UAB at a Glance

UAB At A Glance

UAB is a young, dynamic university that has, over four decades, won international renown for its leading-edge research, medical care and academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Home to more than 16,800 students and 2,000 faculty members, UAB impacts every facet of the Birmingham community, improving the lives of residents through innovative health care, education, and active service and engagement. On a campus encompassing 86 city blocks, breakthroughs are made daily in the arts and sciences, business, dentistry, education, engineering, health professions, medicine, nursing, optometry and public health.

Bharat Soni, one of America’s top computing experts and a UAB engineering professor, has created a high- performance virtual reality lab on campus.

UAB is a young, dynamic university that has, over four decades, won international renown for its leading-edge research, medical care and academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

• The Princeton Review ranks UAB among the top 15 percent of allU.S. universities and third in “diverse student population.” UAB also ranks 11th in “happiest students” and 14th for “best athletic facilities.” UAB enriches Birmingham’s cultural • An exciting nexus of the sciences, business and education, and the arts and landscape through a diversity of people humanities, UAB is forging the ideas and technologies of tomorrow with and activities such as athletics, perform- intensely collaborative research and scholarship. It’s where creativity and inno- ing arts, theatre, social service, and vation are campus traditions—and where successful futures begin. much more. 2004 Blazer Football www.uab.edu Top-Quality Health Care • For the 20th straight year, U.S. News & World Report ranked UAB in its “Best Hospitals” issue, in which only 3 percent of hospitals nationwide — and none other in Alabama — are represented.

• For 10 consecutive years, UAB has received the National Research Corporation “Consumer Choice Award” recognizing the nation’s 250 top hospitals, and more than two-thirds of all Alabama physicians listed in Best Doctors in America practice at UAB

• UAB Hospital is one of only 17 hospitals in the Southeast, and the only one in Alabama, to attain the elite “Magnet” designation for nursing excellence.

• UAB is a national leader in organ transplantation. Its organ survival rates are among the best in the nation, patient survival rates exceed the national average, and waiting time for transplant is among the shortest nationally.

•For eight straight years, UAB has been named among “Healthcare’s 100 Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems,” by the American Hospital Association.

• The UAB School of Health Professions provides advanced opportunities and is one of the largest schools of its types in the nation, with 21 innovative programs at the baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degree levels within six departments: Critical Care, Diagnostic and Therapeautic Sciences; Health Services Administration; Nutrition Sciences; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Therapy. U.S. News & World Report ranks several SHP programs among the nation‘s top 25.

• UAB Kirklin Clinic is a state-of-the-art, full-service clinic that furnishes a full range of adult outpatient care. Housing more than 25 specialties and more than 700 specialists under one roof, UAB Kirklin Clinic conveniently provides in-house diagnostic testing, surgery services, a pharmacy and educational seminars. • Several graduate programs at UAB have been recognized for excellence nationally. In the most recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report of graduate programs, the School of Nursing ranks 26th overall, with the School of Medicine being 27th and the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics 58th. Individual programs also have been cited, with the AIDS program within the School of Medicine ranked 5th and the School of Health Profession’s health administration program ranked 7th. A Leading-Edge Research Enterprise • UAB is ranked 27th nationally for federal research and development • UAB’s Comprehensive Cancer Center funding, attracting some $486 million in 2009, and is 20th in funding was one of the nation’s first such centers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). designated by the National Cancer Institute and remains the only one in Alabama and • UAB is among only 96 institutions (public or private) to achieve the a six-state region. It is currently among the Carnegie Foundation’s highest classification for “research activity,” and nation’s best in translating research findings among only a handful to achieve both the research and community into new treatments and therapies. engagement classifications.

• Physician-researchers are at the top of their fields, serving as editors- • NIH has designated UAB as one of only in-chief of 25 peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals, and as six Diabetes Research and Training Centers in the country, putting the President-Elect of the American Cancer Society and a key advisor on university at the forefront in development of new methods to treat, President Obama’s H1N1 advisory panel, among other posts. prevent and, ultimately, cure diabetes. • UAB is one of only two academic institutions available nationwide receiving requests for Crew Robotics and Vehicle Equipment (CRAVE) for NASA’s International Challenging, Distinctive Space Station, space shuttles, and beyond. Lee Moradi, CRAVE program manager in the Center for Biophysical Academic Programs Science and Engineering, says UAB will design, test, and manufacture high-precision research instruments and ther- • UAB offers one-of-a-kind programs, such as the only undergraduate mal carriers, he also foresees additional work to develop biomedical engineering degree and the only nursing Ph.D. in the state; extravehicular activity and robotics equipment, crew health the only industrial distribution degree in the Southeast; and one of and conditioning systems, and environmental control and only four forensic accounting and IT degrees in the nation. life-support technology. • The acclaimed UAB Honors Academy enrolled a record 622 students in 2009, offering unrivaled research and scholarship opportunities and tailored courses of study.

• UAB’s Alys Stephens Center is Birmingham’s home for the perform- ing arts, with a 1,330-seat concert hall, intimate recital hall and state- of-the-art theatres. With 24 Steinway pianos in its music department, UAB was Alabama’s first “All-Steinway School” and one of only 100 in the world.

• Among the UAB graduate programs currently ranked in the U.S. News “Best Graduate Schools” issue are the School of Medicine’s AIDS program (9th) and the Health Administration master’s program in the school of health professions (7th).

• The School of Nursing is designated as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for International Nursing, one of only 10 such centers in the U.S. and 45 in the world.

• The Scientist ranked UAB 24th nationally in its top 40 “Best Places to Work as a Postdoctoral Fellow” issue (up from 56th in 2008).

• Just in the past three years, UAB students earned 8 Goldwater Scholarships, 6 Fulbright scholarships, 3 Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships, and the NIH-Oxford-Cambridge Scholarship, one of only 20 in the nation. Athletic Achievements • Former UAB men’s golfer Graeme McDowell (right) won the U.S. Open in • The UAB women’s soccer team has won the 2010. At UAB, he was the nation’s No. 1-ranked collegiate golfer in 2002. C-USA Tournament title twice in the past four years, and also earned NCAA berths in 2004 • Blazer football earned its first postseason bowl appearance with the berth in the and ‘06. In 2005, the UAB women captured the 2004 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Blazers have finished as Conference USA run- C-USA regular season title. ner-up three times since they became a football-playing member of the league. • The Blazers field 16 intercollegiate teams asa • In 30 seasons of competition, the Blazer men’s basketball team has enjoyed 26 Division I member of the NCAA and a founding winning seasons, has made 22 trips to postseason tournaments (13 NCAA, 9 member of Conference USA. NIT), and has won seven conference championships. With the 2006 invitation, the Blazers earned NCAA berths in three consecutive seasons. UAB advanced to • Vonetta Flowers, a former UAB track & field All- the NCAA’s Sweet 16 in 2004, knocking off tournament No. 1 seed Kentucky American, made history in February of 2002 when in the second round. she won a Gold Medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. Flowers became the • During the 2006 fall season, three UAB women’s teams captured C-USA first Winter Olympics Gold Medalist ever from championships. The Blazer volleyball and soccer teams won tournament crowns, Alabama when she teamed with Jill Bakken to cap- while the cross country squad also claimed a league title. ture the two-woman bobsled competition.

• The men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fifth time overall in 2006. The team won the 1999 C-USA Championship and advanced to the NCAA Final 8.

www.uabsports.com BLAZERS Football

UAB Administration Dr. Carol Garrison, President

AB President and Hill. She was a faculty member, department chair, dean and Hazelrig-Salter Radiation-Oncology Facility. Ualumna Carol Gar- and provost at the University of South Carolina (1982- The growth of the physical campus and academic rison has had an extraordi- 1997). She joined the University of Louisville as provost programs has been guided by UAB’s Strategic Plan. nary view of her alma mater. in 1997 and was appointed interim president there in Developed with campus-wide participation in 2003, She took her first full-time early 2002. the Strategic Plan has led to the recruitment of interna- job in UAB Hospital, dur- As president of UAB, Dr. Garrison also chairs tionally known faculty and physicians, and the creation ing the university’s forma- the board of the UAB Health System, which includes of innovative new curricula and honors programs for tive years in the 1970s, then UAB Hospital, The Kirklin Clinic, and other of UAB’s undergraduates. In fall 2009, UAB saw its largest enroll- earned her master’s degree nationally-ranked patient care facilities. ment ever (16,874), and is again ranked among the top from UAB. When she returned to campus in fall 2002, During Dr. Garrison’s tenure, UAB has enjoyed 15% of all U.S. universities in The Princeton Review as UAB’s sixth president, the young, dynamic institu- remarkable growth and development. Recent years (3rd in diverse student population and 11th in student tion had evolved into a world-renowned research uni- have seen the opening of state-of-the-art facilities such satisfaction). versity and medical center. as the North Pavilion of UAB Hospital and the Shelby Now in her eighth year as president, Dr. Garrison A Montclair, New Jersey native, Dr. Garrison Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Building, the continues working in partnership with the campus and earned her bachelor’s (1974) and Ph.D. in epidemiology burgeoning Campus Green along University Boulevard, the community towards an extraordinary vision for (1982) from the University of North Carolina-Chapel and most recently, the UAB Women & Infants Center UAB and for Birmingham. Brian Mackin, Athletics Director

rian Mackin was student-athletes accounted for nearly 25 percent of raiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic B named UAB’s Direc- Conference USA Scholar-Athletes of the Year, awards Development Directors. Under Mackin’s leadership, tor of Athletics on February that are handed out annually to the top student-athlete contributions to UAB athletics nearly tripled from 14, 2007. He moved into in each sport that the league sponsors. $1.3 million in 2001 to about $3.7 million in 2006. the position after spending Since Mackin became athletics director, he has Additionally, he has been responsible for the creation five years as senior associate made facility improvements another objective of empha- of several affinity groups including the Athletic Inves- athletic director for external sis. A new 10,000-square foot weight room has opened tors Group, the Champion Club, and the Blazer Club, affairs for the Blazers. for Blazer teams, as well as a new, spacious, state-of which brought together the two annual funds support- A former UAB base- the-art athletic training facility which opened in the fall ing football and men’s basketball. ball letterman, Mackin has a deep-rooted passion for of 2008. With the renovation of the Ullman Building, Prior to joining UAB, Mackin served as Manager the University and its athletics program. With an eye the Blazers’ Olympic sports coaches have been able to of Corporate Business Development at Vulcan Materi- on the future, his commitment to continue to grow the relocate into brand new offices. als, where he was responsible for examining potential program has been clear in the time since he became Other facilities improvements have included the new markets for business development and locating athletics director. resurfacing of the track for the Blazers’ track and field growth opportunities in the industry. He has made success in the classroom and improv- team. This past spring, the first phase of the new, Mackin earned his bachelor’s degree in finance ing athletic facilities two of his top priorities. Mackin on-campus UAB softball facility was completed. The from UAB in 1983. He was a member of the Blazer was able to secure the first-ever naming rights for the improvements haven’t gone unnoticed as UAB has been baseball team four seasons and then moved into the athletics program with the generous gift from Don named as host site for the 2012 Conference USA Soft- Houston Astros baseball organization for one season. and Marsha Hire for the Hoke Hire Student-Athlete ball Championship. Mackin then joined Vulcan Materials, where he Academic Center. With the opening of the Academic The baseball and softball programs also enjoyed held management positions in sales and market analysis. Center, an abundance of new computer equipment has the hitting and pitching facility additions that were In 1990, he joined Southern Ready Mix as sales man- been added. Mackin has also strengthened the aca- completed last spring. ager before joining Dunn Construction in 1993 where demic area by creating additional staff positions. New state-of-the-art videoboards are now in place he rose to vice president in 1999. His responsibilities Under Mackin’s watch, the Academic Reform in Bartow Arena, Young Memorial Field and the new included business development, sales and project man- Group (ARG) was initiated. This group is made up softball facility. agement. of athletics staff members and academic support staff. The upgrades and progress of the program under Mackin’s community activities include the Bir- With its mission to create an environment of academic Mackin have not been limited to facilities and academ- mingham Tip-Off Club, which hosts the State High excellence in the department, the group addresses every ics. In the last three years, the athletics program entered School Final Four, the Monday Morning Quarterback aspect of a student-athlete’s experience while at UAB. an agreement with Nike that provides apparel and Club and the Birmingham Rotary Club. He has served Mackin has also demonstrated his commitment equipment for all of UAB’s athletics teams. as the president of the Birmingham Tip-Off Club. to academic success by initiating a penalty structure for Mackin came on board at UAB in the spring of Mackin and his wife, Sally, have five children: student-athletes and making them accountable if they 2002 as senior associate AD for external affairs. In that Ragland (22), Brian Jr. (20), Ferrell (17), Mary Aileen miss classes or tutorial sessions. role, he was responsible for fund-raising, corporate sup- (16), and Ella (13). Mackin’s commitment to academics has shown port and marketing for the athletic department. positive results. For the 2009-10 academic year, UAB In 2006, Mackin was named Division I-A Fund-

186 2010 UAB Football BLAZERS Football

UAB Administration Dr. Frank Messina, Faculty Athletics Representative

r. Frank M. Mes- ulty athletics representative in 2008. He has been accountancy at MSU in 1990 and a bachelor’s Dsina, professor and on staff at the university for 16 years. in business administration at the University of chair of the University of Messina has been chair of ACIS since 2002 West Alabama in 1986. Alabama at Birmingham and is the school’s Ernst & Young Scholar. A Messina and his wife, Natalie, have two sons: (UAB) Department of Birmingham native, he came to UAB in 1993 as Taylor (18) and TJ (8). A third son, Thomas, Accounting and Infor- an assistant professor in accounting. passed away last spring at the age of 15. mation Systems (ACIS) He received a doctorate in business adminis- in the UAB School of tration (D.B.A.) from Mississippi State Univer- Business, was named fac- sity (MSU) in 1993, a master’s in professional

Senior Administrative Staff

Shannon Ealy Derita Ratcliffe Andy Hollis Chad Jackson Danez Marrable Senior Associate AD for Senior Associate AD Associate AD for Associate AD Associate AD for External Affairs Senior Woman Administrator Financial Affairs for Compliance Student Services

Sam Miller Norm Reilly Matt Wildt Mike Jones Reid Adair Stacey Torman Associate AD for Associate AD for Associate AD for Assistant AD for Manager of Director of Marketing Media Relations Ticket Operations & Athletic Training Facilities and Operations Strength and Conditioning Football Administration

187 2010 UAB Football Gene Bartow Alabama Sports Hall Of Fame ’89 National College Basketball Hall Of Fame ’09

ne of the most respected figures in intercol- Olegiate athletics, Gene Bartow, forged the UAB athletic program into a well-rounded organization with outstanding teams in several sports. Bartow, considered the “founding father” of UAB athletics, grew the intercollegiate sports program there from its infancy into one that featured 17 sports and an annual operating budget of more than $8 million by the time he retired from the position in 2000. Among his achievements were guiding the program through three conference changes, growing the football team from a club sport into a Division I-A program, and adding several women’s sports to the university’s athletics roster. Bartow was at the helm of the UAB men’s basketball program for 18 seasons, compiling a record of 366-203 (.643) during his tenure. He led the Blazers to the NIT in the program’s second year of existence, and followed that up with seven straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1981 and the Elite Eight in 1982. In all, he led UAB to 14 postseason appearances, nine of which were NCAA Tournaments. In addition to his time at UAB, Bartow is one of the top college basketball coaches of all time. By the time he retired from collegiate coaching in 1996, he had led teams for 34 years at six universities (Central Missouri State, Valparaiso, Memphis State, Illinois, UCLA and UAB), compiling 647 wins, 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Final Four appearances, one national title game appearance and one national Coach of the Year Award (both with Memphis State in 1973), and no probation problems with the NCAA. The Browning, Missouri native coached 34 years at six universities. He coached at Central Missouri State University from 1961-64, Valparaiso University from 1964-1970, Memphis State University from 1970-74, and he led the Tigers to the ‘73 NCAA national championship game and consecutive Missouri Valley Conference “Founding Father” titles in the ‘71-’72 and ‘72-’73 seasons. In 1974 Bartow of UAB Athletics accepted the head coaching position at the University of Illinois. Illinois finished 8-18 in his only season coaching • UAB head basketball coach (1977-96) the Fighting Illini, and Bartow left his position to suc- • UAB’s first Athletics Director (1977-2000) ceed John Wooden as the head coach of UCLA. Bartow • Nine NCAA Tournament appearances at UAB coached at UCLA from 1975 to 1977, guiding them to • 14 postseason appearances during 18-year a 52-9 record, including a berth in the 1976 Final Four. coaching career at UAB Bartow left UCLA after the 1977 season to take over the • 11 20-win seasons during UAB coaching job of creating an athletic program at UAB. career tenure Bartow retired from coaching in 1996, and in 1997, • 647 career coaching victories UAB renamed its basketball venue, Bartow Arena, in his • 366 victories at UAB honor. The Birmingham News has voted him one of • Led UAB to NCAA Sweet 16 in 1981 and the top 10 most influential figures in Alabama sports Elite Eight appearance in 1982 for the past century. • Voted by the Birmingham News as one of the Bartow and his wife, the former Ruth Huffine, have top-10 influential figures in Alabama sports three children, Mark, Beth and Murry, who is the head over the past century men’s basketball coach at East Tennessee State.

188 2010 UAB Football EXCELLENCE Deanna Jackson At The Next Level Years At UAB: 1998-2002 • First and only UAB player Graeme McDowell selected in the WNBA Draft, chosen Years At UAB: 1999-2002 eighth overall by the Cleveland Rock- • Captured the 2010 U.S. Open Cham- ers in 2002 pionship – the first major title by a former • Competed with USA Basketball UAB golfer and the first U.S. Open win by a on the 2000 Jones Cup Team that European player in nearly 40 years won the Gold in Taipei • Has won six professional tourna- • Only women’s basketball player ments, five of which have come on the in C-USA and UAB history to record more than 2,000 career European Tour points and 1,000 career rebounds • A member of Europe’s Ryder • Two-time C-USA Player of the Year (2000-01, 2001-02) Cup Team in 2008 and has now and the league’s Freshman of the Year in 1999 all but assured himself a spot to • UAB career leader in rebounds (1,118) and ranks second represent his continent in the same in school history in points (2,144) event 2010. • First-team All-America selection Bryan Thomas and C-USA Golfer of the Year in 2001 Years At UAB: 1998-2001 and 2002 • Selected No. 22 overall by the • Winner of the 2002 Fred Haskins New York Jets in 2002, becoming the Award, given annually to the nation’s Blazers’ highest-ever NFL draft pick top collegiate golfer • Entering his ninth year as a Jet with 125 career games played, compiling 78 Roddy White starts, 384 tackles, 25 sacks, six forced Years At UAB: 2001-04 fumbles and five fumble recoveries • Drafted No. 27 overall by the • Ranks as UAB’s all-time leader Atlanta Falcons in 2005 in career sacks (36) and tackles for loss (56) • Became the first UAB alum to • Led the “Steel Shield” defense in 2001, which topped earn an invitation to the NFL Pro the nation in rushing defense (57.3 yards per game) and Bowl, receiving the nod in back-to- was ranked No. 5 in the nation in total defense (265.9 yards back seasons (2008 and 2009) per game) • First Falcon ever to have 80 catches and 1,100-plus yards in three straight seasons (2007-09) Dejan Jakovic • Collected 71 receptions for an NCAA-leading Years At UAB: 2005-07 and C-USA-record 1,452 yards and a C-USA- • A starting defender for D.C. record 14 touchdowns as a senior in 2004 United in Major League Soccer • Ranks second in the UAB record books in career • Formerly played for Red Star receptions (163), receiving yards (3,112) and Belgrade in Serbia’s First Division receiving touchdowns (26) • Has made 10 international appearances for the Canadian Nation- Vonetta (Jeffrey) Flowers al Team Years At UAB: 1992-95 • A three-time all-conference • Made history at the 2002 Winter Olym- selection at UAB pics in Salt Lake City, becoming the first and • Twice earned first-team all-region honors only former UAB athlete to earn an Olympic Gold Medal Chris Hammond • Captured the Gold in the bobsled as Years At UAB: 1985 the first black athlete (male or female in any • Drafted in 1986 by Cincinnati country) to win a gold medal at the Winter Reds and made major league debut Olympics in 1990 • Selected to carry the • Pitched 14 seasons in the major American flag in the 2002 leagues, including four with the Reds closing ceremonies and five with the Florida Marlins, • Honored as the 2002 finishing his career with an overall USOC Team of the Year with record of 66-62 and a 4.14 ERA teammate Jill Bakken • Pitched in the 2003 World Series with the New York • All-American in track & Yankees field at UAB, where she still • Known more as a hitter at UAB, posting a .275 average holds numerous school records with 32 runs scored and 16 RBI in 1985

189 2010 UAB Football Men’s Basketball Men’s Tennis • Three All-Americans • 13 NCAA Tournament and 10 • Six All-Americans • 1992 Women’s Great Midwest NIT appearances • Three Academic All-Americans Conference Cross Country • Seven conference championships • Five NCAA Tournament Champions • 27 winning seasons in 32 years appearances (1993, 1995, 1996, • Two Olympic Trials Qualifiers • 20 20-win seasons in 32 years 1997, 2000) • Cross Country conference • Three Sweet 16 appearances • Top-30 ranking from 1993-2000 champions, 2006 • Four All-Americans • Five conference championships • 2005 Individual Cross Country (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995) C-USA Champion Football • Eight-time USTFCCCA • First bowl game appearance in Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team 2004 (7-5 record) • Four conference championships • First “bowl-eligible” season with (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996) Softball 7-4 overall record in 2000 • Six national rankings (1994, • NCAA Tournament participant • Played first season at Division I-A 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) (2010) level in 1996; now competes as a • Top-ranked singles player in • 38 All-Conference USA selections member of Conference USA nation (Mirela Vladules- • 17 C-USA All-Freshman team • Roddy White selected in first cu-1997-98) selections round of 2005 NFL draft • One All-American • Seven Academic All-Americans (No. 27 overall) • 18 NFCA All-American • Bryan Thomas selected in first Volleyball Scholar Athletes round of 2002 NFL draft (No. • Two-time NCAA Tournament • Five athletes named Louisville 22 overall) participant (2006 and 2008) Slugger/NFCA Division I All- • Eight All-Americans • Four conference championships Region (1990, 1991, 1992, 2006) Men’s Soccer • Five WIVC postseason appearances Rifle • NCAA Tournament participant (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) • One C-USA Shootout third place (1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006) • Two Academic All-Americans finisher • 1999 NCAA Tournament Elite • Two AVCA All-America honor- • 1997-98 Individual fifth place Eight and 2001 NCAA Tourna- able mention honorees (Ivana finisher at C-USA Championship ment Sweet 16 Bozic - 2006 and 2008; Nevena • Three conference championships Stefanov - 2008) Women’s Golf (1994, 1995, 1999) • Seven All-Conference USA • Eight All-Americans Men’s Golf Selections • 2001, 2002 and 2008 NCAA • C-USA Freshman of the Year Women’s Basketball Championship Participant • 2000 NCAA Sweet 16 participant • NCAA Regional Participants Women’s Soccer • Four conference championships 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, • UAB Academic Award (1997, (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994) 2006, 2007 and 2008 1998, 2000) • NCAA Tournament participant • 2008 Conference USA • 60 All-Conference USA (1994, 2000) Champions Selections • Four-time WNIT participant • 1995 Great Midwest Conference • Six Academic All-America (1990, 1991, 2001, 2007) Champions Selections • Four All-Americans • No. 1-ranked golfer and Fred • Five All-Americans Haskings Award winner (Graeme • Three conference championships Baseball McDowell) (2003, 2004, 2006) • Three conference championships • Six All-Americans • Two NCAA Tournament appear- (1991, 1992, 1994) ances (2004, 2006) • 1991 NCAA Tournament Track & Field/ participant Cross Country • Shayne Carnes (1998) and Ryan • 2002 Cross Country NCAA Keedy (2008) named All-Ameri- All-Academic Team cans by multiple publications • 1995 Great Midwest Conference • Four All-Americans Women’s Indoor & Outdoor Champions Blazer Highlights

190 2010 UAB Football All-AmericansUAB

Men’s Basketball Men’s Soccer Track/ Academic All-Americans Jerome Mincy Clint Baumstark Cross Country Steve Mitchell Peter Byaruhanga Elizabeth Ambrus Baseball Men’s Soccer Stacey Jackson Oliver Robinson Leandro de Oliveira Vonetta Flowers Brent Laircey Lane Knight Stephanie Jackson Tony McManus Angela King Loucas Papaconstantinou Rebecca Johnson Football Flavio Monteiro Men’s Kristen Kramer Rodregis Brooks Rumbani Munthali Men’s Golf Basketball Women’s Soccer Stacy Leiker Cedrick Buchannon Marin Pusek Paul Dickinson Carter Long Danielle Blair Karen Meyer Josh Evans Houston Smith Graeme McDowell Brianna McCarty Sara Petrov Kerry Frazier Garrett Osborn Football Robert Leslie Women’s Soccer Zack Sucher Lisa Nowoslawski Sarah Pikal Derrick Ingram Tara Kidwell Johnny Rea Denise Peters Moraine Ruddick John Whitcomb Synchronized Jill Porto Hallie Todd Roddy White Men’s Tennis Swimming Volleyball Vanessa Woodward Gerd Albiez Morgan Clarke Suzie Johnson Softball Women’s Mike Kirsten Meryl Grandia Patti Schroder Synchronized Amanda Byrne Basketball Paul Rosner Amanda Haeuser Swimming Allison Davis Wanda Hightower Frank Schaffner Stephanie Jackson Men’s Tennis Vanessa Dash Amanda Ellis Deanna Jackson Vaughn Snyman Stacey Jackson Sebastian Falk Andrea Dash Candice Hithe Martin Woisetschläger Margareta Jakovac Frank Schaffner Kelli Dickerson Kris Lara Baseball Stacy Leiker Martin Woisetschläger Amanda Haeuser Emily Scarbrough Shayne Carnes Women’s Tennis Sara Petrov Frances Halloran Megan Stephenson Jay Cole Mirela Vladulescu Hallie Todd Mitch Jones Bogdana Zareva Ryan Keedy

Steve Ryan Mitchell Keedy

Elizabeth Flavio Ambrus Monteiro

191 2010 UAB Football Proud Past Bright Future

Summer, 1977: Coach Gene Bartow is hired as UAB’s first intercollegiate Athletics Director and head basketball coach. Preparations begin for the hiring of coaches and support staff, recruitment of student-athletes, establishment of the Golden 100 scholarship foundation, scheduling, etc. Fall, 1978: UAB athletic teams begin intercollegiate competition for the first time; the university begins an 11-year association with the Sun Belt Conference. Nov. 24, 1978: The UAB men’s basketball team plays its first game, a 66-54 loss to Nebraska before a crowd of 14,800 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center; UAB has gone on to win 20 or more games 15 times, appear in 11 NCAA Tournaments and eight NITs. March, 1981: The Blazer men’s basketball team defeats Kentucky in the NCAA Mideast Regional, and reaches the NCAA “Sweet 16.” This appearance marks the beginning of a streak of seven consecutive NCAA Tournaments for UAB (1981-87). March, 1982: UAB adds to its amazing basketball success story, defeating Indiana and Virginia in the Southeast Regional, and reaching the NCAA “Elite Eight.” The Southeast Regional in Birmingham is the first of five NCAA Tournament events to be hosted by UAB (’82, ’84, ’85, ’87, ’88). March, 1989: Blazer basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Michigan State for third place at Madison Square Garden. Fall, 1989: The UAB club football team is orga- nized; the team goes 0-6 in its first season. 1990-91: The Blazer baseball team wins its first Sun Belt Conference Championship and becomes the first UAB team other than men’s basketball to participate in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s tennis wins the first of five consecutive conference championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest Conferences. Volleyball wins the first of three consecutive championships in the Sun Belt and Great Midwest conferences and makes its first of four consecutive post-season appearances. 1991-92: UAB begins competition in the Great Midwest Confer- ence. The UAB football team begins its first season of varsity play at the Division III level. Blazer volleyball and baseball win the first Great Midwest Championship. UAB places its first men’s tennis players, Frank Schaffner and Karl Steffen, in NCAA Tournament play. 1992-93: Men’s basketball reaches the NIT Final Four, defeating Alabama, Clemson, Southwest Missouri State and Providence. The nationally-ranked UAB men’s tennis team participates in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Blazer volleyball, cross country and tennis teams all win Great Midwest Conference championships. January, 1993: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-AA level, beginning with the 1993 season. 1993-94: Blazer teams win six league championships, and UAB wins the Great Midwest Conference Commissioner’s Cup, awarded to the university with the most successful overall athletics program. The Blazer basketball team goes 14-0 vs. GMW opponents and makes its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Men’s basketball is nationally-ranked and participates in the NCAA Tournament. August, 1994: UAB announces that its football program will compete at the NCAA I-A level and that the school will field a women’s soccer team beginning with the 1996 season.

192 2010 UAB Football 1994-95: UAB soccer wins the Great Midwest Conference championship and participates in the NCAA Tournament. UAB wins GMW championship in men’s and women’s tennis, women’s indoor track & field, women’s outdoor track & field and men’s golf. April 24, 1995: UAB becomes a charter member of Conference USA. March 26, 1996: One era ends and another begins as coach Gene Bartow steps down as head men’s basketball coach. November 14, 1996: Conference USA announces that UAB has been admitted as a football-playing member; the Blazers will begin C-USA play in 1999. 1997-98: UAB freshman Mirela Vladulescu takes the women’s collegiate tennis world by storm, winning both the ITA Clay Court National Championship and Riviera Women’s All-America Championship; she is the first UAB tennis player to win a collegiate grand slam event. Vladulescu will later be the top- ranked player in the NCAA rankings for much of the 1997-98 season. The men’s golf team receives a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. 1998-99: The Blazer men’s basketball team makes its 10th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Mirela Vladulescu returns to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, despite an injury-plagued season. 1999-00: UAB athletics has arguably its best season to date. The UAB football team becomes an official member of Conference USA and goes 4-2 in conference play during its inaugural season. The UAB men’s soccer team wins the Conference USA Championship and reaches the NCAA “Elite Eight”. Synchronized swimming finishes fourth in the country at the U.S. Col- legiate Championships in its inaugural season. Women’s basketball reaches the “Sweet 16,” the men’s tennis team makes its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance and men’s golf makes its second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years. July 10, 2000: Gene Bartow announces his retirement as athletics director after 23 years of service to the university. August 22, 2000: Herman Frazier is named UAB’s second athletics director. Sept. 23, 2000: In what was arguably the greatest win in UAB football history, the Blazers go to Baton Rouge, La. and upset SEC foe LSU, 13-10, on a game-winning field goal by Rhett Gallego in the waining seconds. 2000-01: Led by sophomore All-American Graeme McDowell, the men’s golf team finished ninth in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to its first NCAA Championship at Duke University, where it garnered a tie The final score read 13-10 as the UAB for 12th place. Senior women’s tennis player Mirela Vladulescu finished off a four-year football program earned its signature career as one of the most successful athletes in UAB history. The men’s soccer team made victory at LSU on Sept. 23, 2000. it to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The football team finished 7-4 overall, becoming the first “bowl-eligible” Blazer squad since UAB moved to the NCAA I-A level in 1996. The women’s basketball team, led by junior All-American Deanna Jackson, finished the season 20-11 and advanced to the WNIT. In just its second season, the synchronized swimming team placed fourth at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and eighth at the U.S. Nationals. 2001-02: Led by All-American Graeme McDowell, who was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the nation, the UAB men made their third consecutive appearance (fourth overall) in the NCAA Tournament. The Blazer football squad again boasted another “bowl eligible” season, as the team went 6-5 in 2001. The men’s soccer team made its third consecutive trip (fourth overall) to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the “Sweet 16.” The UAB softball team had its best season to date, advancing to the C-USA Championship game and boasting a 39-22 overall record. Denise Peters and Lisa Nowoslawski of the women’s soccer team were both named Verizon Academic All-Americans. In addition, Peters was named the C-USA Women’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. Synchronized swimming earned its highest finish to date at the U.S. Collegiate Championships, taking third. Four swimmers received Academic All-America honors and three swimmers were named All- Americans by the U.S. Synchronized Swimming Coaches Committee. April 4, 2002: Athletics Director Herman Frazier and UAB President Ann Reyn- olds announce the hiring of Mike Anderson as UAB’s third men’s basketball coach. November 21, 2002: Watson Brown is named UAB‘s third athletics director. Mirela Vladulesu took the collegiate tennis 2002-03: In his first season at the helm of the men’s basketball program, Mike world by storm and was the top-ranked Anderson guided the Blazers to a 21-win season and a quarterfinal finish in the NIT. Lisa women’s tennis player in the country Nowoslawski capped off her career for the women’s soccer program by earning several pres- for much of the 1997-98 season. tigious academic awards, including an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the C-USA Post-

193 2010 UAB Football season Scholarship Award and first-team Verizon second coach to lead the Blazers since becoming a / CoSIDA Academic All-America honors for the Division I program in 1996. second straight year. The synchronized swimming Spring, 2007: Zack Sucher matched UAB’s team posted its second straight third-place finish at highest finish ever at the NCAA Men’s Golf the U.S. Collegiate Championships and recorded a Championships, closing the tournament tied for fourth place finish, its highest to date, at the U.S. fourth place with a five-under 275 during four National Championships. Six swimmers received rounds of play. Sucher became just the fourth Academic All-America honors and three swimmers UAB men’s golfer in program history to earn All- were named All-Americans by the U.S. Synchro- American status, nabbing a spot on the honorable nized Swimming Coaches Committee. mention All-America team. In addition, the men’s Sept. 4, 2003: The UAB football team The 2006 UAB volleyball team won the golf team made its fifth NCAA Regional appear- plays host to Southern Miss in front of the biggest Conference USA Tournament title and ance in the past eight years. crown in UAB history, and the most people ever competed in the program’s first-ever February 14, 2007: Former UAB baseball to watch a Conference USA football game when NCAA Division I Tournament. player and alumnus Brian Mackin was selected as 44,669 people flocked to Legion Field. the program’s fourth full-time Athletics Director. October 31, 2003: With a dominat- Spring, 2008: UAB men’s golf team cap- ing 2-0 win on the road against USF, the UAB tures the program’s first-ever Conference USA women’s soccer team earned its first Conference Championship. The Blazers went on to make USA Championship and set the school record for the program’s seventh NCAA Regional and third shutouts in a season with nine. The Blazers’ Tara NCAA National Championship appearances. Kidwell and Jill Knottek each scored second half Zack Sucher was tabbed second-team All-Amer- goals to lead UAB to its momentous victory. ica and captured four individual titles during the March, 2004: The UAB men’s basketball 2007-08 men’s golf season. team shocks the college basketball world with its May 21, 2008: The UAB baseball team 76-75 upset over top-seeded Kentucky to advance In 2006, the UAB women’s soccer team made history by recording the program’s first-ever to the “Sweet 16” of the NCAA Tournament. entered the Conference USA Tourna- win over the then-No. 5 Rice Owls, 8-2, in the The Blazers would finish the season with a 22-10 ment as the No. 7 seed and went opening round of the Conference USA Tour- overall record and ranked No. 23 in the country. on to claim its second C-USA nament. Not only did the Blazers defeat Also, the Blazers’ 12-4 record in Conference USA the Owls for the first time in 10 tries, earned them a share of the first C-USA regular country. The UAB cross country team but it also was the second-highest ranked season championship. Head coach Mike Ander- won the conference championship opponent the baseball team has son was also named the 2004 Conference USA and head coach Ray Stanfield was defeated in program history. Coach of the Year. named C-USA Coach of the The Blazers would go on to Spring, 2004: The synchronized swim- Year. The women’s soccer team match their best-ever result ming team posted is third straight third-place ran through the C-USA Tour- in the C-USA Tourna- finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championships and nament, and earned a berth ment, making it to recorded a fifth-place finish at the U.S. National in the NCAA Tournament. the semifinals. Championships. UAB’s men’s soccer team 2009-10: Fall, 2004: The UAB women’s soccer team beat the No. 1 team in The softball team claimed the C-USA Tournament title with a the country during the capped arguably thrilling 2-1 victory over host and regular-season regular season and hosted a the most successful champion Saint Louis in St. Louis, Mo., to earn first-round NCAA Tournament game. season in program its first NCAA Tournament berth in school his- To conclude the fall sports season, the history with 37 wins tory. The UAB football team made its first bowl Blazer volleyball squad won its first-ever and its first ever game appearance in school history as the Blazers Conference USA Tournament title and NCAA tournament faced Hawai’i in the 2004 Sheraton Hawai’i made its first appearance in the NCAA berth. The men’s bas- Bowl. The Blazers fell to the Warriors, 59-40, on Tournament. ketball team also Par- Christmas Eve in Honolulu, Hawai’i. December 17, 2006: For- ticipated in the postseason, Spring, 2006: The UAB men’s basketball mer Georgia offensive coordina- advancing to the NIT quarterfinals team earned its third consecutive trip to the tor Neil Callaway was chosen and hosting defending national NCAA Tournament after finishing as Conference to lead the UAB football team, champion North Carolina at USA regular season and tournament runner-up. becoming the third coach in Bartow Arena. Individually, The synchronized swimming team took fourth the program’s history, and the football’s Joe Webb and place at the U.S. Collegiate Nationals. The Blazer men’s soccer’s Two- softball team turned in one of its finest seasons Boys Gumede were in program history as the team won 31 games selected as C-USA during the season to finish as the C-USA runner- Offensive Players of up. Head coach Marla Townsend was named the the Year for their sports. C-USA Coach-of-the-Year. Jala Harris became the first April 7, 2006: Mike Davis named as the C-USA women’s basketball fourth head basketball coach in the program’s player ever to earn Freshman and Sixth Player of 28-year history. the Year honors in the same season. Fall, 2006: UAB’s fall sports teams made Feb. 23, 2010: The UAB softball team opened three NCAA Tournament appearances, claimed its new, on-campus facility, drawing a school-record three C-USA titles and beat the No. 1 team in the crowd of 1,323 to its contest with Alabama.

194 2010 UAB Football