Why don't we have an in-state college team rivalry? (New Orleans: schools, universities)

[buildings_and_bridges]

It seems that more states than not have at least two universities with friendly (or maybe unfriendly) rivalries that make sports more exciting for the fans. Being in the Deep South, I think of Miss State/Ole Miss and Alabama/Auburn. But here, no other university is given the same attention as LSU when it comes to sports. No other university has a chance against LSU. Partially because Southeastern is playing LSU this weekend for the first time in decades, this is on my mind.

Why doesn't LSU have an in-state rival?

[Innotech]

Politics

[CookieSkoon]

There just really isn't another college up to snuff in LA. On top of that, LSU is a brand. A brand that sells even as far north as here in NY. In the form of hot sauce.

No other college team in the US is really treated the same way as LSU, nor has the multi-regional reach in its fame.

Something tells me Louisiana is not very interested in a second college team.

[buildings_and_bridges]

Originally Posted by CookieSkoon

There just really isn't another college up to snuff in LA. On top of that, LSU is a brand. A brand that sells even as far north as here in NY. In the form of hot sauce.

Are you referring to athletics or academics?

Something tells me Louisiana is not very interested in a second college team.

A lot of us beg to differ, but apparently not nearly enough.

[annie_himself]

I'd like to see LaTech's budget increase to become LSU's rival in sports. Gives us a north/south split, it's a high quality academic school, and the investment may do great things for Ruston.

UL should be able to drop the UL-Lafayette designation and compete with LSU as well but I could see far more hesitation with state officials there.

[selogic]

When I was a kid , Tulane was somewhat of a rival but that's gone now .

[aab7855]

LSU will definitely have no decent competition in football, that´s for sure. The Cajuns beat the Tigers in baseball often enough, but that´s not enough to make a true rivalry..they never stood a chance in football against them, and basketball isn´t much different. I suppose the most frequent and evenly matched in-state rivalry is UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe, but we´re not talking power conferences here. As a Cajun alum I was hoping to see a yearly series in football between the Cajuns and Tulane, Lafayette people love to come pass a weekend in New Orleans and it would boost attendance numbers for sure.

Let´s not forget the Bayou Classic! That´s an important series.

[cjseliga]

Originally Posted by buildings_and_bridges

Why doesn't LSU have an in-state rival?

There's other states with no real in-state rival, at least in football, and maybe in other sports. Just look at Ohio, Illinois (maybe Illinois and Northwestern?), Wisconsin, Arkansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Maryland, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by cjseliga

There's other states with no real in-state rival, at least in football, and maybe in other sports. Just look at Ohio, Illinois (maybe Illinois and Northwestern?), Wisconsin, Arkansas, Missouri, New Jersey, Maryland, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

Outside of Ohio, none of those schools are on the level of LSU, none of those conferences are as brutal as the SEC, and Louisiana is the best football producing state in the country. We should be able to keep much of the talent that goes to Bama here in state at a school like LaTech or UL. LSU is too scared to let another school share the spotlight, that's why it's always tried to stop ULL from legally becoming UL. It's also a flagship and shouldn't have the city designation like ULM or LSUS.

[hdwell]

^Exactly Annie!