Alabama Athletics Completes Strong 2001-2002 Season
6/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | General
TUSCALOOSA - The 2001-02 athletic season at the University of Alabama will be remembered in Crimson lore as another of the great ones. The Tide captured a National Championship (Gymnastics) an SEC Championship (Men's Basketball) an SEC Tournament title (Baseball) and saw 17 of its 20 sports programs participate in postseason play.
In addition to the team successes, several Crimson Tide athletes etched their names among the elite by earning individual national championships. Gymnast Andr?e Pickens captured the uneven bars title while hurdler Ron Bramlett was a two-time national champ during the year capturing the 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoors and the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor event.
Fellow UA trackster David Kimani grabbed his sixth career national crown by winning the NCAA Outdoor 5K while Tide long jumper Miguel Pate won the NCAA Indoor long jump title. Bama swimmer Stefan Gherghel was the NCAA champ in the 200m butterfly. Overall, Crimson Tide athletes garnered 43 All-American honors.
The following is a closer look at the success for each of Alabama's athletic programs during the past year:
Men's Sports
Baseball
The Crimson Tide boasted an extremely successful campaign on the diamond finishing the season with a 51-15 mark including an SEC Tournament Championship. Alabama also captured the SEC Western Division title and hosted an NCAA Regional. UA head coach Jim Wells was named the SEC Coach of the Year.
Basketball
Alabama's hoop squad completed one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory finishing the year at 27-8 and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tide won the SEC Regular season and Western Division titles and swept the individual postseason honors as head coach Mark Gottfried (Coach of the Year), Erwin Dudley (Player of the Year) and Maurice Williams (Freshman of the Year) were all winners. Dudley also became Alabama's first AP All-American since 1987 and Williams was named the Sporting News' National Freshman of the Year.
Cross Country
UA qualified for the NCAA Championship and finished 29th in the country after winning the South Regional for the second consecutive year behind a strong showing by All-American David Kimani. Alabama was also the runner-up at the SEC Championship.
Football
First-year head coach Dennis Franchione guided a resurgent Crimson Tide to a winning record (7-5) and a return to the postseason. The Tide defeated Iowa State in the Independence Bowl and also earned the always important victory over rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl.
Golf
Under the guidance of long-time head coach Dick Spybey, Alabama qualified for NCAA Regional play as a team for the first time since 1997. The Tide captured one tournament title during the season and also had a pair of runner-up finishes. A pair of Tide golfers (Nick Rousey and Clint Provost) were named to the Golf Coaches Association of America's All-Region team. Rousey also set the schoold 54-hole record (200) and tied the 18-hole mark (64) while capturing medalist honors at the UT Tournament of Champions.
Indoor Track & Field
Head coach Harvey Glance led the Crimson Tide to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. It was the program's best finish in school history. All-Americans Ron Bramlett (60m hurdles) and Miguel Pate (long jump) won individual event titles to help lead the Bama squad. UA also finished third at the SEC Championships.
Outdoor Track & Field
The Crimson Tide earned an 11th-place tie at the NCAA Championships behind national championship performances by Ron Bramlett (110m hurdles) and David Kimani (5K). Alabama earned a sixth-place finish at the SEC Championship event.
Swimming & Diving
Coach Don Wagner continued his rebuilding success with the Crimson Tide leading Alabama to a 20th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Tide earned a fifth-place showing in the SEC Championship. Freshman Stefan Gherghel, one of the nation's top swimmers, captured an NCAA and SEC title in the 200m butterfly.
Tennis
Alabama made its second straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament under the direction of head coach Adam Steinberg ending the year with a 15-8 record. The tournament bid marked UA's sixth in the last seven seasons. The Tide finished third in the SEC Western Division. Maxim Belski also represented the Tide at the NCAA Individual championships.
Women's Sports
Basketball
Coach Rick Moody continued his success at the helm of the Crimson Tide guiding Bama to its 13th consecutive winning season (19-12) and 11th straight postseason appearance. Alabama finished tied for seventh in the SEC and reached the quarterfinals of the Women's NIT.
Cross Country
Alabama qualified for the NCAA South Regional finishing 16th in the postseason event. The Tide earned a runner-up finish at one event and finished 11th at the SEC Championship.
Golf
The Crimson Tide made its second consecutive NCAA Regional appearance under head coach Betty Palmer earning a 19th-place finish. Alabama has now reached the postseason as a team in four of the last six years. UA also earned a seventh-place showing at the SEC Championship. Sarah Johnston became the first Tide linkster to win an individual tournament title since 1997 by capturing the inaugural Alabama Capstone Intercollegiate crown.
Gymnastics
In front of an energetic Coleman Coliseum crowd, the Crimson Tide earned the program's fourth National Championship under the tutelage of head coach Sarah Patterson. Six gymnasts earned 14 All-American honors and Coach Patterson was named National Coach of the Year. Senior Andr?e Pickens posted her second career individual national crown, winning the NCAA uneven bars title. Pickens also won the Honda Award for Gymnastics, given annually to the nation's top gymnast. The Tide finished second at the SEC Championships before posting the nation's best score in NCAA Regional competition.
Indoor Track & Field
Alabama boasted another solid campaign in Indoor competition placing 11th at the highly competitive SEC Championships. Petagay Gayle was the the Tide's top finisher earning a fourth-place finish in the 400m.
Outdoor Track & Field
Head coach Sandy Fowler helped lead the Crimson Tide to another solid finish as Bama earned a ninth-place showing at the SEC Championship. UA also saw some of its athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Soccer
Alabama made a comeback under head coach Don Staley as the Tide finished 10-7-1 for its first winning season since 1999. UA finished tied for third in the SEC Western Division.
Softball
Strong play by the Crimson Tide continued as Alabama finished 46-21 and played in its fourth straight NCAA Regional. UA finished second in the SEC Western Division and with the league's second best record for head coach Pat Murphy.
Swimming & Diving
Under the guidance of Don Wagner, Alabama posted its second consecutive Top 20 finish (18th) at the NCAA Championships. The Crimson Tide also had a strong showing at the SEC Championship finishing fourth overall. Sophomore All-American Anne Poleska defended her SEC 100 and 200 breaststroke titles, giving her four career league titles in two years.
Tennis
The Crimson Tide reached the second round of the NCAA Regional tournament for the second consecutive year under head coach Jenny Mainz. Alabama finished tied for third in the SEC Western Division finishing with a 13-11 record. UA was represented by Millie Begovic and Weyli Chang at the NCAA Doubles Championship.
Volleyball
The resurgence of the Tide program continued as head coach Judy Green guided the squad to its second straight 20-win season (22-9). Alabama finished tied for second in the SEC Western Division finishing with double-digit league wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in school history.
