Total Team Effort Helps Tigers Trounce Tide

The LSU gymnastics team gave its best collective effort of the season last night in the Maravich Center as the 12th-ranked Tigers upset No. 1 Alabama by nearly a half-point. The victory was the first for LSU over a No. 1 ranked team since 2002 when the Tigers knocked off No. 1's in consecutive weeks (Utah and Alabama). LSU defeated Alabama last season in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1976.

With thanks to Scott Hotard of The Advocate for his great coverage of the meet in this morning's Baton Rouge paper, I'd beg to differ on the headline. Yes, Susan Jackson had her career-best meet as an LSU Tiger (39.725 all-around which included two 9.950 scores). However, the most important headline from the meet is the complete team effort that went into, and resulted in, such an impressive victory.

Alabama Head Coach Sarah Patterson's post-meet comments painted the picture very accurately. "It was apparent from the moment we walked into the arena that LSU was on a mission, and the target was clearly on our back. Their coaching staff remarked that they had not had a great performance this season and tonight they were outstanding and I give credit to them and their coaching staff," she said.

A classy statement from a coach that clearly recognized the difference between an LSU team that struggled to a 195.050 score last week at Florida and the one we saw last night in Baton Rouge.

So what changed? First, the Tiger coaching staff revamped several practice procedures in the gym over the past week and, at the same time, renewed their commitment to helping this shorthanded 2010 Tiger team reach its goals. Second, the four LSU seniors were grouped together throughout the week's practices in an effort to foster the leadership required from each them down the stretch run of this season. Third, the coaching staff decided to allow each of the injured Tigers to dress-out and help cheer teammates throughout the meet - a subtle move that went a long way towards fostering a better team chemistry and camaraderie.

The results speak for themselves:

• The Tigers counted zero falls in the meet.
• First time this season the Tigers hit 49+ on each event.
  
• Senior Susan Jackson recorded her third 9.95 on vault this season.
  
• Senior Summer Hubbard set a new career high on vault with a 9.80.
  
• Sophomore Gloria Johnson tied her career high on vault with a 9.90.
• Junior Sam Engle tied her season high on bars with a 9.85.
• Susan Jackson tied her season high on bars with a 9.925.
  
• Freshman Shelby Prunty set a new season high on bars with a 9.775.
• Senior Sabrina Franceschelli led-off beam with a 9.80, which propelled LSU to a season-high 49.050.
• Gloria Johnson set a new season high on beam with a 9.80
  
• Senior Kayla Rogers set the tone on the floor exercise with a lead-off 9.875.
• Sabrina Franceschelli breaking the 39 point barrier in the all-around for the 3rd time this season.

D-D Breaux was quoted after the meet. "A win like this does so much to validate how we are training and what we are doing in preparation for the end of the season. It is all about getting to the end of the season healthy, and we are really excited to be at this middle point of our season and turn the corner on a real positive note."

Certainly LSU relies heavily on Susan Jackson for big scores. And she is very deserving of the accolades that showered upon her. But she cannot do it alone. Team efforts like the one the Tigers posted last night against Alabama prove that this team has the talent and desire to make it back to the NCAA Championships later this season. But as is the great conundrum of sports, it's not possible to make it all the way by focusing on outcomes. To ultimately be successful, teams must focus on each individual routine on each apparatus at each meet of the season.

To that end, the 2010 LSU Tigers turned an important corner last night.