Please Stop Being The Worst Type Of LSU Fan

by Dylan Brossette (Special to ESPN 1420)

A few weeks ago, Jay Walker wrote a though-provoking piece about the habits of so-called “fans” of the LSU Tigers. In his piece, Jay talked about the fickle nature of Tiger fans and how quickly they turn on the team when things don’t go precisely according to plan, or at least well enough so the Tigers win.

I thought Jay made some really valid criticisms in his article, but I don’t think even he foresaw the complete jokes that some fans made of themselves after the 17-0 loss to Arkansas this weekend.

Fueled by both undying devotion to a school they most likely didn’t attend and some concoction of liquor and soda, a choice few Tiger faithful decided to contact quarterback Anthony Jennings via the oh-so useful social media platform called Twitter and tell Jennings, and I’m quoting here, they would “cut off his f***ing head and eat it,” and another pleasantly suggesting the sophomore should “do himself a favor and kill himself now” to stave off future embarrassment.

Are you kidding me? Is your Monday morning water cooler talk so vital to your identity that you feel compelled to promote murder and suicide? Why is our answer to poor play these days to immediately jump to the most extreme forms of punishment and insult we can think of and hurl them haphazardly through the blogosphere at a kid who probably can’t balance a checkbook or change his own oil?

What’s funny is that upon simply accessing these fans accounts, you find individuals eerily akin to the characters you find on “Swamp People.” You know, clearly didn’t attend college and doesn’t have much going on outside of deciding what combination of mismatched camo he’ll wear that day.

Furthermore, Jennings didn’t play any more poorly than he did in any other game. Hell, 12-of-22 is par for the course at this point. Uncle Rico over here is pretty sure he could better, though. That’s what kills me. These asinine clowns look they would get out of breath carrying Jennings’ helmet to the locker room, but feel completely entitled to offer insight as to how he should manage his grief after a bad game.

I’m sure this is a small minority of fans, and in a way they say what a lot of us are thinking. Jennings has been mediocre all season long. Downright terrible most of the time. To borrow a quote from “Rudy,” though -- “He don’t have to prove nothing to nobody.”

LSU felt so compelled by a body of work during Jennings’ prep days that they offered him a spot on their team for free, and felt even stronger about his abilities to lead said team. I don’t seem to recall them ever consulting T-Boy Boudreaux about his opinion, but he’ll offer it nonetheless.

Whether or not it was a case of booze-fueled idiocy or a cry for attention online, both were uncalled for and just plain dumb. You’re mad; we get it. You know that guy who sits behind you at the game who questions every play and literally never shuts up the whole night who we all hate? Yea, that’s you bud.

These clowns would never, ever approach Jennings in person if they saw him in a situation where they thought he may retaliate or rebuke their statement, which is why I’m not writing about how the quarterback needs to watch his step.

To all those little lap dogs out there barking on the end of their leash: please shut up. Some of us are trying to support our team and not make complete mockeries of our allegiance.