By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
When determining what makes an athletic program successful, many elements factor in. Ask any coach and they will say that quality facilities ranks among the most important elements. This month, the LSU Gymnastics team and head coach D-D Breaux will move into the newly renovated gymnastics training area in the LSU Field House.
Breaux has been dreaming about this day for quite some time.
“I’m so excited I can’t contain myself. It’s a dream come true. It’s a realization that the commitment by the university, fans and boosters really is all about the student-athlete,” said Breaux.
The LSU Field House renovations and expansion will create a brand new facility. There will be a new locker room, squad room, 18,143 square feet of training space — double the previous space — a new equipment room, sauna, sound room and conditioning/aerobic room.
One of the nicest aspects of the new facility is the glass wall that allows an onlooker to see the multi-million dollar outdoor track stadium, the legendary Tiger Stadium, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center where the gymnastics team competes at home, and the beautiful landscaping of LSU’s campus.
D-D Breaux started to fathom ideas of a new facility years ago, never thinking that one-day dreams would turn into realities under her tenure.
“About 10 years ago I started thinking about this idea, and about five years ago I started talking about it. Eventually, Mr. (Joe) Dean and some board members along with the Tiger Athletic Foundation started listening. They realized that we needed it not only to maintain our top 10 status, but it was also a safety issue. We needed the upgrades to protect the kids.”
Breaux has maintained a top 10 gymnastics program at LSU over the last several years. Amazingly enough she did this without the advantages that several other schools have had from a facility standpoint.
“We really were the last school in the SEC to move our gymnastics into a gymnastics training room. It will keep us remain competitive and it will help us recruit. It will help us level the playing field.”
As it is with all sports, talent is also a key ingredient for success. A new facility will not only enhance training and safety, but it will also be a very useful tool in recruiting.
“I think it will put us ahead of some schools if there is a facility race. When girls come visit our facility they will be impressed. And they will be able to look out and see the other athletic facilities they will be able to grasp the entire experience that they are looking at if they choose to attend LSU.”
In the early days of Breaux’s 23-year tenure, her team trained in LSU Field House, which was adequate at the time.
But with the changes in the sport and the level of competition, it was time for something new.
“When I first got here there was a men’s facility and we trained in an open space area. As time went on we moved into the men’s facility. Fifteen years ago it was an adequate training facility, but with the growth of the sport and kids doing much more difficulty than before involving more distance, height, and degree of difficulty dictated that our facility needed to grow and expand.”
Breaux is very content with the support and commitment of LSU athletics and administration to her program.
“I never questioned the commitment of the athletic program to gymnastics. This facility is truly going to be a gem. It will reflect the personality of the program and the disposition of the athletic department. Joe Dean really believed in this project and he made it happen.”
The current members of the gymnastics team are also ecstatic about the new facility. They can’t wait for the project to be completed so they can begin training in a “first-class” manner.
“The girls on the team are really excited about the new facility,” added Breaux. “The seven seniors who graduated last year are really envious. The girls know how much hard work and planning went into this project.”
With the amount of success the program has had before opening this facility, greater success lies ahead for gymnastics at LSU. Breaux’s ultimate goal has always been to win a national title. With the new facility and pending an expected increase in talent level in the program, she may have national title aspirations within her sights.
“I don’t know if the facility will instantly enhance the teams performance, but the training advantages in the new facility and the type of athletes we will be able to bring in due to this new facility will enhance the program in the long-term and make us more consistent.”
Breaux believes that that this project has much broader ramifications for women’s athletics.
“Young female athletes are coming to the realization across the spectrum that opportunities are out there for them. They can take scholarships and compete at the collegiate level. So I think this project and other things of this sort are very important.”
There will be a banquet held on Oct. 13, 2000 in honor of the opening of the new facility. For more detailed information about the dynamics of the gymnastics training area construction, visit the gymnastics web page on LSUSports.net.