Plight Of LSU Football Fans: Way Les CBS

I don't know about all of the other football fans out there, but it's early June and I already can't wait for September to roll around. Here in Baton Rouge, it brings about one of the best experiences available in college football.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the sun has set in the western sky. It is officially Saturday night in Tiger Stadium." This short phrase whips 92,000+ fans into a frenzy as The Golden Band from Tigerland takes the field.

Only a few years ago, this was nearly every weekend. Nowadays however, it is occurring less and less every year. As CBS, who has first rights to broadcast SEC football games, begins to cover more LSU football, they are taking away a vital part of it.

By broadcasting games at the usual 2:30 p.m. CST, CBS is stripping LSU fans, especially students, of arguably the most important part of any Saturday home game—tailgating.

With a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, the average LSU fan will only have 3 hours or so of tailgating before kickoff. For students, that time is even less because they enter the stadium even earlier (usually 1.5 to 2 hours before the game). This means that tailgating time is nearly cut down to zero.

Without tailgating, LSU fans are just not the same, the atmosphere suffers, and in turn, the players do not have the home field advantage that should come with Death Valley.

For example, take the three home losses LSU had in the 2008-09 season. What did all three have in common? They were all 2:30 p.m. CBS games.

Also, when ESPN ran their series, "Faces of the Program," ESPN recognized LSU, not for Mike the Tiger, the Golden Band from Tigerland, or even Billy Cannon.

What they said defined the LSU program were Saturday nights in Tiger Stadium. With more and more games starting at 2:30, LSU is really missing out on what makes the football program great.

If CBS can show one primetime game, like it does every year, then why can't they begin to show more than one during a season? I know this is not necessarily a pressing issue in the college football world, but going into a new season, I felt that this is something that needed to be addressed.

I look forward to being able to cover LSU football this season, my first as an LSU student!