Alabama/Texas A&M showdown given pain to LSU fans

Sometimes in life, we just have to suck it up and realize that something is a no-win situation.

Such is the case this weekend for LSU fans as we have to endure four hours of torture when No. 1 Alabama travels to take on Texas A&M – the only team fortunate enough to beat the Tide last season.

On one hand, the game means good news for LSU – ultimately one of the school’s hated rivals will suffer an early-season loss that may hinder its national championship aspirations.

But it ultimately works both ways. If a defeat is crowned, a victory must also be given and that means one of the Tigers’ rivals will also earn the win and ultimately the leg up in the BCS National Championship picture.

As an LSU graduate and someone who likes to think my blood is colored purple and gold, but just is food colored crimson, I can say what the rest of Louisiana is thinking: It just doesn’t get any worse than this.

We’ll dedicate our space today to trying to break this down and see if we can pick someone that we dislike less out of the two hated league foes.

Start with Alabama – probably the biggest rival LSU has.

We all know the story, so I’ll keep it to just the Cliff Notes version. LSU was purring along like a freight train in the early 2000s and was steadily establishing itself as one of the top programs in the country. The Tigers had a national championship under its belt and a slew of young players ready to chase another.

LSU’s coach at the time was Nick Saban – a brash, fiery coach who energized Louisiana with his passion for the game.

But Saban fled Baton Rouge for greener pastures following the 2004 season when he accepted a gig with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.

Initially, the breakup was civil. LSU continued to win under new coach Les Miles, and things seemed peachy. I vividly remember the Dolphins playing the Saints in Baton Rouge during the Katrina season and fans actually cheering the Dolphins in the game – purely out of respect for Saban.

But after the coach failed to win big in the professional ranks, he stepped away from Miami organization and decided to accept a top-dollar offer to coach Alabama.

LSU Nation was happy to support its ex when he was out of town and no threat to the Tigers.

But when Saban went to Alabama and was suddenly nestled in bed with the enemy, the breakup got a whole lot more sticky.

Because Nick Saban is the Chuck Norris of college football coaching, the fire got fueled even more as Alabama quickly rose to the top of college football – all at a time when LSU took a bit of a dip in its success.

The Tigers eventually returned to form and are back near the top. But their last shot at glory ended in 2011 when LSU was manhandled in the BCS National Championship Game. Guess who the defeat came to? Yup – you guessed it: Saban and the Tide.

So for all of those reasons and many more, LSU fans across the country would rather sit on a porcupine than watch Alabama succeed.

With good reason – breaking up is hard to do.

But in recent years, Texas A&M has quickly risen up the ranks, as well.

The hatred between the Tigers and Aggies goes way back – the two schools used to play annually from 1960-75. After a break, the schools renewed its rivalry from 1986-1995. LSU dominated the early portion of the series, but the Aggies slammed the door shut on the Tigers by winning every game from 1991-95.

Throughout the duration, fans on both sides exchanged barbs and a huge hatred was built amongst the fans of both schools.

As a child, I was not privy to how big this actually was because I grew up after the Tigers and Aggies stopped playing regularly.

But when they got into the SEC in 2012, the hatred was rekindled, and I was able to see first-hand just how much dislike the LSU faithful have for the Aggies.

With Alabama, a genuine dislike is present. But ultimately, a respect is there because of the Tide’s success.

But LSU fans don’t respect Texas A&M. We just see them as the little brother of Texas and the first cousin of Oklahoma. Nothing the Aggies do can ever impress the Tigers’ faithful – they are the permanent red-headed stepchild.

And then Johnny Manziel comes into the picture – and things get escalated even more.

No one (besides Texas A&M fans) likes Johnny Football. The media blew him up into a larger than life figure last season, and he immediately bought stock in himself and has become a complete egomaniac. Manziel’s behavior in the season opener was appalling – his constant taunting to opponents was classless and that of a spoiled brat.

But I believe that LSU fans’ dislike for Johnny Football runs a little deeper than most because I think deep down the Tigers’ faithful wants someone like Manziel in Baton Rouge.

Maybe not someone with the same attitude, of course. But LSU has lacked elite quarterback play for more than five years. To see someone else play the position at such a high level is an obvious source of subconscious jealousy.

So for all of the reasons above, I still pull my hair out when trying to decide who to root for in Saturday’s game.

It is with deep regret that I’ll go on the record and place my faith in Alabama – I just can’t stomach Johnny Football any longer.

But either way, there is no real winner in a game like this.

What a miserable Saturday this will be.