FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF SAID FOUNDER TO ACTIVE ABOUT THAT, TO OUR LOUISIANA COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE AND WORK.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT ROYOMARTIN.COM.

THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY IS PROUD TO JOIN LPB IN HONORING THE 2018 LOUISIANA LEGENDS CONTRIBUTING OVER 3.5 BILLION FOR K-12 PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE LOTTERY IS GIVING LOUISIANA A REASON TO SMILE.

SUPPORT FOR THE 2018 LOUISIANA LEGENDS COMES FROM WILLIS KNIGHTEN, A LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM SERVING PATIENTS SINCE 1924.

GOOD EVENING, I'M BETH COURTNEY PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND YOU ARE WATCHING LACI PETERSON LEGENDS.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A WONDERFUL CONFERRING WITH OUR 2018 LEGEND D.D.

BREAUX BUT FIRST LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HER BIO.

NOBODY TELLS HER, I BET YOU CAN'T DO SOMETHING BECAUSE DOG ON IT SHE DID IT.

SHE TIED A MATTRESS TO HER WAIST AND SWAM ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

IF A TEENAGE D.D.

BREAUX HAD THE TENACITY AND ABILITY TO NAVIGATE THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, THEN WE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT SHE WOULD HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SEE HER VISION OF LSU GYMNASTICS REALIZED.

IT'S BEEN A LIFETIME CAREER COMMITMENT OF OVERCOMING HURDLES TO BECOME AN ELITE NATIONAL POWER.

HER TIGERS NOW HAVE THE BEST FACILITIES, THE BEST ATHLETES, AND THE BEST SUPPORTING CAST TO EXCEL.

GETTING HERE HAS BEEN SOME JOURNEY.

D.D.

GREW UP IN DONALDSONVILLE, THE THIRD OLDEST OF EIGHT KIDS IN A VERY CLOSE FAMILY.

FROM A YOUNG AGE PASSIONATE AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT WHATEVER SHE WAS DOING.

SHE HAD A PASSION FOR DANCE AND EVENTUALLY GYMNASTICS.

HER PARENTS BETTY AND VAN BREAUX WOULD DRIVE HER ACROSS THE RIVER FROM DONALDSONVILLE TO BATON ROUGE THREE TO FIVE TIMES A WEEK TO PRACTICE.

SHE BECAME A STAR AND WAS HEADING TO THE 1972 OLYMPIC TRIALS AS A GYMNAST AT SOUTHEASTERN WHEN A KNEE INJURY DERAIL HER CAREER AS AN ATHLETE.

EVEN WITH THAT SETBACK SHE MANAGED A BIG SMILE MAKING LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS THE STUFF OF LEGENDS.

SHE WOUND UP AT LSU, AND IN 1978 WHILE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL BECAME THE TIGER'S HEAD COACH.

IT'S PRIDE, PASSION, AND PURPOSE.

AND IF YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE WITH THAT, THEN NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PROUD.

YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE.

THAT'S MY MOM.

IN THE EARLY DAYS AND FOR MANY YEARS A BIG GOAL WAS FINDING FANS WHO WOULD COME AND WATCH HER TEAM PERFORM.

SHE WAS A ONE-PERSON MARKETING DYNAMO AS WELL AS COACH.

SHE GOT LITTLE HELP FROM FOUR OF THE FIRST SIX ATHLETIC DIRECTORS THAT SHE SERVED UNDER.

BUT SHE PRESSED ON MAKING HER QUEST FOR GREATNESS A FAMILY AFFAIR WITH HER YOUNG DAUGHTER AS PART OF THE SHOW.

MY SISTER AND I CAN RECALL DEFINITELY GOING TO WINN DIXIE.

THAT'S NO EXAGGERATION.

WE WOULD GO AND DO OUR HOMEWORK AT A PICNIC TABLE OUTSIDE OF WINN DIXIE WHILE SHE HANDED OUT TICKETS AND WHEN WE FINISHED WE WERE HANDING OW TICKETS.

WE WERE BEGGING PEOPLE TO COME TO THE MEET.

THEY WOULD DROP A BLACK CURTAIN ON HALF THE ARENA SO THAT YOU COULD NOT SEE THAT THERE WAS NOT ANYBODY IN THERE.

AND NOW YOU GO TO A HOME MEET, AND THERE IS PEOPLE ON THE LAST ROW.

AND THAT'S A FEELING, JUST ME PERSONALLY THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN'T, CAN'T EXPLAIN.

NICE.

GOOD JOB!

IT'S BEEN A LIFETIME OF PUSHING.

JUST BELIEVING IN THAT PROGRAM.

SHE'S TAKEN HER LSU FROM A SMALL CORNER OF THE FIELD HOUSE TO THE MAIN EVENT OF FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS IN THE WINTER.

SHE'S NEVER GOING TO ASK SOMEONE, EVEN NOW, SHE'S NEVER GOING TO ASK SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING THAT SHE IS NOT WILLING TO DO.

GOING AND GIVING OUT TICKETS AT WINN DIXIE, SHE WILL NOT ASK HER TEAM TO DO IT OR SOMEBODY ELSE, I AM GOING TO DO IT.

I WILL DO IT.

AND THAT ALONE RIGHT THERE PUTS OVER 13,000 PEOPLE IN THERE.

IN 2018D.D.

SAW LSU SELLOUT BACK-TO-BACK MEETS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

AND SET A SINGLE MEET RECORD OF 13,729 FANS AGAINST ALABAMA.

LSU'S NEW AVERAGE ATTENDANCE RECORD OF MORE THAN 12,000 FANS WAS NUMBER ONE IN THE SEC, AND SEC IN THE NATION.

ONLY FOOTBALL IN TIGER STADIUM AVERAGES MORE FANS.

HER TIGERS HAVE A PERFECT HOME RECORD OF 34-0 GOING BACK TO 2014.

THE GIRLS ON THE TEAM RESPECT AND KNOW HOW HARD SHE'S WORKED.

SO THEY WORK HARDER TO BE, TO BE GREAT AND TO BE A PART OF THE LSU GYMNASTICS FAMILY.

SHE CARRIES A LOT OF PRIDE FOR OUR UNIVERSITY, AND SHE MAKES YOU FEEL A CERTAIN SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY OF HOW YOU REPRESENT OUR PROGRAM AND HOW WE REPRESENT LSU AND SHE DOES A GOOD JOB SENDING THAT MESSAGE ACROSS, AND IT MAKES OUR GIRLS FEEL THAT PRIDE AND THAT THEY ARE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT'S MUCH BIGGER THAN THEMSELVES, AND BEING A PART OF THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME PERSONALLY.

D.D.

'S TIGERS CURRENTLY REIGN AS THE SEC CHAMPIONS WINNING THE REGULAR SEASON AND CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES.

SHE FINISHED NATIONAL RUNNER-UP TWICE, AND IN THE TOP FIVE, FIVE STRAIGHT YEARS.

SHE HAS JUST PERSEVERED, AND NEVER, EVER LET ANYTHING STAND IN HER WAY, BUT WHILE DOING THAT, SHE'S DONE IT WITH GRACE.

TO STAY PROUD, DOESN'T EVEN PAINT A PICTURE FOR JUST HOW INCREDIBLE SHE IS.

I THINK THAT SHE IS THE ULTIMATE ENCOURAGER.

SHE IS CONSTANTLY REMINDING YOU OF HOW GREAT YOU ARE AND HOW GREAT YOU CAN BECOME.

I THINK THAT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU.

SHE'S GIVEN ME SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES, WOW.

BUT SHE'S GIVEN ME A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I AM REALLY THANKFUL AND APPRECIATIVE.

WELCOME BACK.

WE ARE HERE WITH D.D.

BREAUX, CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

SO GREAT HAVING YOU AS A LEDGE BUT WE ARE HERE IN THE FACILITY YOU BUILT.

IT'S SPECTACULAR.

IT IS A PLEASURE.

ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE IN THIS FABULOUS -- THE FINEST GYMNASTICS TRAINING CENTER IN THE WORLD, BUT IT TAKES A VILLE -- VILLAGE, THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT, JOE, THE ENTIRE VILLAGE THIS IS A LIFETIME WORK RIGHT HERE.

IS THERE ANOTHER STAND ALONE WOMAN'S FACILITY LIKE THERE ANY COUNTRY?

SOME OF THE GYMNASTICS CENTERS LIKE ALABAMA HAS A STAND ALONE, AND BUT LET ME TELL YOU WHEN THIS BUILDING WAS CONCEIVED ASK THIS TREME -- DREAM CAME TRUE THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT LSU HAS BUILT SO THERE IS A LOT OF PRIDE THAT GOES INTO THIS FACILITY.

IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU HAVE BUILT GYMNASTICS TO BE, IS IT THE SECOND MOST WATCHED SPORT BEHIND FOOTBALL?

WE HAVE GOT A PRETTY STELLAR BASEBALL FOLLOWING.

BUT WHEN YOU GET 13,000 SEATS IN THE ARENA, WE ARE AVERAGING WHAT WE'VE BEEN AVERAGING, AND WOMEN'S SPORTS WITH THE BIGGEST DRAW ON CAMPUS, BUT NOBODY CAN COMPETE AGAINST LSU FOOTBALL.

THAT'S A GREAT THING, BUT OUR MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAM HAS BEGUN TO PICK BACK UP SO WE ARE REAL EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOT GOING ON AT LSU.

SO D.D.

YOU ARE A GREAT MOTIVATOR, AND AS WE WERE LOOKING AT YOUR BIO, HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE?

ARE THEY ALREADY JUST DRIVEN AND DO YOU HAVE TO MAYBE NURTURE THEM AS OPPOSED TO MOTIVATING?

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO MOTIVATE YOUNG PEOPLE?

WELL, IT HAS TO COME FROM THEIR HEARTS.

THERE HAS TO BE A DESIRE TO TRAIN AND TO DO THE HARD WORK, AND THERE IS SO MANY PRONGS AND SO MANY ASPECTS THAT GO INTO BEING A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT ATHLETE, AND TODAY, MORE THAN EVER THERE IS MORE DISTRACTION.

THERE IS SOME PUSH.

THERE IS SOME NUDGING AND SHOVING.

TO SAY THAT WE ARE TIGERS.

WE ARE TIGERS, YOU KNOW, AND YOU EITHER EAT OR GET EATEN, AND WE REALLY, WE REALLY PUSH OUR KIDS TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS PARENTS ASK YOU WHEN YOU ARE RECRUITING TALENT?

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.

OUR PRIORITY IS EDUCATION.

COME TO LSU.

YOU ARE GOING TO GET ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED TO GET THE FINEST EDUCATION THAT A COLLEGE HAS TO OFFER.

UNIVERSITY HAS TO OFFER.

THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THAT BUT ALSO IN THE FAMILY ASPECT AND THE TRUE -- THE NURTURING CARE.

WE HAVE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY NET, A NETWORK OF NUTRITIONISTS.

OUR DOCTORS ARE INCREDIBLE.

OUR TRAINERS ARE INCREDIBLE.

BUT IT'S THE TOTAL PACKAGE, THE WHOLE VILLAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WORK IN UNISON TO SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY ATHLETE HERE AT LSU.

SO THAT NURTURING ATMOSPHERE.

WERE YOU APPALLED BY THE REVELATIONS OF THE DOCTOR THAT MOLESTED THE YOUNG GYMNASTS?

THAT'S BEEN A BLACK EYE FOR THE SPORT, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GYMNASTICS.

IT GOES MUCH DEEPER THAN THAT.

YEAH.

IT'S A TRUE BLACK EYE, AND I THINK THAT THE THING NOW IS LET'S FIND A WAY TO HEAL.

LET'S FINE A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

LET'S FIND IS A WAY TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND BY THE TIME THAT THEY COME TO COLLEGE, THESE KIDS ARE READY TO FOCUS ON AN EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY IN GYMNASTICS.

IT'S THE EDUCATION, THE ATHLETICS, AND THEN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE ASPECT OF IT.

BUT IT'S BEEN A BLACK EYE FOR GYMNASTICS, BUT FOR SPORTS IN GENERAL, AND I THINK THAT IT'S TIME THAT WE PUT -- TRY TO HEAL THE BLACK EYE, PUT ICE ON IT AND MOVE FORWARD.

WHEN I LOOK AT YOUR YOUNG LADIES WHO ARE SO TALENTED, I THINK HOW YOUNG SHOULD YOU BEGIN DOING GYMNASTICS?

IT SEEMS LIKE NOW YOU HAVE TO START, YOU KNOW, DEDICATE YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU ARE LIKE THREE YEARS OLD OR SOMETHING?

YOU WANT TO START THEM AT THREE, AND THERE IS SOME MOMMY AND ME PROGRAMS AND THINGS THAT ARE JUST BASIC MOVEMENT, BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD, GYMNASTICS IS SO INCREDIBLY HELPFUL IN DEVELOPING THEIR MOTOR SKILLS, THEIR ABILITY TO MOVE, AND I HAVE A GRANDSON THAT JUST TURN ONE, AND THEY ARE LIKE HE'S NOT WALKING YET.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

BECAUSE THE LONGER THAT HE CRAWLS, THE BETTER HIS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT WILL BE, AND THAT'S WHAT GYMNASTICS IS ALL ABOUT.

WE HAVE A GREAT CHILDREN'S PROGRAM AND GREAT GRASSROOTS PROGRAM IN A LOT OF GYMS, BUT YOU KNOW, CRAWLING AND RUNNING AND JUMPING, AND THEN THE STRETCHING AND THE FLEXIBILITY ASPECT THAT GYMNASTICS BRINGS TO A CHILD IS -- YOU DON'T GET IT ANY PLACE ELSE IN ANY OTHER SPORT SO IF YOU HAVE GOT A YOUNG ONE OUT THERE AND THEY ARE CLIMBING ON THE SOFA AND JUMPING OFF THE SOFA, PUT THEM IN GYMNASTICS AND WHEN THEY GET TO BE SIX FEET TALL OR -- SWITCH THEM OVER TO ANOTHER SPORT.

YEAH.

BECAUSE YOU CANNOT BE TOO TALL, CAN YOU?

WELL, YOU KNOW, SARA WAS HERE AND WE HAVE HAD SOME TALL GYMNASTS.

TALL, HOW TALL IS THAT?

5'8", 5'9".

NOT 6'1"?

WE HAVE SOME OF OUR BASKETBALL PLAYERS COME IN HERE AND OUR FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND SAY TEACH ME TO FLIP, COACH, AND THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU TEACH.

THAT'S A PROCESS.

THERE IS A DEEP ROOTED FOUNDATION THAT GOES ON IN EVERY SKILL WE COACH.

IT STARTS WITH THE MOST MINUSCULE LITTLE SKILL, AND WE BUILD, AND THAT'S HOW WE GET THE BIG SKILLS.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING THIS?

WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS MY 41st YEAR.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME, AND I STILL ENJOY.

I STILL GET A LOT OF PLEASURE FROM BEING IN THE GYM WITH THE KIDS.

THE COACHING AND THE PROCESS.

I ENJOY THE RECRUITING PROCESS.

AND I HAVE THE MOST REMARKABLE STAFF.

JAY CLARK, ASHLEY KEARNEY AND ASHLEY NAT.

WE HAVE SUCH A GOOD STAFF.

I SAY IT AGAIN, IT'S THE VILLAGE, THAT COMING TO GO OF EVERYONE, EVERYONE THAT HAS A PART IN OUR PROGRAM, OUR GRAPHICS DESIGN PERSON.

EVERYBODY IS SO PROUD OF WHAT THEY DO, AND THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP IN THEIR LITTLE AREA.

YOU RUN A BUSINESS AND YOU RUN A WHOLE THING AND YOU KNOW YOUR CAMERAMEN HAVE TO BE GOOD AND SHARP AT WHAT THEY DO BUT ALSO THE PERSON AT THE SOUND BOARD SO IT TAKES THE VILLAGE TO MAKE EVERYTHING HAPPEN, AND IF THE GUY WITH THE LIGHTS DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB WE WOULD LOOK GREEN.

SO IT TAKES A VILLAGE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS LOOKING AT IS YOU WERE HEADED TOWARDS BEING THE STAR ATHLETE PERSONALLY.

AND YOU SWITCHED TO THE COACHING CAREER.

DO YOU THINK THAT PERHAPS COACHING ENDED UP BEING MORE SATISFYING OR DO YOU MISS THAT CHANCE AT MAYBE ALL THE OLYMPICS?

THAT'S EVERYBODY'S DREAM THAT COMPETES AT A HIGH LEVEL, AND OF COURSE CERTAINLY THAT WAS MY DREAM, AND COMING FROM A SMALL TOWN AND A LARGE FAMILY, IT WAS A REAL CHALLENGE TO GET TO PRACTICE.

MY PARENTS, MY MOTHER MADE A HUGE SACRIFICE BECAUSE I HAD FIVE YOUNGER SIBLINGS AT HOME.

BUT -- DO YOU THINK THAT NECESSITY RESENT YOU?

I HOPE NOT.

WOULD THEY HAVE SOLD YOU?

NO.

BUT THE PART ABOUT BEING AN ATHLETE AND SEGUEING INTO SOMETHING ELSE, YOU HAVE THAT BATTLE DO YOU WANT TO BE A PHYSICAL THERAPIST, DO I WANT TO GO TO THERAPY SCHOOL AND DO THIS?

THE OPPORTUNITY TO COACH PRESENTED ITSELF WHEN I HAD AN INJURY AND COULDN'T CONTINUE.

THEN IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I BECAME PASSIONATE ABOUT AND ENJOYED.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AT ANYTHING YOU DO IF YOU ARE NOT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT AND HAVE PASSION FOR IT.

SO I BECAME PASSIONATE.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF STRUGGLES.

THERE WERE A LOT OF FIGHTS ALONG THE WAY, AND YOU KNOW, THE PUSHING AND THE MOTIVATING KIDS AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING ONE BALANCE BEAM WHEN ALABAMA HAD SIX.

OVERCOMING THOSE OBSTACLES WERE A REAL CHALLENGE.

I BET THAT YOU WERE RECRUITED BY OTHER SCHOOLS.

DID YOU EVER THINK OF LEAVING LOUISIANA?

THE THOUGHT OF LEAVING LOUISIANA, NOT BEING IN LOUISIANA WAS ALWAYS A DAUNTING THOUGHT.

AND A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAD TO INTERVIEW FOR OTHER JOBS, PEOPLE THAT CALLED ME, IT WAS TEMPTING TO GO AT SOME POINTS IN TIME BUT MY PASSION FOR LSU AND MY PASSION FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND WHAT I HAD A DREAM AND THE GOAL FOR THIS TO BE AND TO BECOME AND TO WANT IT TO BE SO MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS WHEN I CAME HERE, WHEN CARL BROUGHT ME, WE DID NOT HAVE A FACILITY.

THEY WANTED ME TO GO AND COACH IN THAT GYM ARMORY PLACE BACK THERE THAT'S CONDEMN.

AND ERNIE HILL SAID WELL, NO, WE WILL PUT YOU IN THE FIELD HOUSE AND GIVE YOU A CORNER OF THE FIELD HOUSE, AND WHEN FOOTBALL CAME IN ON RAINY DAYS, FOOTBALL WOULD COME IN THERE AND THE COACH WOULD COME OVER AND CHAT A BIT, SO THERE WERE A LOT OF FOND MEMORIES BUT CHALLENGING TIMES.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?

WELL, FOR FUN?

I LOVE TO WORK ON MY YARD.

I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD.

AND ADDING ONTO MY HOUSE.

MY MOTHER MOVED IN WITH ME SO I AM ADDING ON BUT I LOVE TO FISH.

I AM GOING TO FISH IN THE RIDE THE BULL, THE KAYAK TOURNAMENT COMING OUT.

SO I LOVE TO FISH.

I LOVE TO KAYAK, FISH, AND I ENJOY FISHING WITH MY GRANDKIDS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

WHEN I LOOK AT SOME OF THE STAR ATHLETES THAT YOU HAVE HAD IN THE YEARS, I WONDER WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?

MARY LOU RETTON DID A SHOW FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION IN HOUSTON, I THINK, AND HER DAUGHTER, OF COURSE, CAME TO BE WITH YOU.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR GIRLS DOING NOW THAT THEY ARE YOUNG LADIES?

WELL, I RECRUITED A YOUNG LADY FROM MONT -- MONTEREY, MEXICO AND IS WORKING IN THE FOUNDATION AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE.

SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, I HAVE GOT JENNIFER LANDRY BOARD IS A PRINCIPAL AT A SCHOOL IN PRAIRIEVILLE, AND CECILIA, WHO MARRIED A BASEBALL PLAYER HERE, SHE'S A SURGEON HERE IN TOWN THAT SPECIALIZES IN BREAST SURGERY.

I HAVE GOT -- I THINK THAT I HAVE GOT FIVE KIDS IN PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, PHYSICAL THERAPY, AND QUITE A FEW KIDS PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, NURSES, A LOT OF THEM GO INTO NURSING.

I HAVE ONE LITTLE GIRL THAT WALKED ON HERE ABOUT SIX YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS HER DREAM TO GO TO MED SCHOOL, AND SHE COULDN'T GET IN.

WE KEPT WRITING LETTERS, AND SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT STUDENT BUT I DON'T THINK THAT SHE INTERVIEWED WELL SO CASEY DUVAL, SO SHE FINALLY GOT ACCEPTED IN MED SCHOOL AND IS IN MED SCHOOL IN NEW ORLEANS, SO IT'S THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT MOTIVATE AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN SOMEBODY COMES IN AND THEY ARE NOT DOING SO WELL AND YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY, YOU REALLY, REALLY HAVE THE ANGST TO PUSH AND MOTIVATE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF THEIR BUSINESS ACADEMICALLY BECAUSE THIS ENDS IN FOUR YEARS.

YOU ALMOST, YOU HAVE GONE TO THE FINALS.

ANY NUMBER OF TIMES.

YOU HAVE COME SO CLOSE.

DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT SOON?

WELL, IN THIS SPORT THE DIFFERENCE FROM WINNING AND LOSING IS THIS MUCH, AND WE HAVE BEEN THERE.

YOU HAVE TO SHOOT IF YOU ARE GOING TO SCORE.

AND WE HAVE BEEN SHOOTING AND SHOOTING AND SHOOTING AND HAVE CONTINUED TO SCORE AND DO REALLY WELL TO HAVE BACK-TO-BACK SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WE HAVE WON THE SEASON LIKE FOUR YEARS IN A ROW, AND SO TO HAVE THE ACCOLADES AND THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HANGING ON THE WALL IN THIS GYM, I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAUNT ME IN MY TENURE IF WE DON'T WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD SO MUCH FABULOUS SUCCESS.

BUT THE DAY IS COMING.

IT WILL HAPPEN.

IT WILL HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT THE COMMITMENT, THE DEDICATION, THE GOALS, AND WE SAY EVERY DAY THAT THE PRIDE AND THE TRADITION OF THE LSU TIGER WILL NOT BE ENTRUSTED TO THE TIMID, AND WE LIVE AND WORK BY THAT, AND I THINK THAT WE WILL WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, WE HAVE A TEAM MEETING YESTERDAY, AND THE KIDS ARE SO MOTIVATED AND SO FIRED UP AND THIS IS AN OLD TEAM.

LOTS OF SENIORS AND SENIORS.

WITH THIS TEAM YOU HAVE GOT TO GO SLOW AND BE VERY MINDFUL OF INJURIES.

I LOVE IT WHEN YOU SAY THEY ARE AN OLD TEAM.

YEAH.

EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE.

YOU PEAK AT WHAT, 16?

WELL, THAT'S KIND OF THE ENTRY AGE NOW.

BUT YOU LOOK AT SIMONE BILES AND WHAT SHE IS DOING.

SHE'S GOING TO MAKE A RUN FOR THE TWO OLYMPICS BACK-TO-BACK, AND SHE'S JUST INCREDIBLE.

SHE IS.

AND AMERICA SHOULD BE SO PROUD BECAUSE SHE REPRESENTS US SO WELL.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN COLLEGE IT'S A DIFFERENT MINDSET.

THESE KIDS WERE LIMITED TO 20 HOURS A WEEK, SO YOU KNOW, NOT SIMEONE, SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T TRAIN THIS MANY OTHERS BUT MOST KIDS INQUEST OF THE OLYMPICS ARE TRAINING 35 HOURS A WEEK, SO YOU KNOW, YOU LIMIT THEM TO HOW MANY HOURS THAT THEY CAN TRAIN AND YOU TRY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR BODIES.

BUT PRETTY MUCH BY THE TIME THAT THEY ARE IN COLLEGE, WE HAVE SET THE SKILLS WE ARE GOING TO DO AND ADD A BIT OF DIFFICULTY, IF WE CAN, BUT WE MOSTLY FOCUS ON EXECUTION, PRESENTATION, AND PERFECTION.

SO AT MOST SPORTING EVENTS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, THESE DAYS, IT'S A BIG ENTERTAINMENT EVENT AS WELL.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE GOING ON, AND DOWN THERE THEY ARE PLAYING A GAME OR DOING A SPORT.

IS IT ALSO THAT ENTERTAINMENT THING?

WELL ENTERTAINMENT IS A HUGE PART OF IT.

PEOPLE NOW, THEY ARE ON THEIR PHONE, EVERYTHING IS QUICK AND INSTANT, AND I THINK THAT IT HAS TO HAVE AN END POINT, AND JAY CLARK MY ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH, AND HE'S HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AT A PREVIOUS UNIVERSITY, AND WHEN HE CAME IN IT WAS JUST AN ADDITION TO WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WE BEGAN DOING.

I ALWAYS SAY NOTHING BEATS A TRY LIKE A FAILURE, SO DON'T TELL ME YOU ARE TRYING.

LET'S START DOING, SO WE WERE, WE BEGAN TO DO THINGS, AND HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE, BUT WE BOXED OUR EVENT.

WE MADE IT MORE ENTERTAINMENT.

THERE IS A VERY CLEAR END POINT, AND OUR SCOREBOARD IS THE FINEST AT ANY COLLEGIATE GYMNASTICS VENTURE, AND SO I THINK THAT HAS ENHANCED THE QUALITY OF OUR EVENT.

BUT FROM THE ANNOUNCER TO THE PEP BAND TO A MIKE THE TIGER, IT'S ALL HAPPENING, AND LOOK WHEN I GO TO BASKETBALL GAMES, I GO UP AND CHECK OUT THE CONCESSIONS BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GYMNASTICS MEET.

IF IT'S GOOD FOR BASKETBALL IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR GYMNASTICS, SO I AM CONSTANTLY CHECKING THE BATHROOM, THERE IS GUM ON THE FLOOR.

GET IT OFF THE FLOOR.

BUT BECAUSE EVERYTHING COUNTS.

EVERYTHING MATTERS.

AND I LEARNED THAT FROM SKIP.

IF YOU ARE NOT KEENLY AWARE OF EVERYTHING GOING ON AT YOUR EVENT, NOBODY ELSE IS.

IT'S YOUR EVENT.

WELL WHAT I LOVE TO SEE ARE ALL THE YOUNG GIRLS SO EXCITED, AND THEY WANT TO BE ON YOUR TEAM.

YEAH, YEAH.

THAT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL THING.

THE ROLE MODEL AND WHAT, WHAT THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES HAS DONE FOR THE SPORT OF GYMNASTICS IN THIS AREA AND IN THE STATE, AND I THINK THAT IT'S A REAL SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR THE COMMUNITY, THAT THIS TEAM HAS DONE SO WELL, AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE, WE OPEN OUR DOORS AND WE TRY TO SHARE THE FACILITY WITH AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE.

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST MOMENT IN ANY PARTICULAR TOURNAMENT?

WAS IT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, LAST SEASON, WHAT WAS THE HARDEST?

WELL, I THINK THAT LAST YEAR THE TOUGHEST THING WAS THAT WE WERE IN THE SUPER SIX COMPETITION, AND WE HAD A LEGITIMATE SHOT AT WINNING IT.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE OF THE UCLA'S KIDS DECIDED THAT SHE WOULD BECOME SUPER HUMAN AND GOT TWO TENS, AND SO THEY UPSET THE WHOLE APPLE CART AND CAME FROM BEHIND AND WON IT.

BUT THE DISAPPOINTING THING WAS THE FACT THAT THERE WAS ONLY .2 OF A POINT SEPARATING ONE AND FOUR, AND WE WERE AT THE END OF THAT .2.

I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE BIGGEST THING, IT WAS SO CLOSE YET SO FAR AWAY.

YOU'VE BEEN A JUDGE YOURSELF, AND SO WHEN YOU ARE SITTING AT HOME YOU WOULD GO HOW DO THEY -- HOW IS THAT A TEN?

AND SOMETHING ELSE IS A 9.9.

IS IT TOUGH TO JUDGE?

YOU KNOW IT'S SPLITTING HAIRS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND IT'S SO AESTHETIC AND BEAUTIFUL BUT SO POWERFUL, AND IT LOOKS SO EASY, AND THERE IS REALLY NO NOTICEABLE FLAWS, NO SHUFFLE STEPS, NO BODY ALIGNMENT.

OR FALLING OFF.

FALLING OFF, THAT'S A HALF A POINT.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 9.9 AND A 10.0 IS SO MINUSCULE, BUT YOU FEEL IT.

AND SOMETIMES THAT 10 COMES FROM THE ENERGY AND THE EXCITEMENT IN THE CROWD AND THE MOMENTUM THAT THE TEAM HAS BUILT WHEN THAT PERSON BEFORE THE LAST PERSON GOES 9.95, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE NEXT PERSON IS JUST THAT MUCH BETTER, IT'S LIKE DROP YOUR MIC, IT'S A TEN.

SO THAT'S WHEN IT IS REALLY FUN AND EXCITING.

WE THINK THIS TEAM IS JUST, YOU HAVE BUILT AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY HERE AT LSU, AND I HOPE THAT -- DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA REALLY APPRECIATE IT?

OR ARE YOU JUST HAPPY THAT YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY?

I AM SO HAPPY THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I DO.

WE HAD D.D.

DAY IN DONALDSONVILLE LAST YEAR, AND THAT WAS SO -- THAT WAS LIKE HEARTFELT.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING.

I THINK THAT THEY DO.

I DO A LOT OF SPEAKING AND A LOT OF THINGS AROUND SOUTH LOUISIANA MORE THAN ANYTHING, AND WE ARE HOSTING THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS IN NEW ORLEANS.

THANK YOU TO THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUPPORTED THAT EFFORT AND REALLY MADE AN APPEAL TO THE CONFERENCE FOR US TO GET IT HERE.

BUT HAVE THAT, AND WE ARE HOSTING THE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, NC2A REGIONAL AND SUPER REGIONAL HERE THIS YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF APPRECIATION.

WELL YOU ARE A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF LOUISIANA, AND WE CONGRATULATE YOU ON BEING A LOUISIANA LEGEND.

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN SEEING YOU WITH THE OTHER LEGENDS AT OUR EVENT.

THANK YOU, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR LPB BECAUSE I KNOW ITS AN ONGOING EFFORT TO MAKE IT AS GREAT AS IT IS.

I THINK THAT YOUR PASSION IS EVIDENCE, AND IT'S BEEN A REAL TREAT TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US COME.

THANKS.

COME BACK, I OPEN MY DOORS AND COME BACK ANY TIME.

I WILL SEE YOU AT A MEET.

GO TIGERS.

AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WATCHING LOUISIANA LEGENDS AND THIS INTERVIEW.

GOOD NIGHT.

SINCE 1923 ROY OMARTIN, A WOOD PRODUCTS COMPANY HAS FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF HIS FOUNDER TO GIVE BACK TO OUR LOUISIANA COMMUNITIES WHERE WE LIVE AND WORK.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT ROYOMARTIN.COM.

THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY IS PROUD TO JOIN LPB IN HONORING THE 2018 LOUISIANA LEGENDS.

CONTRIBUTING 3.5 BILLION FOR K1 PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE LOTTERY IS GIVING LOUISIANA A REASON TO SMILE.

SUPPORT FOR THE 2018 LOUISIANA LEGENDS COMES FROM WILLIS KNIGHTEN, A LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED NONPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM SERVING PATIENTS SINCE 1924.

Captioning Performed By LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com FOR COPY OF THIS PROGRAM GO ONLINE TO WWW.LPB.ORG.