LSU's Joe Alleva: 'Embarrassing' to hear students' vulgar taunts at Oklahoma game; national pundits weigh in
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- LSU students fill the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for Saturday's game against Oklahoma.
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Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- The Oklahoma bench comes to life after back to back three pointers from Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield (24), Saturday, January 30, 2016, at LSU's PMAC in Baton Rouge, La.
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- LSU students fill the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for Saturday's game against Oklahoma.
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Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- The Oklahoma bench comes to life after back to back three pointers from Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield (24), Saturday, January 30, 2016, at LSU's PMAC in Baton Rouge, La.
BY SCOTT RABALAIS| SRABALAIS@THEADVOCATE.COM
Feb. 1, 2016; 8:57 a.m.
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LSU students hurled obscenities, ice and objects during and immediately after the Tigers’ 77-75 loss in men’s basketball Saturday against No. 1-ranked Oklahoma.
Obscene chants directed at Oklahoma star shooting guard Buddy Hield rose from the packed student section on two or three occasions during the game. After the game, students booed and threw ice and towels as the Sooners left the court on a corner of the court at the end where the student section is located.
The actions drew denouncements from national media as well as LSU athletic director Joe Alleva.
“I am very disappointed with the language used by our students,” Alleva said Monday. “They should act with class and respect our opponents. Their language is embarrassing and motivates our opponent.”
A request for comment Monday morning from LSU President F. King Alexander did not immediately draw a response.
According to LSU police, there were no arrests or charges filed associated with behavior at Saturday's game.
"Generally, if a student is ejected from a game, they are referred to Student Advocacy & Accountability, and they would go through the accountability process outlined in the student code of conduct," said Ernie Ballard III, LSU media relations director.
The obscene chants directed at Hield, a national player of the year candidate who led all scorers Saturday with 32 points, were audible on ESPN’s telecast of the game.
Dari Nowkhah, lead anchor at SEC Network and ESPN Radio host, tweeted that the students’ behavior was “shameful” and “pathetic.”
The Sporting News offered some advice for the offending fans: Don’t give a potential National Player of the Year any additional motivation to beat your team. It’s website posted this video of LSU students’ “not so nice chant to Buddy Hield”:
Having trouble seeing the video, follow this link.
Fans may have done well to take Sporting News’ advice. Hield burned up the nets in the second half hitting 7-of-10 3-point attempts to lead the Sooners back from a 14-point deficit.
At least one LSU student who attended the game objected to student section behavior he says "is getting completely out of hand," but in his opinion is avoidable with proper attention and effort from LSU staff.
In a letter published in the LSU student newspaper, the Daily Reveille, graduate student Andrew Abad urges Alleva to take whatever steps required to address offensive behavior.
"Not doing so continues to damage the reputation of our students, our athletic program, the university, and most importantly, the LSU brand," Abad writes.
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- LSU students fill the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for Saturday's game against Oklahoma.
BUY THIS PHOTO
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- The Oklahoma bench comes to life after back to back three pointers from Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield (24), Saturday, January 30, 2016, at LSU's PMAC in Baton Rouge, La.
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- LSU students fill the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for Saturday's game against Oklahoma.
BUY THIS PHOTO
Advocate staff photo by HILARY SCHEINUK -- The Oklahoma bench comes to life after back to back three pointers from Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield (24), Saturday, January 30, 2016, at LSU's PMAC in Baton Rouge, La.
BY SCOTT RABALAIS| SRABALAIS@THEADVOCATE.COM
Feb. 1, 2016; 8:57 a.m.
41 Comments
.
Latest:
LSU students hurled obscenities, ice and objects during and immediately after the Tigers’ 77-75 loss in men’s basketball Saturday against No. 1-ranked Oklahoma.
Obscene chants directed at Oklahoma star shooting guard Buddy Hield rose from the packed student section on two or three occasions during the game. After the game, students booed and threw ice and towels as the Sooners left the court on a corner of the court at the end where the student section is located.
The actions drew denouncements from national media as well as LSU athletic director Joe Alleva.
“I am very disappointed with the language used by our students,” Alleva said Monday. “They should act with class and respect our opponents. Their language is embarrassing and motivates our opponent.”
A request for comment Monday morning from LSU President F. King Alexander did not immediately draw a response.
According to LSU police, there were no arrests or charges filed associated with behavior at Saturday's game.
"Generally, if a student is ejected from a game, they are referred to Student Advocacy & Accountability, and they would go through the accountability process outlined in the student code of conduct," said Ernie Ballard III, LSU media relations director.
The obscene chants directed at Hield, a national player of the year candidate who led all scorers Saturday with 32 points, were audible on ESPN’s telecast of the game.
Dari Nowkhah, lead anchor at SEC Network and ESPN Radio host, tweeted that the students’ behavior was “shameful” and “pathetic.”
The Sporting News offered some advice for the offending fans: Don’t give a potential National Player of the Year any additional motivation to beat your team. It’s website posted this video of LSU students’ “not so nice chant to Buddy Hield”:
Having trouble seeing the video, follow this link.
Fans may have done well to take Sporting News’ advice. Hield burned up the nets in the second half hitting 7-of-10 3-point attempts to lead the Sooners back from a 14-point deficit.
At least one LSU student who attended the game objected to student section behavior he says "is getting completely out of hand," but in his opinion is avoidable with proper attention and effort from LSU staff.
In a letter published in the LSU student newspaper, the Daily Reveille, graduate student Andrew Abad urges Alleva to take whatever steps required to address offensive behavior.
"Not doing so continues to damage the reputation of our students, our athletic program, the university, and most importantly, the LSU brand," Abad writes.
