TAMPA, Fla. — The LSU Lady Tigers left their Tampa hotel headquarters for the first time Friday as the day took them to a local high school and to the site of the Final Four games, the St. Pete Times Forum, as the hours continue to tick down toward the 2008 NCAA Women’s Final Four.
The team had a 90-minute workout in late morning at the Tampa Prep School gymnasium, in front of a small but select audience of school officials and there to surprise senior Sylvia Fowles was her former principal of Miami Edison High School, Santiago Corrada. Corrada is now the Administrator of Neighborhood Services for the City of Tampa.
The Lady Tigers went through several plays both five-on-0 and five-on-five in what will be their final major practice before the NCAA Final Four national semifinal on Sunday night at approximately 8:30 p.m. CDT against the University of Tennessee at the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa.
After a quick return to the Renaissance Hotel in Tampa to shower and grab a quick lunch, the five starters ? Fowles, Quianna Chaney, Erica White, RaShonta LeBlanc, Ashley Thomas ? and Coach Van Chancellor were taken on the team bus to the St. Pete Times Forum for an 80-minute session with ESPN.
The first part of the session with spent with Coach Chancellor and the five players, featuring Fowles, involved in a video shoot involving several 3D effects and green screen techniques that will put the Tiger coaches and players in several different storybook situations. They also taped messages that will be displayed on the giant television screens high over the specially designed Final Four course at the Forum.
Finally, both players and talent were interviewed for background information for Sunday’s telecasts by ESPN talent Doris Burke, Holly Rowe, Trey Wingo, Stacey Dales, Kira Lawson and members of the sports network’s production staff.
Then it was back to the hotel to prepare for tonight’s “Salute’s To The Champions” dinner that will include a boat ride for the teams while they are being sized for their NCAA Final Four rings.
Saturday will feature another round of interviews with the assembled media for the NCAA Women’s Final Four and the final 50 minute practice for the team prior to the game before what is expected to be a large crowd at the Forum gathered for open practice day. The day will also include Saturday morning the announcement of the Kodak/WBCA All-America Team Announcement that is expected to include LSU’s Fowles and the State Farm Wade Trophy Presentation. That will take place at the Hyatt Regency Tampa at 8:45 a.m. CDT.
LSU’s news conference begins at the Forum at 12:45 p.m. CDT followed by the team autograph session at 1:20 p.m. with the open practice scheduled at 2:15 p.m.