From Harvard to LSU: A Contrast

Andrew Hatch knows more about college than you ever will because he's seen both ends of the American educational spectrum: the private, cloistered, and moneyed halls of Harvard, and the live oaks and publicly-funded quads of Louisiana State University.

Hatch may be the starting qb against Appalachian State on Sunday -- Les Miles says the job is still in the air -- but Hatch's steady performance in spring practice has most observers penciling him in at the starter's position. To get an idea of the bizarre journey Hatch has enjoyed as possibly the only person ever to transfer from Harvard to LSU, consider the contrasts between the two schools.

Average temperature:
Harvard: 52 degrees
Baton Rouge: 68 degrees
Advantage: LSU.

Car:
Harvard: Range Rover.
LSU: Airboat
Advantage: LSU. Have you tried selling an SUV lately?

Tuition:
Harvard: $32557/year
LSU: $4621/year
Advantage: Harvard. Price does equal something.

Famous Alums:
Harvard: John Adams, FDR, Mo Rocca
LSU: James Carville, Shaquille O'Neal
Advantage: LSU. Who'd make better dinner guests? That's right. Kazam and the Ragin' Cajun by several furlongs.

Stadium:
Harvard: Harvard Stadium, whose width played a part in legalizing the forward pass, a cozy, historic 30K cradle of college football nestled off-campus in Allston.
LSU: TIGER STADIUM, A 90K MONSTER SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF CAMPUS SO BOLD IT HAS TO BE TYPED IN ALL-CAPS.
Advantage: LSU

Accessories:
Harvard: Ticket into the Illuminati who secretly rule this country; immunity from failure in life; a Senate or House seat (should you choose.)
LSU: A live tiger.
Advantage: Harvard. But just barely.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.