The University of Alabama is in damage control mode this morning as the school’s football team–the Alabama Crimson Tide–prepares to host the Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers later this evening in a clash of two Top 5 college football teams.
What has upset the balance at Bama? A handmade banner which was briefly displayed at an off-campus apartment complex urging the Alabama football team to “Finish What Katrina Started,” a tasteless reference to the destruction wrought on the state of Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The sign was quickly taken down, but not before it had made the rounds on social media, where it went viral.
Shortly after pictures of the banner began to circulate on Twitter, the university issued a statement on its Twitter account:
UA is appalled that anyone would display a banner with such an inappropriate and offensive statement. (1 of 2)
— The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) November 7, 2015
The sign must be especially offensive–and painful–to LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who is considered the frontrunner for this year’s Heisman Trophy. Fournette is a native of New Orleans who spent days living on a highway overpass following the 2005 megastorm, which killed 1,833 people. Fournette also took to social media and posted this:
Inspire us to go harder love my savages…….
— 7⃣ Leonard Fournette (@_fournette) November 6, 2015
Now, as a fan of the University of Georgia, the game between LSU and Alabama does not directly affect me or the team I support. But despite that fact, I will be rooting for LSU tonight and hoping Leonard Fournette has a record-setting night. Granted, the actions of the morons who put up this banner are not representative of the Alabama football team, but they do leave a bad taste in my mouth which can only be removed by an LSU victory.
Geaux Tigers!
