and Kathy Johnson stopped by to share some of their thoughts. Nunno is pleased with his team's performance overall and especially Brittany Koncak, who had a plate removed from her forearm earlier in the preseason so she could perform better on the bars. We'll catch you later Tide fans!

and more consistency we bet on the uneven bars. Great starting point for the team and if we can avoid injuries, the sky is the limit. Look for exhibition routines in the next week (freshmen!) as well and we will be here to share all the excitement and outcomes with you. Here's hoping everyone has a safe trip home and a safe, injury-free gymnastics season. Roll Tide and goodnight from Coleman Coliseum.

"What impressed me the most was the fact that we came out, did a great job after some small bumps and kept going strong to a big win."

are in attendance tonight:

Tom and Kristy Kite

Ray and Joan Gnat (Jeana Rice)

Terry Hrozek

Laura Brion

Mike and Marianne Reeser

Danny and Lisa Pierce

Jerry and Nancy Delahoussaye

Cynthia Bayer

Jean Filetti

Jimmy and Tana Comeaux with newborn baby Brynn

John and Linda Gay

Trisha Rightley

Neal and Susan Laxton

and, last but not least...the Holdefers!

what we can expect for next week, a home meet against Penn State. First, Alabama mixed up their line-up and took some chances right off the bat by putting Ashley Miles up on bars first. She had not been on the bars since January of last year when she suffered what appeared to be at the time a season-ending injury. But Ashley has been so consistent on the bars during the preseason that they had to go with her and she almost had the routine down perfect until the dismount. She will be there next week, she is a fiery competitor. She came through on the floor and vault to pace the team to a phenomenal performance. Freshman Brittany Comeaux really shined tonight as did some new faces from the sophomore class as well. Comeaux came through big-time for her parents and new baby sister in the audience, throwing that awesome Tkatchev release on bars we have been raving about in preseason practices and nailing her double front dismount.

the Reesers, Cynthia Bayer (all the way from California), the Pierces, Holdefers, and we think Hrozeks.

and the Tide is annointed the 2004 Super Six Challenge Champions!

3rd Place: Breanne King of UF

2nd Place: Orley Szmuch of UF

1st Place: Brittany Koncak of the Sooners of Oklahoma

Rowe of UGA in 3rd with a 9.90, Dooley in second with a 9.925 and Stucky of UF with a 9.95 for first.

Floor Exercise: Kelsey Ericksen and Alexis Brion score 3rd Place Honors with a 9.925 while Jeana Rice and Ashley Miles win the floor with a 9.95. Way to go Bama!

Chelsa Byrd, Ashley Miles and Jeana Rice tie for first place with a 9.925.

Uneven Bars: Kelsey Ericksen in 2nd along with Jeana Rice and Erinn LaBarr while Kasie Tamayo of Oklahoma was in first place with a 9.925.

UA: 196.725

UF: 195.950

UGA: 195.550

Oklahoma: 195.275

Oregon State: 193.775

Denver: 193.600

9.925 and a 9.95 from Stucky. 49.375 for UGA on the floor, for a final total of 195.55. Florida finishes second with a 195.95. The Tide wins by almost a full point. Way to go!

opening pass of a double pike.

and finishes with a 9.90 for the Dawgs.

low but very difficult). Smith got a 9.875 for her floor routine and Kupets a 9.80.

Ericksen of UGA gets a 9.925 for her floor and Brittany Smith just threw a strong routine as well, opening with a double pike and finishing with a double tuck.

sky high out of the air for her opening pass. Dynamic music.

Florida just had a fall on the beam (Katie Rue)during the flight series.

Front-front full-front tuck as her second pass and a double twist for her last pass (a little split in the legs). Szmuch of Florida gets a 9.875 for her beam.

Oklahoma: 146.05

Oregon State: 145.55

Denver: 193.60

Florida: 146.450

UGA: 146.175

they know their team has already brought home the victory.

attendance is 9,817. Great for such a dark, cold, gloomy day and night. We may now have a chance to report on the fashion news. Bama and UGA are wearing leos from last year and Florida is wearing cobalt blue with black, shear netting at the shoulders. Oregon State is in a shiny black, white and orange striped (on the sides)leo while Oklahoma is wearing white with burgundy trim on the shoulders and arms, also metallic material.

Annie Campbell throws a tucked full in as her opening pass and a double pike for her second. She is wearing an air cast but not afraid to tumble the difficult skills. Nice driving musical beat as well.

only received a 9.775 and Stucky a score of 9.85, not 9.875. King got a 9.800, Szmuch a 9.850 and Waterhouse (she's back!) a 9.775.

Bama gets a 196.725. We are on our way! Standing ovation time from the crowd as the ladies and coaches exit to the right.

small hop back for a 9.85. Now let's see what Ashley has in store for us tonight.

huge grins and hugs in congratulation. BIG TIME!

forward on her landing, getting a 9.65. We will see that pike 1/2 twist soon. Pierce is next. We need a big one!

Filetti is next. She just nailed her full twist on back pike off like a champion, no movement! She loses a tenth for not getting enough distance and a little chest down but still a wonderful performance! We love you Chesapeake, Virginia!

She throws a Yurchenko 1/1 perfectly! She is a MACHINE!

Denver is on the beam and Oregon State on the floor.

and are getting these freshmen and sophomores seasoned early. So we expect mistakes and miscues. This will clean up over the next several weeks. Right now Alabama is in the lead with a 147.35 after obtaining a 49.60 on the floor. This is almost right where the Tide left off last year on this event. Bama now needs to finish strongly on the vault.

A 9.175 from Stephens, 9.25 from Erickson and 9.375 from Byrd, due to falls. Fritzinger gets a 9.70 (landed off to the left on her dismount, very awkwardly) and Rowe finishes with a 9.90 while Smith gets a 9.85. Total on beam: 48.075 and running total of 146.175.

we've seen from her. Easily a 10. But we will do a double check on the replay.

layout. The crowd erupts! She is focusing on every move. Seeking perfection! And she is just about there...GOTCHA! Brion just about brought her down after that last magnificent pass. Call her AMAZING!

What air time, every pass gorgeously executed and her presentation and selling of this routine (brand new by the way). She is back! She receives a 9.925.

On her opening pass of a front handspring to double full to punch front. She finishes strongly and receives a 9.90. Brion is up next.

gets a 9.250. Jeana Rice gets a 9.95 for her floor routine and a standing ovation from the crowd.

She opens with a booming full in pike and ends with a gorgeous whip to double twist and the crowd loves it! ROLL TIDE!

so she will not score very high. She seemed a little intimidated by the noise and this is her first competitive routine on the floor in front of the home crowd. She receives a 9.325 for missing required elements. Meanwhile, over on the beam Marline Stephens touched down on her dismount and Kelsey Erickson fell on one of her elements.

A double tuck. Nice second pass as well. Let's finish up strongly. And she does! The crowd is now on their feet. Let's go Tide!

bars. Now they have a chance to get some big scores on one of their best events but they must kick it up a notch and we must have leadership (stay in bounds, complete skills cleanly).

Oregon State has a running total of 97.300, Denver a 97.60 and Florida a 97.425. Georgia has a running total of 98.10 and the lead. Alabama is in second with a 97.75. UGA leads by .350.

with her routine as well, so they will drop the 9.65 by Agafonova.

apparently and was a bit sloppy on the toe point and extension. But otherwise a very confident, dynamic routine.

a big way with a double layout, one step back. They will drop Ackerman's score happily.

Brittany Thome just completed her bars routine and Dooley gets a 9.700 for her vault (too close on landing to the table). 48.875 for Florida on the vault total. A 9.775 for Thome on bars and Erickson just completed a huge bars routine, landing double front with a 1/2 twist very well. A 9.90 for her.

and Katie Rue a 9.70. Jamie Ackerman just fell on her Tkatchev release while Szmuch just landed a strong 1/2 off front layout vault for the Gators, one large step forward however, for a 9.85.

She threw a full twisting Tkatchev and a Shaposhnikova release.

Rowe gets a 9.80 for her bars routine.

Kinsey Rowe just finished her bar routine for UGA, dismonting with an uprise to immediate double tuck.

Alabama has a running total of 97.775. Denver has a running total of 97.550.

Florida is having trouble on the floor exercise and will have to count a 9.65 (one score was a 9.575). Szmuch just finished strongly for them. Dooley got a 9.825. Rice receives a 9.150 for her beam routine. Basically if she does not finish the two layouts on the beam and falls in the process, she loses alot of bonus, so that's why her start value came down, for a final of 9.150. Jeana will now rest on a bye and come back with the team for hopefully some terrific tumbling on the floor. Florida ends up with a 48.70 on the floor.

fall on the beam in two years!

She is through her flight series (aerial front walkover to immediate back handspring to Korbut). All leap series look solid and she dismounts with a switch leap to immediate gainer pike dismount, nailing the landing. Way to recover sophomore!

We need three more clean routines. And Shannon just gave us a clean flight series and gymacro series right behind that. Cool hitch kick and sheep jump combination. A little tentative on some of the leaps, so that will be a deduction. She takes one small step on the double twist dismount but stands it up nicely. The crowd erupts with cheers.

but she stayed on and finishes the leap series with panache!

she was looking more confident on the beam. Rachael gets a 9.825. Stingy scores!

She is through her wolf full, her flight series and all leap series so far. And she adds a 3/4 straddle for good measure before dismounting with a gainer pike. What an awesome routine! Leadership, thy name is Delahoussaye!

Rachael Delahoussaye is now on. CONFIDENCE!

She is through her flight series (bhs-layout-Korbut fish flop). Nice leaps so far. She is trying to finish very confidently and she does in a big way, nailing the bhs to full twist dismount. Yes!

uneven bars. Back in 2001? Yep. Denver has a 48.875 on floor we think.

Georgia is out on a bye at this time while Florida will start on the floor and Oregon State will move to the bars. Denver moves to the vault.

balance beam with lots of cheering. That first routine by Michelle Reeser will hopefully be a good one to set the other gals up in a big way.

that pirouette break, normally a simple move for the California native. She had just gorgeous form and extension on that piked Jaeger that she nailed and then on the uprises and transition move to the low bar.

for the Sooners. They have a 48.450 running total on the beam.

UGA leads with a 49.025.

dismount. Way to go senior!

and she just fell out of her full turn right before preparing for her dismount, so this will be another low score, which means the Tide will have to count a fall, even if Jeana Rice comes through big-time. Georgia finishes up on the vault with a 49.025.

Filetti gets a 9.825 on the bars, they're scoring tight on this event tonight. That was one terrific routine from the sophomore from Chesapeake, Virginia.

Let's keep it going Tide fans. Stephens gets a 9.875 for her vault, a Yurchenko 1/1. Filetti just rocked her routine on bars, with an awesome double front dismount. Not holding anything back tonight!

And Shannon Hrozek just nailed her routine, including the beautiful double tuck dismount out of a pirouette, right on top of the high bar we might add! Georgia has scores on vault of a 9.775, 9.75, 9.70. Marline just did a nice Yurchenko 1/1.

What a huge Tkatchev release and she reached all of her handstand positions and rocked the double front dismount. Yowza!

for her first collegiate routine. Ashley received a 9.30. Let's hope this is one we can drop.

Very nice routine but she landed forward on her dismount of the double layout and touched her knees. That took a lot of nerve from the coaches to put her up first and she has not competed bars since January last year.

Sorry, no time, we're about ready to start! Roll Tide!

Jeana Rice start us off, followed by Dana Filetti, Lauren Holdefer, Dana Pierce, Alexis Brion and Ashley Miles.

were introduced. The crowd is rowdy and ready to roll!

Lauren Holdefer will start, followed by sophomore Dana Filetti, senior Jeana Rice, senior Stephanie Kite, junior Alexis Brion, and sophomore Ashley Miles.

will be: Michelle Reeser, Rachael Delahoussaye, Dana Pierce, Shannon Hrozek, Mari Bayer and Jeana Rice.

Brittany Comeaux will go up second, followed by Shannon Hrozek, Dana Filetti, Mari Bayer and then Jeana Rice.

from the Tide, using Guns and Roses music. SEC Champions for 2003 baby!

solid if not spectacular crowd tonight. Tony Giles has just announced that "It's SHOWTIME!" Kick off for the 2004 season has officially begun.

including senior Lindsay Nelson, who was a strong contributor for them in 2003. Annie Campbell is back for 2004 after having to sit out 2003. Denver has several new faces on their team but are always competitive and will work hard this season to return to the NCAAs. Oklahoma had a meet last week against Washington, Texas Women's University and Iowa in Cancun, Mexico. They finished third but had several bright moments, with freshman elite Brittany Koncak debuting her strong skills in the all around. This included a 9.925 on the floor exercise, a terrific score for the first meet.

were inducted into the UA Gymnastics Hall of Fame for 2003. Who will be inducted this next year?

thanks to Bryan Raschilla's graphic art skills and Roots Woodruff's journalistic panache. Bama won first place nationally for the 2003 media guide, an award that they have taken several times since Bryan came aboard. Looks like another one may be on the way for 2004.

tonight: Dana Filetti, Ashley Miles, Jeana Rice, Shannon Hrozek, Brittany Comeaux, Mari Bayer, Dana Pierce.

Stay tuned Tide fans.

with roughly twenty minutes left. The final long warm up has concluded.

Virginia Beach, Virginia!

on the beam and Dooley will try a punch front mount.

including freshmen Kelsey Erickson and Ashley Kupets, as well as sophomores Ashley Miller and Brittany Smith. Jamie Ackerman is also expected to go on floor with Chelsa Byrd.

but will be laying it out in the next few weeks hopefully for maximum scoring potential. The coaches have gathered the ladies together for a last minute pep talk before they depart for the dressing rooom. We have one more warm-up rotation.

Filetti gets some last minute reassurances from Coach David Patterson regarding how good her vault is looking, just relax and let it happen.

with nice release moves and beautiful toe point and extension. Orley Szmuch is looking in her best shape ever. Nice vault by Dana Pierce, a Yurchenko 1/1! The early season conditioning of this Tide team is really showing up. Shannon Hrozek continues to throw some nice vault timers as well and Coach Patterson is now talking to her about her technique as she escorts her back to the front of the runway.

A full twist on back pike off, landed beautifully! Johnna Gay is looking awesome as well with her vaulting timers. The Tide is really getting some amazing amplitude on their early vault timers and then the actual vaults as well. Let's hope this is a good sign.

Ashley Miles just nailed her Yurchenko 1/1 and Alexis Brion had fantastic height on her front pike timer, as did Lauren! Wow!

we saw Mari Bayer, Michelle Reeser, Dana Filetti, Ashley Miles, Jeana Rice, Stephanie Kite, Lauren Holdefer and Alexis Brion warm-up, so the coaches will tap six of these eight to go up. All looked great warming up, including Filetti with her triple twist and Jeana with her pike full in. Ashley Miles looks as stupendous as ever with her double layout, double pike at the end and Mari Bayer also is looking solid with her opening double pike. Stephanie Kite was right on throughout her warm-up and Lauren too is looking ready to tumble.

Alabama is on the vault warm-ups, which will be their last event. They will start on the uneven bars and then move to beam before they go out on a bye. The will then head to floor exercise and finish on vault. Bama will sit out the final rotation on a bye. Georgia has Olympic Rotation order and will finish on the floor in the last rotation. Oklahoma will start the meet off on the beam and Florida on the floor.

We are in Coleman Coliseum, site of the 2004 Super Six Challenge, where we will see the Alabama Crimson Tide debut the season against some terrific competition. This includes Georgia, Florida, Oregon State, Oklahoma and Denver.