An open letter to these tasteless ‘Bama fans

Thank you for the reminder of who we are and all that we represent. That we know how to rise above challenges and to conquer them with every fiber of our beings. Thank you for reminding us to stand tall in the face of adversity, to power forward against the odds and to turn tragedy into triumph. It’s what we Louisianans do when times get tough.

Thank you for showing us that those who were fortunate enough to watch the chaos of Katrina from a safe distance will never fully understand the depths of despair that the storm wrought, or the determination that resulted from such, the tenacity to forge ahead in honor of those who could not, and did not, make their ways back from Mother Nature’s fury.

Thank you for providing us yet another opportunity to showcase what we’re made of. And if Hurricane Katrina could not bring us down, we can assure you that neither can the mean spirited people who, by virtue of their actions, have demonstrated that they simply do not have what it takes to be champions: hearts of gold and wills of iron.

So buckle up, Alabama. The mighty LSU Tigers and their fans are coming, and we plan to finish what Katrina started–a rebirth, a renewed sense of pride, an undeniable resilience that cannot be defeated by a Cat 5 storm, much less an Alabama football team and the people who wave its flags, however tasteless those may be.

So just know this, ‘Bama Banner Boys: regardless of the outcome of the game this weekend, this truth shall remain: by virtue of our experiences, the LSU Tigers and their fans are already winners. And by virtue of your actions, you are…well, you can figure out the rest.