Alabama Gymnastics Third in Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Faces No. 1 and No. 2 to Open 2017 Season
12/13/2016 1:13:00 PM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -Â The Alabama gymnastics team, which opens the 2017 season on Friday, Jan. 6 at Oklahoma, is ranked third in the preseason coaches' poll.
"This shows that we are once again considered a contender for the national championship," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "That's our goal every year – to be on the floor of the national championships on the last night of the season, with a chance to win."
The Crimson Tide is the only program to finish in the top four nationally each of the last eight seasons, including back-to-back NCAA championships in 2011 and 2012 and a third-place finish in 2016.
The top-three teams mirror last year's NCAA Championship finish, with Oklahoma coming in as the preseason No. 1 for the second year in a row, while 2016 NCAA runner-up LSU is preseason No. 2 and Alabama is No. 3.
The preseason poll also mirrors Alabama's first two meets of the 2017 season. The Tide opens at No. 1 Oklahoma on Jan. 6 and then opens its home season against No. 2 LSU on Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
"There's no doubt we have one of the toughest schedules in the nation this season, especially starting out with No. 1 and No. 2," Duckworth said. "We'll definitely need our fans out in force both at home and on the road. Their support means everything to our ladies, especially when LSU, Florida and Auburn come to Tuscaloosa for our first three home meets."
Season tickets are available now through the Alabama Ticket Office (205.348.2262) located in the lobby of Coleman Coliseum and online at RollTide.com.
UCLA is slotted at No. 4 and the Florida Gators are at No. 5. Utah is No. 6, followed by Michigan at No. 7, Auburn at No. 8, Georgia at No. 9 and California at No. 10.
The SEC once again has five of its eight teams in the top 10 and all eight are in the top 25, with Arkansas coming in at 17th, Missouri at 19th and Kentucky at 21st.
In addition to facing the seven ranked SEC opponents this season and No. 1 Oklahoma, Alabama will also face No. 15 Boise State in Coleman Coliseum.
For all the latest information on Alabama gymnastics, follow BamaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and head coach Dana Duckworth on Twitter and Instagram at @UACoachDana.
