It’s been quite a year for LSU athletics, but the result so far is only one Southeastern Conference title.In sports large and sports small, the Tigers and Lady Tigers have at times celebrated, and they have also faltered — tick tock says the clock.While there could be a best of the year and a “not-so top-10” for the Tigers, it’s more fitting just to have the top 10 biggest moments.Without further hubbub, here’s the 2009-10 top 10 sports moments.10. COACH ADAM SCHMITT RESIGNSIt wasn’t the best year for LSU’s swimming and diving team on both the men’s and women’s sides, as both teams finished 0-4 in conference meets. But when coach Adam Schmitt resigned, it came as a surprise to many.9. DUKE NIPS LADY TIGERS IN TOURNEYAfter getting its 13th-straight first-round victory in the NCAA tournament, the Lady Tigers’ basketball team fell to Duke, 60-52, on Duke’s home court, Cameron Indoor Stadium. LSU senior guard Allison Hightower eclipsed the 1,500 career point mark in the game.8. SOCCER EARNS HIGHEST TOURNAMENT SEEDAfter a school-record 8-2-1 mark in SEC play, the Tiger soccer team earned its highest-ever national seeding in the NCAA tournament, a No. 4 seed. LSU defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 7-0, in the first round, before faltering to Texas A&M on penalty kicks in the second round.7. MITCHELL BREAKS HOME RUN RECORDIn front of a national audience April 29 on ESPN, the LSU softball team showcased their new ballpark and defeated No. 8 Georgia, 5-1, to achieve win No. 40 of the year. Senior outfielder Rachel Mitchell hit career home run No. 33 to break the school record set back in 2007 by Leslie Klein. It was a big night all around for the Tigers.6. TASMIN HELPS TIGERS WIN ON SENIOR NIGHTLSU senior forward Tasmin Mitchell decided to come back for his senior season instead of jumping to the NBA after his junior year. The season didn’t go as planned. Heading into the final regular-season game of his career, the Tigers had notched only one SEC win in 15 tries. Mitchell led the Tigers to a 50-48 upset of Georgia on his senior night, giving LSU its second conference win of the season.5. FOOTBALL FALTERS TO PENN STATEOn a muddy Citrus Bowl Stadium field, the LSU football team fell to No. 11 Penn State, 19-17. The Tigers held a 17-16 lead late in the game, but they allowed the lead to slip away on a late field goal. The slippery loss wasn’t the defining moment of LSU’s season, though, as we shall see.4. VOLLEYBALL CAPTURES SEC TITLEOnly one LSU team has captured an SEC championship so far this season, and it came in the fall when volleyball coach Fran Flory’s team captured its first title since 1991. The Tigers went 18-2 in conference play, including winning nine straight to close the year.3. BASEBALL LOSES SEVEN STRAIGHTWhen LSU baseball fans look back on the 2010 season, the seven-game losing streak, which was snapped Tuesday, may be seen as either the defining moment or the turning point. The streak was the longest for any LSU baseball team since 1982.2. JACKSON WINS TWO NATIONAL TITLESIt wasn’t the best year for LSU’s gymnastics team, but senior Susan Jackson capturing the all-around and beam national titles helped salvage the team’s season. Jackson passed former Tigers Ashleigh-Clare Kearney and April Burkholder for the most national championships in a career with three.1. “THE WANT” – CLOCK BLUNDER IN BOWLIt will go down in LSU football fans’ memories forever. The Tigers were down, 25-17, late in the fourth quarter when sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Rueben Randle with 1:16 left on the clock. Senior wide receiver Brandon LaFell came up with the onside kick, then the rest certainly has a want to become a blur in the minds of many Tiger faithful. There was something about an alleged want for a timeout, an actual timeout with nine seconds, a Hail Mary pass, no field goal unit and an attempted spike, then game over.
 
 
 
—-Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]