It was the end of the 2007 regular season, and LSU's baseball team finished nearly last in the conference at a horrible 29-26-1 (12-17-1 SEC). For the first time in 22 years, there would be no post-season for the Tigers.
It didn't look like it was going to get much better in 2008. Since the Tigers are getting a new stadium next year, this year's team set a simple goal of sending the old one (Alex Box) out on a good note - hosting a regional. It seemed possible, as “the Box“ has hosted 17 regionals since 1985. When mid-season rolled around, though, for the 2008 Tigers, they were at the same horrible place they were in 2007. They were at the bottom of the conference with a losing record (6-11). Forget about that pie-in-the-sky goal of hosting a regional; it would take a miracle just to make it into post-season play (being accepted into the conference tournament.)
If an object is heading a certain direction and wants to travel 180 degrees opposite, there is a moment in time when it has to completely come to a stop - the instant between going the initial direction and before heading the other way. This instant occurred on April 20th for the ship that the 2008 Tigers were sailing. The Tigers saved themselves from being swept at home by #13 Georgia - resulting in a tie. Since they neither won nor lost, you couldn't tell if it was the beginning of a turnaround or just a complete stop before continuing on in the wrong direction.
Then came wins against in-state rivals Tulane and McNeese. That weekend LSU swept #12 South Carolina. People were starting to notice that the ship may have actually changed direction. Chalk another mid-week W against an in-state rival. Then the Tigers travelled to Lexington and swept #18 Kentucky. Next weekend was a sweep of (pre-season #2) Ole Miss. It was obvious that the ship was now sailing in the right direction. Post season play was starting to look like a possibility - even a probability. And with a 12 game win streak going, it was going in the right direction fast - maybe as fast it was previously heading the wrong way.
A couple of days later was the 15 inning barn-burner against UNO. Off to Auburn for the final weekend of regular season play - and another sweep. The Tigers climbed from the bottom of the division midseason (6-11 SEC) to clinching the Western Division title (and giving them an automatic bid to the conference tournament, which they were seeded #2.) All it took was a 16 game winning streak (the longest in the country.)
If they made a good showing in the tourney then their pre-season goal of hosting a regional became a real possibility. They swept their way through the thing, extending the win streak to 20. Picked not to even make the tournament only weeks ago, here they were, the SEC Champion. On the next day, the NCAA announced the tournament brackets and the hosting sites. The goal was realized: Baton Rouge was hosting a regional. (As a bonus, the Tigers were given a #7 national seeding; if they win their regional, they'll automatically host the super-regional the following weekend.)
From cold as ice to hot as hell. Quite a turnaround.
Let the NCAA tourney begin!
UPDATE (2008-06-04): The Tigers swept the regionals, increasing their win streak to 23 - an SEC record. This means they are hosting the super-regional this weekend versus UC-Irvine. Hopefully the next update will be reporting they're on their way to the College World Series!
UPDATE (2008-06-10): Tigers lost Super-Regional Game 1. In Game 2, they were 7 runs behind entering the 8th inning and came from behind to win it in the 9th. In Game 3 the Tigers pretty much just put on a clinic: 6 runs in the first inning, finally ending up with a 21-9 win. The Tigers are headed to Omaha!