The Crimson Column presented by Mercedes-Benz
4/11/2019 10:30:00 AM | General
Swimming and Diving Coach Dennis Pursley Retires
On Wednesday, Dennis Pursley informed me that he is retiring after 47 years of coaching. He has led our program back into the national conversation, including six-consecutive top-15 national finishes by our men. We sincerely thank Coach Pursley for all he has done to advance our program in his seven years and certainly wish him the best. We also appreciate him staying on as head coach until a replacement has been named.
Bama Blitz Concludes at 8:31 p.m. Tonight
Bama Blitz, the second annual University-wide giving event launched at Noon yesterday and concludes tonight at 8:31 p.m., lasting 1 day, 8 hours and 31 minutes in honor of UA's founding year. With the help of our Crimson Tide supporters, we aim to raise $49,562 – the cost of a full annual athletics scholarship during the event. Through generous matches by Alabama Football legend Jerry Duncan '67, Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc., and an anonymous donor, you can double the impact of your gift to the Crimson Tide Scholarship Fund – the annual scholarship fund for Alabama Athletics.
If you have not already, please consider making a gift to support the education of a deserving student-athlete. If you have donated, thank you! Please share to help others do the same.
Several Sports in Action this Weekend in Tuscaloosa
We've got a host of on-campus competitions going on this weekend in Tuscaloosa, beginning with men's tennis and track and field on Thursday evening. Our men's tennis team hosts Arkansas for its final match of the regular season, while track and field hosts the Crimson Tide Invitational, which will continue on through Friday. Women's tennis welcomes in the Razorbacks on Friday before closing out its regular season on Sunday versus Missouri, and volleyball is slated to take on Jacksonville State at Foster Auditorium Friday night. Football will host its annual Golden Flake A-Day Game on Saturday with lots of events planned around the game, so be sure to check those out! Also, we've got softball in action against Georgia for a three-game series beginning Saturday morning. Plenty of opportunities to come out and support the Tide this weekend!
Rowing Ranked for the First Time in Program History
Our rowing team, under first-year head coach Glenn Putyrae, entered the top 20 for the first time in program history, coming in at No. 18 on March 20. The historic ranking came on the heels of our first sweep over a ranked team in then-No. 16 Indiana. Job well done by all of our student-athletes, coaches and staff. Keep up the great work!
Swimming & Diving Honors
It has been another outstanding season for our swimming and diving teams in the pool. On Wednesday, the SEC office announced that senior Robert Howard had been voted the SEC Male Swimmer of the Year, an honor that followed him being named the SEC Championships Swimmer of the Meet, the SEC Commissioner's Trophy winner and the SEC Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A native of Alexander City, Ala., Robert is the first swimmer in SEC history to earn swimmer and scholar-athlete of the year in the same season. He was also one of 11 UA swimmers and divers to earn SEC honors.
That announcement came after our men posted a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships, paced by Robert, seniors Knox Auerbach and Laurent Bams and junior Zane Waddell combining to win our second 200 medley relay title in the past four years. It was also our fourth national top-10 finish over the last five years.
Our women finished off their NCAA Championships run, the week before the men, on a high note when freshman Kensey McMahon broke the school record in the mile on the way to a seventh-place finish on the meet's final day. Senior Justine Macfarlane closed out her Crimson Tide career in style earlier in the week, scoring in the 100 breaststroke for the second year in a row.
Six Former Football Student-Athletes Named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society
Keaton Anderson, Joshua Casher, Hale Hentges, Derek Kief, Christian Miller and Jonah Williams were named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society on Wednesday, tying Alabama with Vanderbilt for the most honors in the Southeastern Conference. The Hampshire Honor Society, now in its 13th year, recognizes football players who have completed their career the previous season, are starters or significant reserves, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher throughout their college career. Job well done!
SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship Nominees
Robert Howard and soccer player Emma Welch were announced as our nominees for the prestigious H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship which goes to the SEC Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Robert and Emma are both school record holders and CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. The winners will be announced later this month. Swimmer Anton McKee, the 2017 SEC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, was our last winner, giving the most in the 33-year history of the award with 11 honors.
Career Industry Night
Our Student-Athlete Enhancement initiative held its annual Career Industry Night recently, bringing our student-athletes together with representatives from seven different professional paths. Our student-athletes had the opportunity to learn more about careers in their areas of interest from the panelists as well as ask questions of those working in those industries. The professionals in attendance not only provided information about their particular field, but also advice on to how to utilize the skills developed as student-athletes when they move into the work force and what employers are looking for in today's environment. The event concluded with a networking opportunity, providing the opportunity for more in-depth conversations. These kinds of events put on by Jessie Gardner and her staff continue to help build a strong foundation for our student-athletes as they prepare for life beyond the classroom.
Built by Bama: Rita Martin
This month's Built by Bama Service Award went to Rita Martin, our director of gymnastics operations. She's spent more than three decades working for the department and is incredibly deserving of this honor!
University Spotlight
College of Engineering student Peyton Strickland has been named one of Aviation Week's 2019 20 Twenties, which recognizes the top 20 science, technology, engineering and math students in their 20s across the nation and internationally. He is the first UA student to receive this award. Congratulations, Peyton!
#RollTideFriday
Two more great #RollTideFriday submissions this week! Our friend Paul McGuire and his family are still making their way away the world in Alabama gear, this time checking in from Disneyland in Hong Kong. We also have a photo submitted by Kalynn Anderson with gear and shakers in Machu Picchu.
Paul McGuire and family at Disneyland
Kalynn Anderson in Machu Picchu
Remember to use the hashtag #RollTideFriday in your social posts and tweet your photos to me at @Greg_Byrne. We will select two photos to feature in each blog and add even more to our #RollTideFriday Fan Hub.
Upcoming Schedule of Events
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