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The Tuscaloosa News
Alabama basketball student section welcomes Will Wade back to SEC with 'FBI' chants
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama basketball student section welcomes Will Wade back to SEC with 'FBI' chants
Alabama basketball fans gave a rowdy welcome to McNeese State coach Will Wade in his return to SEC territory.
As the ex-LSU coach and his McNeese (1-1) squad took the floor in Coleman Coliseum for Monday's game, chants from the university's Crimson Chaos student section began.
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"FBI! FBI! FBI!"
Organization president Andy Hayes on social media earlier in the day requested that fans "NOT" mention or make any chants or signage regarding the probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigations that ultimately led to Wade's firing for recruiting violations at LSU.
But as the day went on and yellow-block letter FBI t-shirts trickled into the stands with the clock ticking down to tipoff, it became obvious the UA senior's requests were thickly veiled in sarcasm.
Nov 4, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Crimson Chaos president Andy Hayes leads the student section as they cheer on the Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum.
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Especially when Hayes shared a post directly linked to a report of the controversial coach's termination from March 2022
"oops that was certainly NOT supposed to get posted here on the internet," Hayes wrote. "please do NOT read the aforementioned article and do NOT familiarize yourself with william wade's past. please do NOT!!! bring any of the things in this article up tonight in coleman coliseum!"
It's hard to imagine the antics weren't well received from Wade, who was known to be particularly fond of Alabama basketball superfan Luke Ratliff , better known as "Fluffopotamus" or "Fluff."
Ahead of Monday's game, Wade was seen visiting the seat left open to honor Ratliff's memory in the year's following his death from complications of COVID-19.
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Hayes also reshared a post of Ratliff's from January 2020. Although Alabama would be defeated 90-76 by Wade and LSU, Fluff's comment on what was then known as Twitter won the day.
"how are YOU preparing for Alabama Basketball Gameday?" Ratliff asked.
"I'm buying will wade a book on u.s. history so he can read up on what it takes to make the proper louisiana purchase."
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball student section taunts McNeese HC Will Wade with FBI probe
