Alabama Gymnastics Opens Home Slate with Iowa State Friday
1/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
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The Alabama Gymnastics team will be in a rare position when they open up the home season Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Iowa State.
For the first time since 2002, Alabama comes into a home meet as the underdog against a non-conference opponent. In the season's first rankings, which are based on high score, Alabama is 16th and Iowa State is 9th. The last time the Tide faced a higher ranked non-conference opponent in Coleman Coliseum was March 16 when No. 2 Crimson Tide faced No. 1 UCLA.
"Iowa State has been to nationals," Patterson said. "Their goal is to go to the national championship at Auburn this year. That's why they're scheduling to come to a place like Alabama this year and compete in front of a big crowd. It doesn't do us any good to compete against the sisters of the poor. Our athletes wouldn't get any better."
And the Tide is getting better. Patterson said that her squad had a solid week of practice since the Super Six Challenge, where they finished third due in large part to three falls on the uneven bars.
"We couldn't have had a much worse start than we did," Patterson said. "But what I liked was that the ladies came right back on another pressure event and didn't fold. They got together, without the coaches having to say a word, and determined that they weren't going to give up."
The Tide's uneven bars lineup will get a boost with the addition of two-time Olympic Silver Medalist Terin Humphrey. After spending the Fall on the T.J. Maxx doing what Patterson called "show gymnastics" Humphrey has worked hard since the day after Christmas to regain her competitive form.
"We knew the uneven bars would be the first event Terin would be ready on," Patterson said. "She wanted to do it. I think she's ready. She doesn't want to sit on the sidelines. I think she has the capability any time she steps out there of scoring 9.9 or better. When you watch her it's so effortless, even though what she's doing is so difficult."
Alabama will be led against the Cyclones by junior Ashley Miles. Miles was named the Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week after winning her first collegiate all-around last Friday. She also won her third consecutive Super Six Challenge vault and floor exercise titles.
For Friday's meet, the Tide will be admitting children eighth grade and younger free of charge. They will be admitted through any gate and seated in general admission areas. Parents and adults accompanying the children can buy tickets for the general admission area.
For more information on the free admission promotion, or to order season and individual meet tickets, contact the Alabama Ticket Office at 205.348.BAMA or go online at http://www.rolltide.com/.
