The night Gymnastics arrived in Baton Rouge

It was a seminal moment for the LSU gymnastics program on Friday night. While it had risen to the ranks of the nation's elite it had not achieved that moment when it did not have to look up at any team. Yes, it had achieved the #1 ranking a few times, but there was always the sentiment the program was not quite there, the experience at handling the big moment would be a little too much. Though progressively finishing higher the team proved the truth of this sentiment at the Super Six.

Tonight, before 12,217 roaring fans, the largest crowd in the history of the program the team embraced the moment, stared down the defending national champion and current second ranked team and served notice there is a new queen of the hill and she is dressed in purple and gold.

For sure the senior Big three put on a show, but even they had a couple of stumbles. The younger performers were there, showing they had learned from their elders, but most importantly showing the moment was no longer too big. This is a deep and talented roster which is poised to take home the program's first title. They just need to remember to live in the moment and embrace it.

Beyond the win, the incredible crowd tonight was further testimony of where this program has evolved and where it can go in the future. As section after section from top to bottom began to fill with purple and gold it was evident this team has won the hearts of the Tiger faithful. No one had to announce the arrival of the seminal moment. The electricity in the building as Mike rappelled from the ceiling and the lights dimmed harkened back to that February night in 1978 as the Tiger round ballers served notice that program had arrived. Both nights were truly an event. You were blessed if you attended ether one. Some of us are twice blessed.