As I was walking out of the Superdome last night, I realized how lucky I am to have attended LSU at the right time. I graduated from LSU a few weeks ago after entering the university in the fall of 1999. In those four and a half years, I've probably witnessed the greatest era in LSU sports ever. As a freshman, I saw the basketball team win the SEC and advance to the Sweet 16. I was there for monumental home wins over Arizona, Auburn and Kentucky. One of my favorite memories was listening to the Tigers' opening round game against SE Missouri St on the radio while in class. Different pockets of the auditorium cheered when Brian Beshara hit that three to win the game, which caused a whole lot of confusion for the poor professor. Then three months later, the LSU baseball team won its fifth national championship in dramatic fashion over Stanford in Omaha. As a sophomore, I saw Nick Saban take over the LSU football team and lead them to amazing home wins over Tennessee and Mississippi State. leading to a great win in the Peach Bowl. That following Spring, Skip Bertman coached his final season and later became athletic director. The next year was probably the best. LSU won its first SEC football championship in 12 years with another win over Tennessee. The Tigers then defeated Illinois in the Sugar Bowl on a night when it actually snowed in Baton Rouge. Smoke Laval led the Tiger baseball team to a postseason appearance in his first year and the Tiger softball team made it to the Softball World Series for the first time. Gymnast Nicky Arnstead won the national title in the Floor Exercise. The Track teams hosted the NCAA Outdoor meets and took home the national titles, yet again. As a senior, I travelled to Florida to see LSU's first win over the Gators in five years. I was there to see John Brady's basketball team go on a late season surge to make the NCAA Tournament and saw Sue's Krewe earn a #1 seed in the Women's Tourney. And finally this last semester. With the exception of the South Carolina game, I attended every LSU football game including last night's win over Oklahoma. Many of my memories of LSU will surround some of the great sporting moments during my time here. I can only hope that those who follow me at LSU will have even more to remember and never take it for granted. I'm proud of the fact that I came to LSU when the football team went 3-8, only to see them rise to the mountaintop of college football. I also want to add that I think it's no coincidence that all of this sporting success has come along since the arrival of Chancellor Mark Emmert. Dr. Emmert WILL make LSU one of the premier public universities in the region and country. LSU has a long way to go, but Emmert is the man for the job and everyone in Louisiana should do what they can to make sure that he succeeds.
