Editor’s Note: This column contains strong language.
From the moments that had Tiger fans screaming at the top of their lungs to the ones that brought tears to the eyes of even the toughest supporters, the 2011-2012 season was one of the most successful for LSU Athletics in recent memory.
In a year that started off with an alleged bar fight and ended on the wrong side of a great upset on the baseball diamond, a few moments and individuals were able to break through the pack and deem themselves worthy of recognition.
Inspired by ESPN’s ESPY awards, LESPY Awards are awarded to the best of the best in Tiger Athletics, decided on by The Daily Reveille’s sports staff, who covered the events of an athletic program that was ranked No. 4 in the nation by Capital One College Cup.
Breakthrough Athlete Raph Rhymes – Baseball: The Tigers’ outfielder lead the nation in Batting average with .431, up .91 points from 2011, Rhymes was also eighth in the nation with 100 hits.
Most WTF moment Jordan Jefferson’s shovel pass in the national championship: Televisions were smashed, beer bottles were shattered and the minds of Tiger fans around the country were blown when quarterback Jordan Jefferson inexplicably tried to flip the ball to Spencer Ware (we think) but instead threw it directly to the Alabama defender. What was almost as baffling as the actual play was after the game when Jefferson tried to throw Ware under the bus by blaming him for his own asinine mistake. Thankfully, this was the final nail in the “Jefferswag” coffin.
Comeback Stony Brook super regional game one: Not once, not twice but three times the Tigers hit homeruns to tie Stony Brook in the final innings of the opening game of the Baton Rouge Super Regional. It was Alex Box magic at its finest when JaCoby Jones, Tyler Moore and Mason Katz homered late in the game. After a rain delay postponed the game till the next day, Katz hit a walk-off-RBI single to give the Tigers game one. The game was filled with drama, surprises and most of all it was a 5-4 win for the Tigers.
Best Twitter Kevin Gausman – Baseball: Tiger pitcher Kevin Gausman was a force to be reckoned with on the mound, making him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft. However, Gausman was a highlight on the Twitter feed all season long that garnered responses along the lines of “what does that even mean?”
“Highlight of the game was seeing a guy with a shirt that said ‘I pooped today!’ Hahaha #GuyHasSeriousPoopingSwag!” Gausman tweeted on July 14.
Freshman athlete Brad Wing – Football: No punter was more popular and beloved than the Leg Down Under – mainly because most fans can’t even name their team’s punter. The Melbourne, Australia, native was a Ray Guy award finalist for the nation’s top punter and was immortalized by most likely being the only punter ever to get a touchdown called back for taunting.
Moment Game of the Century, Pt. 1: The first time the Tigers faced off against the Crimson Tide on the gridiron in the 2011 season, the game was one of the most epic in LSU football history. It was the most hyped game of any other in the country that season when the No. 1 and No. 2 teams battled it out. In the end, LSU was victorious after the Bama kickers missed four of six three point tries to give the Tigers a 9-6 overtime win.
Best play Eric Reid interception: Eric Reid’s interception of a Marquis Maze pass on the goal line late in the game kept Alabama from scoring what would have most likely been the game winning touchdown. Reid stole the ball out of Alabama tight end Michael Williams hands in mid-fall to make the play of the year of the Tigers.
Best coach Dennis Shaver – Track and Field: Coach Shaver lead the women’s Track and Field program to LSU’s only national title in 2012, the men’s program to a second place outdoor finish and the women’s indoor team to a third place finish. No coach found more success in 2011-2012 than Shaver, which is why he wins the LESPY for best coach.
Female athlete Kimberlyn Duncan – Women’s Track and Field: Duncan lead the Lady Tigers to an Outdoor National Championship and a third place finish indoors with an indoor and outdoor national championship in the 200-meter dash. Duncan also anchored the 4×100-meter relay team to national title in the outdoor championships. The Lady Tiger is also a finalist for the Bowerman Award, which goes to the nation’s top track and field athlete.
Male athlete Tyrann Mathieu – Football: The Honey Badger doesn’t give a shit about awards! But Mathieu will still take home the first ever LESPY for Male Athlete of the Year for his outstanding play at cornerback for the Tigers. Mathieu was selected as a finalist for the Heisman trophy after he led the SEC with six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
Best team Women’s Track and Field: Most people would have assumed the Football Tigers would have taken this award with their outstanding season and play in big games. However, the LESPY goes to women’s track and field because football didn’t win the one game that mattered, while the Lady Tigers did. LSU coach Dennis Shaver’s team was dominant throughout the season, and in the national championship meet they stepped up to bring the title back to Baton Rouge. In the indoor national championship, the Lady Tigers finished third as well.
Contact Mike Gegenheimer at [email protected].