September 21, 2006
TO:
Fans, Friends, and Supporters of LSU Athletics
FROM:
Skip Bertman, Athletics Director
The LSU-Tulane game is the Homecoming game for 2006, and Homecoming is always the
perfect time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and look with anticipation to the future.
Right now, we are experiencing some of the greatest years in the history of LSU Athletics. It
could not have been accomplished without many years of success that set the foundation for this
great era of Tiger Sports, and we are confident it is only the start of greater things for our future.
None of it would be possible without the support of you, the greatest fans in America. Let’s use
this Homecoming to appreciate our history, revel in our good fortune of today, and plan for more
prosperity in the future. In no particular order, here are some reasons to celebrate LSU Athletics:
LSU Football has won more games in the past five years than any time in the history of LSU.
LSU Men’s and Women’s Basketball became the first teams from the same school to win the
SEC Championship outright in the same season last year.
LSU is only the second school in the history of the NCAA to place its football team, men’s
basketball team and women’s basketball team in the top five in the nation in the same year.
LSU has a new baseball coach, Paul Mainieri, a former Tiger who comes to LSU from Notre
Dame.
LSU made a statement to the nation when it renovated the old Gym Armory into the new Cox
Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes. LSU has one of the finest academic
support systems in the country.
During the current decade, LSU will invest nearly $200 million in athletic facility improvements,
including renovations of Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, as well as
construction of a Football Operations Center, Baseball Stadium and Softball Stadium.
LSU has a highly successful fund-raising organization in the Tiger Athletic Foundation which
has been instrumental in renovations and building of athletic facilities in all sports.
With 1.5 million fans attending LSU athletic events each year, LSU boasts of the greatest fans in
America. They travel in large numbers to road games and follow the Tigers with passion to bowl
games, Final Fours and College World Series.
LSU enjoys great success in Olympic Sports, with 13 of LSU’s 16 Olympic Sports programs
reaching NCAA competition last year.
LSU has some of the most high profile alumni in the sports world, including NBA world
champion Shaquille O’Neal, PGA champion David Toms and WNBA Rookie of the Year
Seimone Augustus.
LSU has produced some of the greatest individual national champions in America, including
record-setting sprinter Xavier Carter and gymnast extraordinaire April Burkholder just last year.
LSU Athletics is an economic catalyst in South Louisiana, with an economic impact of over
$170 million annually in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
LSU uses no state tax dollars and no student fees to operate its athletics program.
LSU Athletics honors its great history with annual events such as the Athletic Hall of Fame
Banquet, Final Four Reunion and annual team reunions.
LSU is annually cited as the home of the greatest tailgating in America by national sportswriters
and broadcasters.
LSU is a pacesetter in communications with an expansive radio network, one of the nation’s best
collegiate athletic websites – LSUsports.net -- and regular communiqués to fans with these
Cyber-side Chats.
LSU Athletics hosts annual family events, like Football Fan Day, the Halloween Boo-Zar and
Basketball Fan Fest.
The LSU Ticket Office uses the latest in technology to service our customers. With online
purchases, electronic transfers of tickets and scanning at the gates, it’s never been easier to buy
or use a ticket.
LSU Athletics makes annual financial contributions to the University to enhance the beauty of
the campus, such as the renovation of the entrance to the Greek Theater and areas surrounding
the Student Union.
LSU student-athletes regularly participate in community service projects such as reading to
children, speaking in schools about drug and alcohol abuse and raising money for various causes
such as research for cancer and muscular dystrophy.
Thank you for helping make LSU the great place that it is. Keep coming to the games and keep
cheering on your Tigers. You make it happen.
THE ULTIMATE TIGER TAILGATING CONCERT FEATURING BROOKS & DUNN
The Ultimate Tiger Tailgating Concert featuring renowned recording artists Brooks and Dunn is
a rare opportunity to provide a free concert in celebration of LSU’s great fans, through the
generosity of Coca-Cola. It will take place Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m. on the Parade
Ground. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. and admission is free.
It was unavoidable that some tailgaters will be inconvenienced, but this rare, free concert by one
of the world’s most famous musical groups will be a once in a lifetime GameDay experience.
Please be aware that tailgating will not be permitted on the Parade Ground, Tower Drive will
close to all traffic at 7 a.m. on Saturday, and no parking will be permitted on Tower Drive.
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.