re: Remove

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Did you see her Yurchenko double on vault? She took a small step forward but the vault was good. She vaulted with her leotard in her mouth (to help keep her head in).

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It’s interesting because Gage just posted a training video the other day about how they don’t teach their kids to keep their chins down to their chest because it doesn’t work well when they start twisting the Yurchenkos. I found it kind odd because if memory serves me correctly, they aren’t exactly a gym known for producing a lot of DTY vaulters.

Jay Clarks’s media spot was today. I still really didn’t like his response regarding lineups. I love Little Arenas and she needs the experience, but she should not be in the beam lineup. Same with bars. I don’t want to be the Debbie downer on this thread but LSU has never won a national championship. Being a great recruiter does not make u a great coach. I’m not saying he’s a bad coach but Aleah Finnegan is world class with her form and difficulty. She needs to be in the bars lineup yesterday over Dunne and Arenas. He talks about depth but Durante hasn’t scored over a 9.8 but once on beam. Where is the consistency to and when will he give it up. I watched KJ beam exhibition and her form is so much better than the people he has replacing Kai. I don’t get it. Do u want to win, or not. The scores that Dunne (bars) Durante and Arenas (beam) will not cut it come postseason. Am I the only one sees that? We missed finals last year because of a lack luster beam rotation. Put the ladies in who have the better form and then work on the consistency. It’s no excuse with covid years and all the depth to continue using these same low inconsistent scores .

Its interesting to me that Dunne has struggled so much this year to break the beam lineup after showing a promising exhibition last year

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Granted, I don't see practice every day but I really was confident she would help LSU on beam in some capacity her first couple years here but it hasn't worked out.

Sarah did 3 events by the time post season came her freshman season. We’ve been saying change the dismount for Dunne since last year. I don’t discredit his ability to coach. I discredit his lineup choices. I know it’s not a breeze to be a coach, but I understand having ladies on the team who are children of your former athletes but everyone should work for their spot but also u put the best talent forward and LSU has come a long way to be noticed and win SEC’s . It took Michigan all these years to finally win one. But when u see talent and it’s not being properly used, it’s kinda of a bummer.

I feel like they didn’t have near the depth we do now when Sarah was a freshman but also with Aleah just having surgery last fall I’m sure they are not wanting to push her shoulder too soon. We should have plenty of depth on this event to not need her every week. Also I know Jay can coach but lineups are a big part of coaching and I’m not sure if he’s quite got that figured out. I wonder if he has final say or if asst coaches get the say.

Jay being interviewed by Mike Smith during Episode 9 of Inside LSU Sports gave the impression that LSU is scoring well with 3 YF vaults so it may not be worth going for the upgraded vaults. My concern is that in post season judging will not score the YF vaults as well with so many teams having upgrades. I guess it is a gamble either way with or without upgrades.

I am happy that we have seen some changes in skills that have or haven’t worked. They did change Haleigh’s last floor pass and her bars dismount and they also changed Aleah’s beam dismount so I was pleasantly surprised by those changes. Jay seems so stubborn about things like that, so it makes me hopeful for more needed changes.
I hope Dunne isn’t getting too distracted by all the NIL stuff. It has to be really difficult to juggle school, training, and now NIL. I was hoping to see her on beam as well this year. If Kai can’t come back, that is a huge loss for us in the postseason. I am sad for her after having to miss all of last year.

Sami is okay as a filler to rest someone for a week on vault but even with Kai out that can’t be in the post season lineup. I notice Jay said they may not exhibition this weekend because “he doesn’t want to break up momentum”. If that’s the case then we better pray Alyona gets healthy enough to do vault by then…

If it were me I would let Brock or Ryan try their 1.5 during exhibition. If they fall, they fall. You aren’t going to develop a routine without getting it experience in live competition

I need to listen to his press conference, but I am very frustrated. I can maybe understand him keeping Dunne in (I think there are probably some non-gymnastics reasons also at play - whether there should or shouldn’t be). But if Kai is not available - then it should be aleah over Elena. I also know we are in a bit of a pickle with Kai being out for beam, so I can get Sami there (if there really is no one else…I don’t think that’s true, but I can stretch the benefit of my doubt there)

What I can’t fathom though is the vault situation. Sami is not viable option on vault, really ever. And furthmore, he can’t honestly think we’re competitive in the post season with three fills. It is maddening, especially since KJ is capable of a double and there were more 1.5s last year. I am hoping we have a good night with Kentucky, though they are always tough.

Eh I don’t get that at all, it doesn’t take being perfect to win a natty. LSU can scores in the high 197s but there are areas LSU could potentially increase their scoring potential in spots.