WATCH: LSU fans boo AD Joe Alleva, chant for Tigers to 'free Will Wade'
LSU AD Joe Alleva doesn’t seem to have learned anything from recent NCAA investigations. The trend lately has been that schools who cooperate with the NCAA get hammered with penalties, while those who deny everything get away with it.
However, the Tigers still decided to suspend coach Will Wade for Saturday’s regular-season finale against Vanderbilt — a game in which the Tigers can clinch an outright SEC title by winning. They’re also holding out freshman G Javonte Smart.
This is despite the fact that the NCAA hasn’t officially opened an investigation into the school, though FBI wiretaps reportedly exist that have Wade discussing payments for a player.
As you can see below, Alleva isn’t exactly the most popular person in Baton Rouge these days. In fact, before tipoff, fans heartily booed the AD and called for him to “free Will Wade”:
#LSU AD Joe Alleva is greeted with vicious boos from fans. @WAFB pic.twitter.com/ZU4aeguy2I
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) March 10, 2019
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
Obviously, Alleva is doing what he feels is right for the program, and Wade refusing to meet with his bosses the other day didn’t help his cause.
Still, Alleva may be opening up the Tigers for a world of hurt, and that has fans upset.