Topic: News: Coach Gayle Hatch Receives NCAA Final Four Ring

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

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Coach Gayle Hatch Receives Final Four Ring For Contributions to LSU Tigers Basketball Program
By Randy Rosetta

LSU marked the accomplishments of last season Tuesday and will participate in another event to officially kick off the 2006-07 campaign today.

The Tigers received their 2006 Final Four rings in a private ceremony at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center after practice Tuesday, marking the program’s trip to college basketball’s biggest event last March.

LSU coaches John Brady and Butch Pierre handed out the hardware to the players, managers, trainers and a handful of special guests. Longtime Baton Rouge fitness guru and weight trainer Gayle Hatch also received a ring.

The ceremony was attended by a handful of special guests, including Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden and Charlie Rugg, the former Bellhaven College coach who mentored both Brady and Tiger assistant John Treloar. Rugg accompanied the Tigers to Indianapolis for the Final Four as a guest of Brady and Treloar.

“It was a nice ceremony and a chance to recognize what we accomplished last year,” said Brady, who is entering his 10th season. “I think it represents a continuation of what we hope is to come. We hope we can use what we did last year as motivation for what we want to accomplish in the future.”

LSU went 27-9 last season and won the program’s ninth overall SEC championship with a 14-2 record. The Tigers beat Iona, Texas A&M, top-ranked Duke and ninth-ranked Texas to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 1986.

“There was a time here when the Final Four was not an obtainable goal,” Brady said. “Now it’s not only reachable but it’s something we can look back at and realize we can get there again if we work hard and play well like we did last year.”

Brady, Glen Davis and Darnell Lazare will travel to Birmingham today for SEC Tipoff Basketball Media Days. The LSU women will be represented by coach Pokey Chatman and Sylvia Fowles.

The two-day event starts with three of the men’s top programs sharing the morning session: LSU, defending national champion Florida and Alabama. Kentucky, Tennessee and Ole Miss make up today’s second session.