The University of Alabama has their work cut out for them as they try to work their way back into the Super Six.
The Tuscaloosa News reported yesterday that Bama’s schedule is the toughest in the NCAA.
Starting with Friday’s 7:30 p.m. meet at Coleman Coliseum against 23rd-ranked Illinois, Alabama will be facing four teams ranked in the top five and 12 of the nation’s top 25 teams as ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll. An analysis by the collegegymfans.com Web site has the sixth-ranked Tide with the top strength of schedule based on a point system using the coaches’ rankings.
“We will be tested by the bested,” [Alabama coach Sarah] Patterson said with a laugh.
Alabama will face No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Florida, No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 Stanford, No. 7 Nebraska, No. 10 LSU, No. 13 Penn State, No. 14 Arkansas, No. 19 Auburn and No. 24 Kentucky in addition to Illinois. In fact, the only non-ranked team the Tide will compete against is Cal State-Fullerton on March 9 in Los Angeles, and that will be at a four-way meet that also includes UCLA and Arkansas.
The Crimson Tide, who finished an embarrassing ninth at last year’s NCAA Championships, do have many things going for them this year. Senior Terin Humphrey is the reigning NCAA champion on uneven bars, and sophomore Morgan Dennis won floor exercise at last year’s NCAA Championships as well.
Alabama’s standing shouldn’t decrease in years to come either. The Tide likely won the signing lottery this year, having netted Parkette Julie Cotter as well as 2006 World Team member Ashley Priess, for its class of 2009.
Bama’s last NCAA team title came in 2002.
Tags: Amber Trani, Ashley Priess, Julie Cotter, Morgan Dennis, Sarah Patterson, Terin Humphrey
January 12, 2008 at 2:55 am |
I thought Trani was recruited by UGA?
January 12, 2008 at 5:24 am |
Oh, you’re right. My bad.