Net News, Volume 12
4/1/2022 1:36:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover
The English idiom "don't judge a book by its cover" is a metaphorical phrase that means one should not judge the worth or value of something by its outward appearance alone. There's certainly a lot of truth to this definition and I'm sure many of us have experienced several times in our lives when we've dug a little deeper and discovered the complete opposite of what our first impressions may have revealed. I personally have three that come to mind…first, being told as a young boy that the cauliflower on my dinner plate really didn't taste that bad but was "good for me"; second, embarking on a "fun 9-mile run" according to my tennis coach freshman year in college that ended with an "easy" mile ascent up a mountain; and third, hearing many thoughts from people about moving from Northern California (Santa Clara University) to the Midwest (Illinois) back to Southern California (USC) and then to the South (Alabama) and discovering so many things about these regions that ended up being very different from the original opinions. So what's my point? Well, a book cover is on the outside and doesn't necessarily tell you the story or the real details that exist on the inside. It could represent a brand, an image or simply make a statement, but until you scratch beneath the surface, one may never know what that cover represents or what the book is all about. Expect the unexpected and keep searching for more information.
I asked our players this week to tell me, what thing(s) did they not know about The University of Alabama or expect from their experience that has left a lasting impression on them since their arrival. Here's a review of their answers…
Enzo Aguiard, Freshman (began in July 2021)
I knew athletics were a big deal at Alabama from what I read or saw on the internet and learned from the coaches during the recruiting process. It wasn't until I was on campus (in the fall), however, that I felt the large amount of attention our sports receive, expectations our sports command and impact our sports programs have in this community, state and across the country. A bit overwhelming but one that I've come to know as truly unique and special.
Rudi Christiansen, Sophomore (began in January 2021)
The people in the South are extremely passionate about their college sports teams. While a lot of this is due to football, the fans of The University of Alabama are loving and so supportive of all sports. The A logo means so much to them and it's a privilege to represent Alabama each day on court.
Joao Ferreira, Sophomore (began in July 2021)
I thought at a big school with a lot of students that it would be tough to gain much support from the professors. I transferred from a smaller university where the numbers in class were a lot different and the relationship with the professors were strong. I discovered here at UA that the professors provide as much help and support as possible whether you're an athlete or a student. This has made a big difference to my academic experience.
Zach Foster, Freshman (began in July 2021)
The people here at Alabama are so helpful and supportive. Whether it's a professor, staff worker, coach or people you meet on campus, everyone wants to help. They have made a big impact in my experience here.
Patrick Kaukovalta, Senior (began in January 2018)
The amount of resources and support for student-athletes is incredible. Whether it's in the classroom or on the competition field or court, we are given so much to succeed. We are still responsible for how we use this support but the resources are there to make us as successful as we choose and the people helping us along the way have a huge hand in this experience.
Juan Martin, Graduate Student (began in July 2021)
I knew about Alabama football before I came here, but once you're here it's something that you've never experienced before. People eat, sleep, drink and live Alabama football and other sports too. They genuinely care a lot about the university and how each team performs. Their passion for the Crimson Tide is incredible.
Filip Planinsek, Freshman (began in July 2021)
Coming from a foreign country, I had no idea what the people would be like outside of the coaches that recruited me. The thing that has really stuck out is how nice and helpful everyone is on campus. While I do get homesick at times, Alabama has become a great home away from home and the people have been the reason.
German Samofalov, Freshman (began in August 2021)
Having played tennis all my life, I figured playing tennis at Alabama would be an easier transition than academics. I traveled a lot in the juniors and school was always the toughest to keep up and stay on schedule. I thought that could be the same here but it really hasn't. The classes, professors and academic support have been so different than I expected. I know this is only my freshman year but school has been a good thing and so too have been the people.
So the "Alabama book" has provided valuable tid-bits well beneath its cover, much like the season has for this new team. A quick glance at our schedule and record would provide one impression or thought. A deeper look into each weekend of competition, however, shows growth, resilience, progress and success. Yes, we all want to win…all of the time…but if the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat are our only measures of success or failure, then this book would be rather thin and provide a CliffsNotes point of view which doesn't tell the whole story. The results, which are out of our control, are based on what we put into the process, which is something we do control.
This weekend's matches represent more opportunities for our squad to improve while also providing fun, entertaining options for your Friday night and Sunday afternoon. We host Texas A&M on Family Night (presented by Whataburger) on Friday at 6 p.m., Arkansas on CRC Cookout Day (presented by the Crimson Racket Club) on Sunday at 1 p.m. and Tennessee Tech later that evening at 5:30 p.m. Plenty of free food, games, prizes, and yes, great tennis, provided for free for all of you.
We welcome groups from the UA Honors College, Christ Episcopal Church, UA Adapted Athletics, Kappa Delta Sorority, UA's Culverhouse College of Business and several other passionate fans that will simply soak up the action and provide the Alabama mojo. Get here early for some food and stay late as the cheers of support are invaluable. As Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden once said "it takes ten hands to score a basket." I'd say it takes many on and off the court to keep the Crimson Tide rolling.
See you this weekend.
Roll Tide,
George
Players Mentioned
