivalry game, and they think I'm full of it. People here in Arkansas think its the fricking superbowl and you have no idea how much crap I take for being a Hogs and Tigers fans. I personally think it is a great rivalry game basically because they're my two favs. What about Texass? Any hatred there?
How can we have a rivalry with a team we play once every couple of decades. Now as a recruiting rival sure, that's wh yaTm does not want us on their schedule any longer per their AD. I think Red55 has it right, whoever is the "other" team to beat as far as standing in our way to the SEC Championship will be our main rival.
You'll find that most of the dislike for UT comes from people in Texas, myself included. There's little reason for most LSU fans to have much passion one way or another for UT, given the minimal interaction between the schools (pre-Perriloux, anyway!) It's funny that Arkansas fans take that game so seriously, but I guess it makes sense, since they really don't have another real rival.
