Fans showered LSU athletic director Joe Alleva with loud boos and expletive-filled chants at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
With coach Will Wade suspended and standout Javonte Smart sidelined in connection with the FBI’s massive investigation of college basketball, fans screamed, “F— Alleva!” and “Joe Must Go!” as the athletic director walked to his seat for the 80-59 win that clinched the SEC title for the Tigers.
Joe Alleva gets spotted walking up to his seat…the crowd boos him heavily then break out the “Free Will Wade” chant #LSU pic.twitter.com/dPKlhWNXz5
— Kevin Batiste (@KBatisteJr) March 10, 2019
"Joe must go!"
The #LSU student section blitz AD Joe Alleva with chants of protest all night long. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/YG9yPFNHuF
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) March 10, 2019
They harmonized with the band and made up songs to call for Alleva’s ouster, too. They turned a chant from the “Wizard of Oz” (oh-we-oh) into “A-LLE-VA AHHH-Leeva sucks!”
These boos? They’re not for Vanderbilt. They’re for #LSU athletic director Joe Alleva. Then a #FreeWillWade chant breaks out. pic.twitter.com/YzauY3ikYo
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) March 10, 2019
Wade was suspended indefinitely Friday after reportedly being heard on a wiretap discussing a “strong-ass offer” for a player, who is believed to be Smart, the freshman who was held out of Saturday’s game due to an “abundance of caution,” per the school.
Fans held up “Free Will Wade” signs and chanted, “Free Javonte!” throughout the game.
Signs. Lots and lots of signs tonight regarding the suspension of #LSU coach Will Wade. pic.twitter.com/1pm4KAMhSa
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) March 10, 2019
The chants changed to “L-S-U! L-S-U!” after the Tigers (26-5, 16-2) won the SEC regular-season title for the first time in over a decade.
As the players took turns cutting down the net after the game to celebrate, the loudest cheers by far were reserved for Smart.
“We’ve been through a lot this season,” assistant coach Tony Benford said.
“This group has been very resilient throughout the whole year, through all our adversity we’re going through. Just really proud of the guys, total team effort tonight. Did it for Coach Wade, Javonte. We’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished this year. It’s been a real close group all year; we came out tonight, played together, and made plays without Naz [Reid, who is injured] and Javonte. Just really proud of the guys.”
This to happen on a night when you cut down the nets is pretty unusual.
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