If a lawmaker gets his way, there will be no more LSU home football afternoon games in the month of September. Harahan Republican Representative John Illg has introduced a resolution that would request that all LSU home games in September start no earlier than 6 p.m. Illg points to the game against UCLA last September 21st that kicked off at 2:30 p.m., and many fans were overcome by the 92-degree heat that afternoon.
“I talked to people with Acadian Ambulance. They said there were well over 70 people that had medical attention needed. We’re lucky. We’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” Illg said
Illg went to the game with a group of friends, and all but two bailed by halftime. They were certainly not alone, and Illg says that’s not right.
“There’s nothing better than a full house in Tiger Stadium. A half-full stadium, because you’re playing in the middle of the day, diminishes the homefield advantage, it diminishes the experience, and there’s no need for it,” Illg said.
Illg says this is something that people have been screaming about for a long time.
“Most people have said ‘Man, this is something that’s long overdue.’ It’s a commonsense issue, and you should never put the dollar over somebody’s health,” Illg said.
The average high temperature in Baton Rouge in the month of September is 89 degrees. However, it also cools to an average low of 69 degrees, making football under the lights a rather pleasant experience, even in late summer.
ESPN dictates the start times of LSU games, and they have the authority to do so based on their contract with the SEC, which is worth three billion dollars for ten years.
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