Few programs have played as many neutral site non-conference games ever since the practice came into vogue during the latter part of the last decade as LSU. The Bayou Bengals opened the 2010 season against North Carolina in Atlanta, met Oregon in Dallas to open 2011, returned to Dallas to face TCU in 2013 and kicked off 2014 against Wisconsin in Houston. (All were wins.)
LSU has future neutral site games lined up with Wisconsin (at Lambeau Field), BYU (at Houston) and Miami (at Dallas). With such a unique environment as LSU has in Tiger Stadium, why would Alleva send his Tigers to antiseptic NFL stadiums year after year after year?
"Teams don't want to come to Tiger Stadium and get their butts beat," Alleva told ESPN 104.5's Culotta and the Prince. "That's just a fact of life. I'm being as blunt as I can be...they don't want to schedule losses."
As for that last part, well, it ain't bragging if it's true. LSU hasn't lost a non-conference game in Tiger Stadium since falling to UAB in 2000, a span that includes wins over the likes of West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington and Arizona.
"Literally 80 percent just say 'no' right away," Alleva said.
Alleva has apparently stopped barking up the wrong trees, however. Texas, Arizona State, UCLA and Oklahoma are all set to come to Baton Rouge by 2028.