March 17, 2005
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of LSU Athletics
FROM: Skip Bertman, LSU Director of Athletics
Today is one of the most exciting days of the entire athletic year because it is the beginning of March Madness. I hope you are as excited as we are that both LSU men’s and women’s basketball teams are participating in this year’s NCAA post-season tournaments.
In fact, LSU is the only school in the powerful Southeastern Conference to place a team in both the men’s and the women’s NCAA basketball tournaments this season. And only three other schools in the entire country have placed their teams in both basketball tournaments plus a New Year’s bowl game in football.
The honors have come flowing in for our Tigers in recent weeks. Both Brandon Bass for the men’s team and Seimone Augustus for the women’s team have earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Year honors. Congratulations to Pokey Chatman on her selection as SEC Coach of the Year, and a salute to John Brady who was runner-up for league Coach of the Year.
It has been an exciting season for both teams. The Lady Tigers captured the imagination of the basketball world early in the season and, after winning their first SEC title, have earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Lady Tigers will open play Sunday in Knoxville, Tennessee, against Stetson beginning at 1:30 p.m. Central on ESPN.
The men’s team got off to a slow start, but it is a testament to their character — as well as their talent — that they came together in time to finish as co-champions of the SEC Western Division by winning their last six games of the regular season. Tonight the Tigers open NCAA play against the University of Alabama-Birmingham at 8:40 p.m. Central time in Boise, Idaho.
For those of you who own season tickets to LSU men’s and women’s basketball, we thank you for your support of the Tigers this year. For the rest of you, I hope you will consider buying season tickets next year because great things are happening for LSU basketball.
Beginning next month, we will be replacing all of the middle and upper level seats in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and refurbishing all lower level seating. We will also be updating our handicap seating, including an elevator to reach the middle level for better viewing for our disabled customers.
But this year isn’t over with yet, so let’s enjoy the show. Good luck to the Tigers and Lady Tigers on the roads to the Final Fours in St. Louis and Indianapolis.
ANOTHER NO. 1
Success is contagious and our LSU gymnastics team has caught the fever. LSU is ranked No. 1 in the nation in women’s gymnastics under veteran head coach D-D Breaux. The Tigers are led by one of the premier gymnasts in America, April Burkholder, who last week scored an amazing two perfect 10.0’s in a meet at Oklahoma.
But April is not the only standout on this team that is full of bright young stars. Friday will be your last chance to see them in action as the Tigers host Centenary in a meet that starts at 7 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Gymnastics is an amazing sport that takes tremendous athletic ability, and we have one of the most talented teams in the country right here on the LSU campus.
After this week the Tigers are off to the SEC Championships in Duluth, Ga., before NCAA regional competition and then the NCAA Championships at Auburn late next month. Follow their post-season trek at www.LSUsports.net.
We welcome your comments, so write to us at LSUvision@etigers.net. Although we cannot promise a response to every e-mail we receive, please be assured that every letter will be read. Thank you for your continued support of Tiger Athletics.