LSU fans really are not unlike most other fans in college sports.

They just seem to be louder and prouder about it than anyone else.

I found this out firsthand when I became a de facto LSU fan Monday night at Bowie’s Tavern watching the Tigers beat Ohio State 38-24 to win their third national championship and their second in five seasons.

I was actually at Bowie’s to do a little “work” and “research” for a story about how the local LSU fans were reacting to the championship.

While that story turned out just fine, what I got instead was my first first-hand indoctrination to the world of the LSU fan.

Now, first of all, I graduated from Mississippi State a few years ago and consider myself a pretty diehard Bulldog fan.

However, out of southern football pride, I cheer for all the SEC teams in bowl games except for Ole Miss; oh wait, they didn’t make a bowl. I came into the bar just to observe and see how the fans reacted.

And they did have some good reactions.

They yelled and screamed. They did the LSU cheer along with the band when the Tigers did something good on the giant television.

They even did the arm motions during the Tiger Rag or whatever that fight song they play incessantly is.

It was all quite fascinating to me.

I had been to Tiger Stadium before as a member of the Mississippi State marching band, but was robbed of the whole “LSU experience” by several factors — an 11:30 a.m. kickoff and the terrible play of State.

So Monday’s game was my first taste of the whole LSU crazy football fanatic experience.

As great as the first half was, it was nothing compared to the second half

The second half was one long celebration as the Tigers continued to put a licking on the Buckeyes.

As time wore on, I couldn’t decide what was more enjoyable, the game or the increased frenzy my LSU friend was working himself into as the clock ticked closer to 0:00.

Hand slaps, pats on the back, a bunch of “I told you so” whenever LSU did something he approved of were just part of the elaborate routine.

I left the bar that night with a splitting headache thanks to all the cigarette smoke, a pretty good story and an appreciation for LSU fans.

How can you dislike these people, Ole Miss fans?

As one of my LSU compadres I met at the bar kept saying, “they’re awesome.”

They know what college football is supposed to be about.

It’s supposed to be a big, smoky, bourbon flavored party that never seems to stop.

I’m still a Mississippi State Bulldog at heart and will pull for the Dogs to someday perhaps beat the Bayou Bengals, but thanks to the celebratory LSU crowd at Bowie’s, I’ve found an SEC team I can cheer for the other 11 weeks of the football season.

And since it was drummed in my head over and over at Bowie’s Monday night, I guess I can get away with saying it once.

Geaux Tigers!

Jeff Edwards is the sports editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3633 or jeff.edwards@natchezdemocrat.com.