FORT WORTH, Texas — In a tunnel just off the floor at Dickies Arena on Saturday, LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark and Tigers star gymnast Kailin Chio answered questions from Baton Rouge media as Oklahoma gymnasts streamed past toward their locker room, “national champions” T-shirts pulled over their leotards.
Every now and then, there were exchanged glances between the two rival parties, the LSU folks solemn after a narrow 198.1625-198.075 loss to OU in the NCAA championship final, the Sooners flushed with having won yet another national title.
The symbolism was palpable. LSU may be in Oklahoma’s shadow once again — it was the Tigers’ fourth runner-up finish to the now eight-time NCAA champions since 2016 — but they were and likely still are percentage points away from having their roles reversed, with LSU being able to celebrate its second NCAA title in three seasons…