Rowing Opens at the Chattanooga Head Race Saturday
10/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Rowing
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama rowing team opens up its 2010-11 season Saturday at the 18th Chattanooga Head Race on the Tennessee River.
The start of the Crimson Tide's fifth season as an NCAA Division I program finds head coach Larry Davis with the deepest and most talented roster in the program's short history. With that depth, Alabama is looking to get off to a faster start this season and carry that throughout the year.
"Overall the performance that we've had throughout the squad is heads and shoulders above what we had done up to this point in time last season and the quality of our seat racing has been much more consistent this year," Davis said. "The nature of our recent seat races is such that I have greater confidence going into this weekend, knowing we have the right people in the right place."
The Tide is taking 11 boats to the Chattanooga Head Race this weekend, including three Varsity 8+ boats and one Novice 8+ boat. The Tide will also be competing two Varsity 4+ crews as well as three pairs and two double scull boats.
"This week was the first time where we had our first and second boats rowing next to each other and I think the speed that both crews were showing indicates that there is a little more parity between the two crews than in the past, which is indicative of better depth," Davis said.
One of the Tide's goals going into its first competition of the fall is to continue to draw closer to the Tennessee Lady Vols.
"Last year we were within 10 seconds of Tennessee, which is the closest we have gotten to them," Davis said. "I think we have a legitimate shot at pushing them this year and I would like to see us be able to knock our time down by at least half of what the difference was last year."
The Tide gets things started at 9 a.m. Saturday with the Women's College 8+.
