Charm, grace and a joy for living are some of the attributes that make LSU fans so popular with Omahans during the College World Series.
Karen Barrett, an owner of Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub and Grill, described the Tiger fans who have made her bar their unofficial headquarters during CWS visits as “gracious, fun and very, very kind people.” When Louisiana State doesn’t make it to the CWS, the tourney just isn’t as much fun for Barrett — or as profitable.
“Last night, we were packed full of LSU fans and, just like always, you can tell how much they love being here in Omaha,” Barrett said Sunday. “Whenever we play the LSU fight song, every single one of their fans stands and sings — even this little 80-year-old man who was having a birthday was singing along. They have so much fun, and they’re so likeable.”
Back in the late 1990s, an LSU fan named Russell Mendoza was here on his umpteenth trip to the CWS, to follow his Tigers, party the week away. Only this time was different. This time, Russell had cancer. His prognosis wasn’t good.
Mendoza canceled some appointments to chemotherapy in order to go to the CWS. He would die months later. But before his final CWS, Mendoza’s doctor asked him what was so important about going to Omaha.
“Doc, we don’t know if that chemo is going to work,” Mendoza said. “But the College World Series always works.”
The CWS always works because of the people, the fans, the characters, the spirit. The new CWS could use some of that LSU mojo.
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Tom Shatel, Omaha.com Read It’s a great time for Tigers, fans to add zest to the ‘new’ CWS |
When Andre Charitat makes art, sparks fly.
Literally.
While some artists create by applying oil to canvas, Charitat, a junior in the LSU College of Art & Design, is more at home soldering, welding and sandblasting.
Two of Charitat’s pieces – “Creature #1” and “Creature #2” – were unveiled near the LSU Museum of Art overlooking the Mississippi River as part of the “Art in the Public Sphere” class exhibition.
