| They had a gymnastics meet like none other before it Friday night in the PMAC. Yes, LSU won the meet, the No. 2-ranked Tigers practically lapping outmatched Iowa State, 197.300-194.100. The "none other" part was the raising of LSU's 2024 national championship banner to the catwalk high above the arena floor. Commemorating the first NCAA team title in the program's 50-year history sparked nostalgia but also turned attention to the present — and the future. Just how good did this LSU team look, even without all-star Haleigh Bryant, out indefinitely with an elbow injury? Well, the Tigers posted their best score in a season opener in eight years, prompting coach Jay Clark to say, "In my time here, it may be our best opening performance top to bottom. I don’t mean mistake free, but we didn’t get distracted by things that could have distracted them. “We had a 197.300 and I thought we earned every penny of it.” Even without Bryant, it was a great night for 2024 NCAA floor champion and Paris Olympian Aleah Finnegan, who won or shared first place in every event including the all-around. And it was a great debut for freshman Kailin Chio, who share first place on bars and beam with Finnegan. As soon as the meet ended they started reconfiguring the PMAC for another curtain raiser, as the LSU men's basketball team hosts Vandy at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in its SEC opener. The LSU women complete the busy weekend in the PMAC Sunday when they host Auburn in their SEC home opener. LSU is coming off a smashing SEC debut, winning 98-64 Thursday at Arkansas. Finally, one bit of transfer portal news, as backup LSU defesive lineman Kimo Makane'ole has entered the transfer portal. That makes 18 Tigers to hit the portal since the end of the regular season. That's a full round of golf. That's for reading, subscribing, and buying me golf balls for Christmas. Enjoy your sports weekend, everyone. Scott Rabalais | 
