College football games are littered with iconic chants that makes every game day experience unique across the country. But as you'd expect with college-aged kids tightly packed together in an alcohol-fueled student section at football games, some interesting, yet vulgar, chants can be thrown around the stadium.
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Songs like "Dixieland Delight" at Alabama, to which 'Bama faithful made a few colorful additions of their own, are making a comeback in the hopes that students will refrain from using their own "Not Safe For Work" lyrics.
At Louisiana State University, "Neck" has been absent at Tiger games after LSU students decided that a few not-so-nice words were needed to enhance the song's upbeat vibe, but that hasn't stopped fans from busting out the cheer on numerous occasions.
The LSU band's original version is a catchy tune that was banned by the university in 2010.
The song is a spinoff of Cameo and Dem Franchize Boyz's rap song "Talkin' Out Da Side of Ya Neck," but students added some words to it that a few grandmothers would be slapping the side of their heads for saying.
WARNING: The videos below contains explicit NSFW language.
LSU Neck Chant's Controversial Lyrics
"HEY! Ohhhh!
"Suck That Tiger D***, B****!"
Yeah, it's really that simple. On the eve of LSU facing the Clemson Tigers in the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, "Neck" took over Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Both teams were preparing for this matchup of undefeated teams inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, but that didn't stop hundreds of LSU fans from letting the colorful lyrics fly.
I suppose it had to happen lol neck is being played live on Bourbon St and the ENTIRE street is singing along pic.twitter.com/WbhhVacG6L
— lizkohTV (@lizkohTV) January 12, 2020
Even during LSU's win over Clemson — a 42-25 victory that secured a perfect 15-0 season and CFP title — LSU fans weren't going to be denied the opportunity to showoff "Neck" for a national audience.
And Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow? You're damn right he joined in on the action.
The chant got so loud that even the ESPN microphones were able to pick the audio up, bringing the action directly to the NCAA football fans back home.
WARNING: The video below contains explicit NSFW language.
Joe Burrow approves of LSU band playing Neck. pic.twitter.com/UwK9oHzmFB
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) January 14, 2020
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During the 2018 season, in the closing minutes of LSU's 36-16 rout of their second-ranked SEC opponent, the Georgia Bulldogs, "Neck" finally returned at Tiger Stadium, and Death Valley's student section wasted no time letting the touchy, original lyrics fly once again after a touchdown.
WARNING: The video below contains explicit NSFW language.
Why LSU's "Neck" Chant Was Banned
#LSU just put up 36 on #Georgia.
And Neck arrives. pic.twitter.com/6OUNE1KLGu
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 13, 2018
LSU's "Neck" chant is more than just good rivalry fun. Some say it crosses multiple lines — it's vulgar, it's nasty, it wrongly uses a sex act as an insult. The last thing LSU should want in 2022 is to be canceled. Also, how would you feel if you took your kid to a game and they heard this?
Whoever in the marching band made the decision to play the song at the LSU game had to have known what was coming, and I'm sure that they heard more than an earful after LSU fans responded exactly how you'd expect.
In response to the return of "Neck," LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva released a statement about the student's behavior, one that may or may not actually stick out in the minds of LSU students:
"Our goal is to create a competitive advantage for our team and to inspire our players and each other. Chants and cheers that blatantly offend rather than inspire do not represent what LSU is all about. Be relentless. Be loud. But, I'm asking our fans, and particularly our student section, to keep it clean. We have a diverse group of fans in the stadium and every week we represent the entire LSU family on national television. Let's represent LSU with the pride and class it deserves."
Alleva, who worked in the LSU athletic department from 2008-2019 and was the school's vice chancellor, went on to commend LSU volleyball coach Flan Flory and her team's performance that same weekend, as well as the other athletic programs wearing purple and gold in that press release.
The 1975 Lehigh University graduate — and former quarterback of their football team — added that the "soaring highs and devastating lows" during the fall of 2018 brought the university together, referencing the shooting death of LSU basketball player Wayde Sims, and the death of NFL Hall of Famer and LSU fullback Jim Taylor.
Even former LSU Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron, who solidified his job in Baton Rouge for a few years with the team's performance in 2019 ahead of the CFP title game, made sure to condemn the student lyrics during a press conference back in 2018.
#LSU Coach O again says he likes "Neck", but not some of the words used. pic.twitter.com/1y4B4CZdW4
— . (@PromotesPrimesX) October 15, 2018
The LSU student section should be mindful of the other 90,000 Tiger fans who come to the football games on Saturday nights. While the chant may be in good fun, it's wildly inappropriate and puts an ugly stain on the university as a whole, no matter how many people think it might be funny.
Not everyone has an issue with the song, however.
Former LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. reportedly told the band he would cover their fine if they played the song during a 2017 game, and he has been a vocal supporter of the band's use of the song. Many students have argued to let the band play neck as well.
LSU football hasn't given fans many reason to sing "Neck" over the last two seasons, but The Golden Band will probably keep the vulgar lines out of Tiger Stadium if they can.
This article was originally published October 18, 2018. It's been updated several times as "Neck" continues popping up all over Tigerland.
