By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
This weekend, an old rivalry that seemed to be doomed to burn out has just sparked a new flame. LSU (43-20-1) and Tulane (53-10) will lock horns in the baseball super regional at Zephyr Field in New Orleans. What’s on the line? Just a trip to Omaha to the College World Series.
This matchup may be the most intriguing post-season battle between the two neighboring universities in their long history. Only separated by about 70 miles of interstate, LSU and Tulane will battle for the right to continue their season.
LSU and Tulane were bitter rivals from the beginning. The rivalry dates back to the late 19th century when LSU played its first football game against Tulane and lost 34-0 in 1893. Since then the teams have played each other 93 times on the gridiron.
The rivalry marched on through the 1920’s when Huey Long, bearing his boys of “Old War Skule” paraded the LSU squad down victory lane before games in Tiger Stadium. Long, a huge LSU supporter ironically attended Tulane. Tulane was backed by the “Old Regulars” faction of New Orleans. This was incentive enough for Long to support LSU. Long was in favor of anything that opposed the “Old Regulars.” These political undertones laced the rivalry for over a decade.
However, the rivalries force seemed to fade over the years. LSU defeated Tulane 13 consecutive times between 1983 and 1996. That is a record that still stands today. Maybe the lack of competitiveness contributed to the rivalries fading.
The “Rag” which the winner of the grudge matches between LSU and Tulane annually has disappeared. The relics whereabouts are unknown. With the trophy missing, the mystique of the game may have dimmed.
LSU and Tulane ended their rivalry in basketball when Tulane discontinued their basketball program in the late 80’s. The two teams have never met on the hardwood since the resurrection of Tulane’s program.
How ironic is it that baseball, of all sports, is the reason why alumni from both schools are getting all worked up over which school in the state they declare their loyalty to?
Baseball — the sport that at one time athletic directors considered a drain on schools funds. That was before guys like Skip Bertman and Ron Polk came around and changed that ideology in the South.
After LSU’s rise to glory in baseball under Bertman, all of Louisiana’s colleges put more emphasis on baseball. Tulane has accomplished a lot under Rick Jones, but without the five championships or even a College World Series appearance, Tulane remains in the shadows of LSU.
That’s what Tulane would like to change this weekend. The Greenies have earned their respect by beating LSU twice in 2001. One of those wins was a 13-3 drumming of the Tigers in their own house.
The Green Wave was shown respect by the NCAA when they were given the No. 5 seed in the tournament and was awarded the super regional in New Orleans. ESPN.com recently ran a story discussing Tulane’s hunger for national attention in a state where LSU baseball has its claim to fame.
LSU has a lot to play for as well. Their mentor, coach and Athletic Director is in his last season as head coach at LSU and he’d like to make one more CWS appearance.
Some credit Skip Bertman as being the greatest college baseball coach of all time. He has led LSU to five national titles, 11 CWS appearances and constructed the “Program of the Decade” in the 1990s that Tiger fans have grown to adore in the 21st century.
LSU would love nothing more than to send their hero to the CWS one more time.
This weekend, Louisianans will get to experience something that we’ve lacked in the past, a bitter collegiate rivalry between two teams desperate to win.
We all hear about Auburn-Alabama, Florida-Florida St., Texas-Texas A&M as great rivalries that people are so passionate about, battle lines between neighbors and kin are drawn so fierce that it can determine who is acceptable in one’s house and who isn’t.
I’m not sure Tigers and Greenies are to that point yet, after all tailgaters will likely share jambalaya and drinks before each game with tales and laughter, but come game time, the war faces will be on.
With a date Sept. 1, 2001 in Tiger Stadium between an LSU team with high expectations and a revamped Tulane team, this may not be the last time the state is divided.
So be it, rivalries are fun and what athletics are all about. Both schools would agree in saying, “Laissez les bons temps rouler”.