LSU to the 2011 Cotton Bowl

We, the LSU fans, would like to strongly urge the LSU Athletic Department, Southeastern Conference administrators, and various bowl selection committees to strongly consider placing LSU in the 2011 Cotton Bowl if LSU is unable to secure a spot in a BCS bowl game.

With all due respect to the Capital One Bowl and the Outback Bowl, the opportunity to play in the new Cowboys Stadium on January 7th against either Nebraska, Texas A&M, or Oklahoma will create a huge buzz among LSU fans. All of these matchups will energize the LSU fan base and give us a great, nationally-appealing game to look forward to in an area that houses one of the largest LSU alumni bases outside the state of Louisiana (the DFW area). We are also very enticed by the date and time of the game: Friday Jan. 7th at night. The Cotton Bowl is the only college bowl game played on Jan. 7th, and will give LSU center-stage in the college football world to showcase our program against a premier Big 12 opponent. The Cotton Bowl has certainly elevated its exposure by changing its date/time/venue, and it has positioned itself to be a BCS bowl in the very near future.

We realize the Capital One Bowl is above the Cotton Bowl in the pecking order of SEC bowl games. However, in this particular year, we prefer the Cotton Bowl over the Capital One Bowl. While the Capital One Bowl is arguably the premier non-BCS bowl game, we are not excited about returning to Orlando after having just been there for the 2010 Capital One Bowl. While we realize that the Capital One Bowl has gone to field turf, the playing conditions in the 2010 Capital One Bowl left a bad impression on many of us, and we are not excited about a return trip to Orlando this year. We certainly look forward to future trips to Orlando, but we would prefer it not be this year. If the choice comes down to LSU or Alabama for the Capital One Bowl, our feelings will certainly not be hurt if the Capital One Bowl takes an Alabama team with a worse record than LSU. As previously stated, we actually prefer the Cotton Bowl this particular year.

And don't worry about LSU returning to Cowboys Stadium for the 2011 season opener. LSU fans will have a brand new sense of energy and excitement as the 2011 season approaches. Playing in Cowboys Stadium to end the 2010 season and begin the 2011 season will have little, if any, affect on the excitement and turnout of the LSU fan base to open next season. LSU fans are fully prepared to travel to both games, as both games provide unique circumstances and a unique sense of excitement that comes with those very different matchups.

It's a great time to be a Tiger fan, and many of us will travel wherever the Tigers are chosen to play. However, please consider the feelings of the many LSU fans listed below when deciding between the Cotton Bowl, Capital One Bowl, and Outback Bowl for the 2010 LSU Tigers. This particular year, we prefer the Cotton Bowl and look forward to attending it and cheering on the Tigers.


Geaux Tigers!