by Adam Johnson
Legendary football coach and the namesake of the SuperBowl trophy, Vince Lombardi, once said, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” While some may offer that “winning” only encompasses one part of the culture of a sport or a team, perhaps we should examine how we define what it truly means to “win.” For LSUA student-athletes, it goes far beyond what the scoreboard shows when the clock hits 0:00.
Make no mistake, the LSUA Generals have accomplished some impressive feats when looking at win/loss records. Since 2014, LSUA boasts 37 conference and regoinal championships, 22 national tournament appearances, 10 national top 16 finishes, six national top eight finishes, four national top four finishes and one national runner-up finish. Additionally, in the past two years, all seven of LSUA’s varsity programs have either won a conference championship or advanced to the national tournament as an at-large selection. All that said, “winning” means more than just these accolades.
While a collegiate career can offer the most exciting four (ok, sometimes five) years in our lives, that time transforms us for the kind of future we can have. Academic success in the classroom has been an emphasis for LSUA Athletics, with graduation rates, student retention and overall GPA reaching all-time highs in the past two years. But wait, there’s more!
Integrity, respect, responsibility, sporsmanship, servant leadership – these are the five core values of the Champions of Character program sponsored by the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). Each year, the NAIA evaluates all member schools and awards varying levels of honor in its Champions of Character program. A Five Star Gold rank represents the highest level attainable.
By now, you probably know what I’m going to tell you next. That’s right … for two consecutive years, LSUA has been recognized as an NAIA Five Star Gold institution. To me, this award rivals (maybe exceeds) the splendor of the championships and national tournament appearances mentioned earlier. This past year, no other school in the state or in LSUA’s conference earned a Five Star Gold rating.
We want and need you to be a part of our success. From attending athletic events full schedule available at (www.lsuagenerals.com) to purchasing LSUA apparrel (www.shopgeneralsgear.com) and becoming a business partner or Generals Athletic Association donor (email athletics@lsua.edu to learn more), you can help us continue putting our student-athletes in the best possible position to WIN – on the scoreboard and in life.
Go Generals! – Adam Jonson, Director of Athletics