Rowing Opens Home Season Sunday against Drake
3/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - A week after opening its second spring season with a sweep of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, the Alabama Rowing team returns to the Black Warrior River for Sunday's home opener against Drake starting at 9 a.m.
"We're ready to compete at home in front of Alabama fans," Crimson Tide head coach Larry Davis said. "We got off to a strong start last weekend in Chapel Hill and now we have to keep it rolling."
Alabama and Drake will competed in the Varsity 8+, Second Varsity 8+, Novice 8+, Varsity 4+ and Novice 4+ races. Fans can watch the races at several vantage points along the Black Warrior, but the best location is the River Road Park East, which sits near the finish line for Sunday's races. With its multi-tiered slope down to the edge of the river, the park is a natural 'stadium' for the Crimson Tide.
"We'll have music and giveaways down on the river," Davis said. "It should be a great atmosphere, especially if the weather is nice. It's something everyone can enjoy."
After a highly successful start to the Tide's spring season, Davis and the coaching staff are hoping to keep Alabama heading in the right direction.
"With such a young group, we have to guard against the urge to rest on their laurels," Davis said. "We were within a half a second of Drake at the Dad Vail Championships last spring; we have to expect a battle."
Alabama follows its home opener with a road trip to Columbus, Ohio where they will take on Ohio State and Michigan, both of which are expected to make a run at the NCAA finals this year.
"We can't afford to be looking ahead to next weekend," Davis said. "We have to focus in on what's directly ahead of us and go right at Drake if we want to continue our early spring success."
