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RUSTON -- May 4 is usually reserved for Star Wars Day.

However, on May 4, 2012, the force was not with Luke Skywalker; it was with Louisiana Tech University.

On that Friday at approximately 12 p.m., nearly 1,000 Bulldog and Lady Techster fans gathered inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

Popcorn was served. The lights were dim. The LA Tech logo was projected onto a large black curtain cutting Karl Malone Court in half.

It was as if a screening of The Last Jedi was about to take place. Instead, it was a scene of waiting to finally hear what was described as one of the worst kept secrets.

But what a secret it was.

University President Dr. Dan Reneau and Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky were delighted to share it.

"What a fine day it is," Dr. Reneau said while at the podium of the announcement. "What a red and blue day it is for Louisiana Tech University. We are now in the right home and the right place to be."

Banowsky followed with his vision for C-USA and LA Tech.

"A big part of our plan was to identify universities that were truly excellent, that were growing. Louisiana Tech fit that part of our plan. We also identified universities that had a tradition of competitive success and the potential to be successful in the future. No doubt, Louisiana Tech fit that element. The third part of our plan was to do something that actually made sense geographically. Louisiana Tech is smack dab in the middle of our footprint."

Then came the four words. "Welcome to Conference USA."

For the next two minutes, the crowd stood and cheered. The LA Tech and C-USA logo now rotated in unison on the screen. Confetti sprayed. Cheerleaders waved their pom poms and displayed the Tech flags. The fight song blared from the Band of Pride in section 104.

It was a significant milestone in the history of Louisiana Tech Athletics. It was a long quest that officially reached its proper destination on July 1, 2013.

Almost five years complete competing in C-USA, LA Tech has reaped the benefits in a number of ways -- through championships, records, awards, facility upgrades, fundraising and more.

"I think it was one of the greater strategic decisions the university has ever made, certainly for the athletics department," said Tommy McClelland, Tech's Athletic Director since July of 2013. "It put us in an elite, pier conference with schools that are like-minded, institutionally and athletically.

"Geographically, it put us in a footprint where we have more exposure to our own fans and to potential prospective student-athletes. Those pieces, combined with the success we have had, have allowed for greater donor engagement which in turn has helped us build our facilities up tremendously."

Championships

The Bulldog basketball team got things started off right in the new league by winning the regular season title in the inaugural season. They repeated in 2014-15. Other championship trophies have been won by football (two west division titles and four bowl wins), golf (2016 champs) and softball (2017 champs).

*Fingers crossed on some more with baseball and softball this month.

Records

Some Bulldogs have already etched their names in the C-USA record books. Trey Hadnot holds the 200m record (20.81) at a C-USA Championship meet. Kenneth "Speedy" Smith holds the career record for assist average (7.57). Trent Taylor holds the career record for receptions (327) and Jonathan Barnes holds the career record for field goals made (81).

Awards

There has been plenty of C-USA hardware earned by LA Tech student-athletes. To name a few, Nate Harris was the 2017 Pitcher of the Year. Softball's Krystal De La Cruz was the 2017 Newcomer of the Year. Football's Carlos Henderson was the 2016 Special Teams and Offensive Player of the Year. Victor Lange was the 2015 Golfer of the Year.

Can't forget about the student part in student-athlete. Jacie McClure was named to the 2017 Academic All-America Division I Volleyball Team, becoming just the second player from C-USA to earn this prestigious honor in the last six years.

There was also Kathryn Sloan who was selected as the 2016 Academic All-America of the Year for Division I Women's Soccer. She was the first C-USA student-athlete to earn this honor since 2006.

Facilities

Practically every facility has seen upgrades since joining C-USA. It started in the fall of 2013 with stadium lights being installed at the LA Tech Soccer Complex. Then there was the installation of the high definition Paul Millsap Vision video board, sound system, video control room and corner courtside displays inside the Thomas Assembly Center.

Fast forward to 2015 when J.C. Love Field and Lady Techster Softball Complex had new turf playing surfaces installed. Hop over to Joe Aillet Stadium with two gorgeous new buildings -- Davison Athletics Complex and the press box/guest suite facility -- to go along with new LED lighting, west side ticket booth and bathroom renovations.

Fundraising

That grand total of over $43 million for all of the facility upgrades could not have been possible had it not been for the fundraising.

Since being associated with C-USA, the number of donors added and dollars raised from the Louisiana Tech Athletic Club has increased every year.

LTAC is currently on pace to set record highs again this fiscal year. If projections hold true, it would mark an increase in LTAC annual dollars of 91 percent and a 32 percent increase in new donors since joining the league.

Let us not forget as much of a milestone as May 4 was for Louisiana Tech Athletics, it was just as impactful across the railroad track on the academic campus.

"That was truly an exciting day for Louisiana Tech," University president Dr. Les Guice said. "I was honored that Dr. Reneau allowed me to be involved in the discussions that led up to that day and, of course, I have had the responsibility to direct the university since we officially joined on July 1, 2013, my first day as President.

"There is no question that the move to C-USA has had a big impact on our campus, and I thank Dr. Reneau for moving us in that direction. The visibility of the university has been amplified in our primary recruiting area and the growth of our student body by almost 20 percent since that time could not have happened otherwise."

Enrollment at the time of joining -- 11,014. Enrollment now -- 12,873. And rising.

A big reason for the steady increase in the growth has been students coming to Tech from Houston and Dallas in significant part because of athletics playing in C-USA and bowl/tournament teams in those cities.

There has also been an establishment of strong corporate partnerships with companies in those areas that are offering jobs and internships to students while also creating additional jobs in north Louisiana.

That spring day six years ago was much like the title of Star Wars Episode IV -- A New Hope. It was a new hope for a better future for the university, the alumni, the fans and the students.

May the Fourth be with Louisiana Tech, always.