Typically, when University of South Carolina students make the trip to an opponent’s campus for an away game, phrases like “overwhelming hospitality” and “incredibly welcoming” are not frequently used when describing student experience on foreign SEC territory. The exception, however, was this weekend’s “home game” in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Due to the catastrophic flooding that struck Columbia two weekends ago, the difficult decision was made to move the game from Williams-Brice to Tiger Stadium at LSU. Many USC students hit the road on Friday to make the 10-hour drive to Baton Rouge, unsure of how they would be greeted by those who call LSU home. To say expectations were greatly exceeded would be putting it lightly.
“While it wasn’t a typical game day, the interaction we had with LSU fans was fantastic,” third-year international business student Evan Parker said. “The fraternities let us drink their beer, older fans were coming up and asking us how Columbia was doing in light of the flooding, and the whole Saturday in general was an escape to normality — a chance to just enjoy football in the SEC.”
LSU fans have a tradition of shouting “Tiger bait!” to opposing fans who visit their campus. However, students that attended this weekend’s game reported nothing but genuine concern and the utmost class from Tiger fans.
“I had heard they have a bad reputation as being some of the rudest fans in the SEC, but I saw no evidence of that,” fourth-year accounting student Matthew Oldhouser said. “Everyone just said, 'We’re glad you’re here and we’re glad you’re safe.' They were very understanding in part because they know how destructive flooding can be from their experience with Hurricane Katrina.”
Other students reported similar experiences with LSU fans. Fourth-year retailing student Aaron Riedel reported a touching act made by an LSU fan.
“Our bill at a popular local restaurant, The Chimes Highland, was cut in half,” Riedel said. “All in all we didn’t want to take our USC gear off the entire trip because we were legitimately treated like celebrities.”
Student Body President Jonathan Kaufman also made the trip to Baton Rouge and says he was met with the utmost hospitality from the minute he was picked up at the airport to the minute he was dropped off. LSU’s student government showed Kaufman around the campus, took him to dinner and even gave him a place to stay for the weekend.
Kaufman spent all day Saturday with LSU’s Student Body Vice President Hannah Knight, who served as a hostess for the weekend. Kaufman attended the USC tailgate put on by LSU Student Government, where he ate Louisiana-themed food, met LSU’s President Dr. F. King Alexander and, in true South Carolina fashion, taught a few LSU fans how to shag.
When asked to report the most memorable moment of the weekend, Kaufman told the story of how he received the key to Tiger Stadium, on behalf of the University of South Carolina student body in the Eye of the Tiger at midfield. LSU's and USC’s athletic departments and student governments worked together to put on the ceremony during the pregame festivities. Kaufman said that LSU Student Government wanted to present the key as a way to truly make USC students feel welcome and at home in both Tiger Stadium and Baton Rouge.
Experiences like that of Parker, Oldhouser, Riedel and Kaufman are representative of the overall experience of USC students who traveled to Baton Rouge. LSU exemplified generosity, humility and class this weekend — a gesture that USC students will never forget.
“The friendship and hospitality they've extended towards us has formed a bond between two universities and strengthened the family that is the SEC,” Parker said. “Cause hey, families may fight sometimes. Sometimes a lot. But when family needs help, family helps out, and I think I can speak for everyone when I say we as South Carolinians are forever indebted to Louisiana State University.”