Football According to Southern Living

Well, the countdown is on!!  Only 5 more days until LSU Tiger Football!  Despite all the recent off-field trouble, I’m excited about the season and so ready to watch some football again! The Saints have been looking pretty good in pre-season and I can’t wait to see how they do, too.

I received my September issue of Southern Living magazine last week and was thrilled to see several articles regarding college football in the South.  Here are the “10 Commandments of College Football Fandom” according to editor M. Lindsay Bierman (my comments will be in purple italics):

1. Thou shalt wear team colors.  But think twice before adorning yourself with body paint – you don’t want to be the Internet photo that goes viral.  This is why there is an abundance of purple in my wardrobe.

2.  Thou shalt know – and sing – your team’s fight song from beginning to end.  Sure, you can “watermelon watermelon” your way through the alma mater, but not memorizing the fight song is a fan failure.  “Hey Fightin’ Tigers, fight all the way!”

3. Thou shalt keep your language clean (unless, of course, the quarterback fumbles on fourth and goal). Or the clock runs out while the offense is running around cluelessly, or the QB throws a horrible interception, or the field goal kicker misses a 20 yarder wide right….

4. Thou shalt support the coach.  Even when his calls are questionable.  Usually not hard to do, Les Miles is a stand-up guy.

5.  Thou shalt be respectful to visiting teams.  Remember: Southern ladies and gentlemen never boo. Well, I have to make an exception for Florida, and Auburn, and Alabama, and….

6. Thou shalt set up a tailgate no fewer than three hours before kickoff (six if it’s a night game). Table linens and matching huggers encouraged, but not required.  Um, try at least the day before a night game and three days before a BIG rival game.

7. Thou shalt theme your tailgate food around the visiting rival.  Gator bites, anyone?

8. Thou shalt stay through the fourth quarter – rain or shine.  That’s what ponchos are for, y’all.  Ask my step-dad how he feels about this one.  The clock must read 0:00 before he will exit the stadium!

9.  Thou shalt respect the solemnity of Game Day by planning weddings, births, and other life events around the football schedule.  Amen!

10.  Thou shalt not covet other teams’ bowl games, national championships, or Heisman Trophy wins.  There’s always next year.  No need to covet, we already have a handful!

I’ll be highlighting some more of Southern Living’s college football articles this week, stay tuned!

Geaux Tigers!