Swimming and Diving Celebrates Program's 50th Anniversary
9/21/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Sept. 21, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Crimson Tide swimming and diving team gathered at Bryant-Denny Stadium for a team dinner on Friday, but on this particular night, it was Alabama's extended team that was in attendance. As part of Alabama's alumni weekend more than 150 swimming and diving alumni and their families joined with present squad and shared a meal.
Among those in attendance were five members of Alabama's very first team who were back on campus, some for the first time in more than 25 years, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the program's first season. Stroud Curran, Durham Ellis, Harold Hagler, Bay Lott and Stan Walker represented the 1959-60 team and their coach, the late John Foster, not only at the dinner, but the next day at the Alabama-Arkansas game as well where they were recognized on the field to the deafening roar of 92,000-plus Crimson Tide fans.
"It was a tremendous weekend for our team, who got to meet and spend time with the some of the guys that started this legacy, those that laid the foundation for all the success Alabama has enjoyed over the last 50 years," Alabama head coach Eric McIlquham said. "It was also great for us to see those pioneers of this program get recognized in such a positive way."
During the Friday night dinner, all five men spoke, sharing stories that alternated between laugh out loud funny and poignant and each gave the same advice to the current team - enjoy every minute of their time at the Capstone.
Each man also recognized the impact that coach Foster had on their lives. Foster, who passed away in 2003, at age 84, led the Tide for 14 seasons, during which time Alabama amassed a 124-40 dual meet record. His teams finished no lower than third in the Southeastern Conference after the Tide's second season, including four runner-up finishes and his swimmers won 21 individual SEC titles.
