Sarah Says “I don’t know where the time has gone. This season also marks the 20th anniversa- It seems like just yesterday that David and ry of our first SEC and NCAA Championship I were coaching our first team, practic- team. The ladies on the 1988 team will always ing, competing and working in Foster have a special place in my heart because Auditorium, now here we are in the midst of they proved that we could do it our way and our 30th season at Alabama. win. We had worked hard for a long time to In those first years there were only a put ourselves in a position to win a national handful of fans in the stands and most of championship and there were times when we them were Ann Wood’s family. My how asked ourselves, ‘can you have it all? Can you things have changed. Ann’s daughter have this philosophy of developing the whole Jacqueline is a sophomore on this year’s team person and still be number one?’ and she and her teammates compete in front When we won the 1988 NCAA of more than 11,000 fans a meet in Coleman Championship it was a validation of that Coliseum. philosophy. We could do it this way and be And where in the beginning we had to successful on all fronts. We may not win every setup and breakdown our equipment before year, but we will be successful. and after every practice because we shared One aspect of Alabama Gymnastics that I Foster with other teams, today we train in the have always cherished is the sense of family Frances Smith Gymnastics Practice Facility, a that fills every thing we do. Alabama is about state-of-the-art, 12,500-square foot gym that far more than the four years that our ladies is dedicated just to our program. compete for the Crimson Tide. It is about But as much as things have changed, I am building relationships that last a lifetime. As struck by how much has remained the same. the years have passed, it has been especially This is still a program that is dedicated to gratifying to watch as our ladies have gone on nurturing the whole person. We are going to to lead lives of distinction filled with success. compete for championships at Alabama, we Every year our family grows, not only when are going to excel in the classroom and we are the freshmen join our ranks each fall, but going to do our very best to make a positive when our alumni start families of their own. impact in the world around us. We want our While the time has certainly flown by, ladies to have it all, to be the best person they there is no doubt in my mind that it has been, can be. It is that philosophy that has carried and continues to be, time very well spent.” our ladies to ever greater heights. 1 A Championship Tradition CONTENTS 2008 SEASON Continues... ON THE COVER: Sarah and David Patterson have built a legacy Welcome to the 2008 Alabama of success over the past 30 years that is second to none. Under Gymnastics Media Guide. This year, their guidance, Alabama has won four national champion- the Crimson Tide celebrates Sarah ships, five SEC titles and advanced to 25 consecutive NCAA and David Patterson’s 30th year as Championships. Alabama’s coaches and the 20th anni- versary of the 1988 SEC and NCAA Championship team. And with a pair of NCAA Champions and four All- Americans returning and a history 20 58 Academic Success as big as any program in the nation A Crimson Guide Alabama Gymnastics contin- there is a lot of information to fit into to the 2008 Alabama one publication, so we started pack- ues to be one of the nation’s Gymnastics Team ing it in on the front cover and didn’t best in the classroom, having stop until we ran out of pages. There’s With a legacy of success and unlimited earned 115 Scholastic All- plenty about the last 30 years and of potential, Alabama Gymnastics is ready American honors since 1991. course there’s plenty of space dedicat- to soar again this season. ed to last year’s exciting accomplish- ments, which included Alabama’s 25th consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, two NCAA titles and eight Scholastic All-Americans. And because Alabama Gymnastics is so much more than what you see on a Friday night in Coleman Coliseum, we have striven to give you an inside look into all aspects of the program, 26 from its academic triumphs to each Record Fan Numbers of its four NCAA Championships and 223 All-American honors to its Alabama has averaged over involvement in the community and 10,000 fans per meet each of everything else that makes these ladies 30 32 36 40 the last four years, including a and this program so special. NCAA Champion Duo In the Community The Power of Pink 20th Anniversary school and SEC record 12,578 fans per meet in 2006 So we hope you enjoy the media guide Terin Humphrey Crimson Tide Sarah Patterson and The 1988 Gymnastics and of course the season. and Morgan Dennis gymnasts are a vital the Crimson Tide team won the return to defend their and active part of the “Drive 4 the Cause” Crimson Tide’s first Roll Tide! national titles in 2008. Alabama community. in the fight against SEC and NCAA breast cancer. Championships. Did You 2 Know? Last season Alabama gymnasts earned eight Scholastic All-American and nine Academic All-SEC honors. Inside 4-5 Quick Facts 6-7 10 Things You Should Know 8-13 The Big Picture 13 The Gift That Keep on Giving 14-15 The University of Alabama 16 Alabama’s President 17-19 Athletic Administration 20-21 Classroom Success 21 Fern Hampton and CASS 22 Bryant Academic Center 23 Postgraduate Scholarships 24-25 Academic Honors 42 44 46 47 26-27 Fan Support Keeping up with the Tide Sweet Home Alabama The Medalist Club The MC Postgraduate Scholarship 28-29 Tide Team Building From newspapers, to television, With construction complete on From sponsoring the Tide’s radio The Medalist Club Postgraduate 30-31 Defending NCAA Champions from the radio to the inter- a nearly $30 million renovation, broadcast to cheering from the scholarship is one of the most 32-35 Community Involvement net, keeping up with Alabama the home of the Crimson Tide has stands, to hosting the postseason innovative ways the booster club 36-37 The Power of Pink Gymnastics has never been easier. never looked better. banquet, The Medalist Club does supports the Crimson Tide. 38-39 Marc Cohen and Scott Mackall it all. 40-41 NCAA Championship Anniversary 42-43 Keeping up with the Tide 44-45 Facilities 46-47 The Medalist Club 48-55 The Coaching Staff 56-57 Roster Breakdown 58-59 2008 Guide to the Crimson Tide 60 Crimson Tide at a Glance 61-75 2008 Crimson Tide Bios 76-81 Support Staff 82-85 2006 in Review 86 Traveling with Alabama 87 2008 Opponents 88-89 Crimson Tide History 89-95 Great Moments 96-97 Alabama and the NCAA 98-107 National Titles and Honors 108-109 Tide All-Americans 48 52 54 88 110-111 Alabama and Regionals Sarah and David Patterson Bryan Raschilla Dana Dobransky Duckworth Alabama’s Great Moments 112-113 Alabama and the SEC One of coaching’s great success From coaching to recruiting, to The former two-time NCAA The Crimson Tide has developed 114-119 SEC Honors and Champions stories, Sarah and David Patterson creating the graphical look of the Champion and Alabama legend is into one of the most successful 120-125 The Hall of Fame continue to add to their amazing Crimson Tide, Bryan Raschilla an invaluable member of the Tide programs in the history of col- 126-127 Patterson Honors legacy year-by-year. does it all. staff as a volunteer coach. legiate athletics. These are the 128-133 Year-by-Year moments from that journey. 134-135 Alabama Records 136 Success Adds Up Tide Timeline July 1, 1978 - Sarah Campbell is hired as Alabama’s fi ft h head coach. She immediately hires David Patterson as her assistant. 3 2008 Quickfacts Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. Associate AD/Media Relations Enrollment: 25,508 Director: Doug Walker Founded: April 12, 1831 Associate Media Relations Director: Conference: Southeastern (SEC) Roots Woodruff, Becky Hopf Colors: Crimson & White Assistant Media Relations Directors: Nickname: Crimson Tide Barry Allen, Corey Hoodjer, Mascot: Big Al Skip Powers President: Dr. Robert E. Witt Athletic Department Photographer: NCAA Faculty Representative: Kent Gidley Joe Hornsby Media Relations Interns: Media Notes Athletics Director: Mal Moore Jason Kirksey and Lindsay Laurent ALABAMA MEDIA RELATIONS: The CREDENTIALS: uted following the competition. Senior Associate Athletics Director: Associate Media Relations Director/ Credentials will be Alabama Athletic Media Relations Requested coaches and gymnasts Dr. Finus Gaston, CFO Gymnastics Contact: Roots Woodruff issued to working media ONLY Office is located on the ground level will be brought into the interview Associate Athletics Director/ e-mail address: [email protected] and should be requested no later of Coleman Coliseum. room following all home meets. Senior Woman Administrator: Home Phone: (205) 349-0936 than 48 hours prior to any home Marie Robbins Office Phone: (205) 348-2088 event. INTERVIEWS: All interview requests SATELLITE FEEDS: The University Associate Athletics Directors: Office FAX: (205) 348-8841 should be made through Roots INTERNET: of Alabama, through Crimson Tide Kevin Almond, Jon Gilbert, Media Relations Department Information about The Woodruff of the Media Relations Sports Marketing, offers a weekly Wendell Hudson, Chris King, Administrative Assistants: University of Alabama’s athletics Office, at least 24 hours in advance, 15-minute satellite feed consisting Carol Parks, Sarah Patterson, Brenda Burnette and Karen Deaver can be found several places on the at (205) 348-2088.