we saw Bama run away with most:
Vault: Ashley Miles (9.925), Alexis Brion (9.900) and Humphrey (9.875)

Bars: Terin Humphrey (9.950), Mari Bayer (9.900) and Ashley Miles (9.850) (we have two different scores for Tabitha Yim, a 9.825 and a 9.875, so we'll leave her out).

Beam: Mari Bayer (9.875), Dana Pierce (9.825), Terin Humphrey (9.825) and Tabitha Yim (9.825)

Floor Exercise: Ashley Miles (9.950) and Alexis Brion (9.950) and Mari Bayer (9.900)

include the all around victory by Dana Pierce (39.250) over Natalie Foley (39.225) and Lauren Elmore (39.050) of Stanford, followed in fourth by Ashley Miles of UA (38.975).

Stanford male gymnast. They are throwing some difficult moves in this arena. Our gals are certainly impressed.

the judges compared to last week's at Arkansas. David Patterson and Kristen Smyth are chatting as the men's competition starts to wind down. We're seeing some great high bar routines today.

festivities surrounding A-Day weekend, which starts off with the baseball on Friday afternoon and the Tide gymnastics meet against UNC that night (March 18th). We look forward to seeing all the fans back at home for this final regular season meet. Bama will then move into post-season competition at the SEC Championships on March 26th at Gwinnett, Georgia before returning home for the Central Regional Championships in Coleman Coliseum two weeks later.

men's teams compete on the high bar and parallel bars. This is the first time Alabama has ever competed with a men's competition going on at the same time.

The Tide substituted alot of gals tonight on each event and they came through like troopers. Terin was held off floor also due to a her knee being just a little sore per Coach's comments on the radio interview, going on just now. She feels the team grows from experiences like this when you have to pull from your depth and work through adversity, like unexpected sniffles and bugs that grab you on trips out west.

39.250, followed by Ashley Miles' 38.975. Terin Humphrey was held off the floor to give Michelle Reeser a chance to prep for senior night in two weeks and Michelle came through big time for the team.

This is the road score the Tide needed to throw out the 194.80 from last week and should increase their RQS score accordingly.

Stanford's final tally is still unknown because the men's routines are still going (they have six events).

this time (bhs-layout)and the switch leap-switch leap combination and a straddle-straddle-wolf. She dismounted with a gainer full twist out of a round off for a 9.775. Thanks for flashing that score judges!

(triple turn). She will throw a perfect Kotchetkova and then the switch leap to 3/4 twisting handstand to split position, one knee then down onto the beam, and dismounts with a double tuck, small hop forward on the landing. She had a slight break between the switch leap and the Omeliantchik so the judges have some room to deduct there as well. She receives a 9.825. Bama is home free, no falls will have to be counted.

the beam. That's a little conservative considering her difficulty and no major balance checks.

Ashley Miles is on the beam with her round off layout-stepout but she fell (we missed it). Nice switch leap to switch side combination. She throws a 3/4 wolf, slight bend at the waist on the landing. Gainer back handspring to perfect layout-stepout after some dance elements to set her up. She works down onto the beam with a shoulder roll and prepares to dismount with a difficult double tuck, which she lands with one step back. Nice recovery.

Mari Bayer receives a 9.875 and Dana Pierce is on the beam for the Tide. She throws a switch leap to two straddle jumps, nicely done and then her flight series of the two-footed back handspring to two-footed layout, slight one foot check on the landing. Nice side switch leap and she dismounts with a round off to gainer full twist, no steps on the landing. WOW!!!

Reeser receives a 9.775 and Mari Bayer is up next for the Tide and she throws the front aerial to back handspring to Korbut perfectly this week, as well as the switch leap 1/2. Nice switch leap to straddle to wolf; two nice needle scales thrown at the beginning and near the end and she nails the dismount of the gainer back pike and the Bama Nation is back on their feet behind us. This has been Mari's best performance on three events since the LSU meet.

Reeser is now up for the Tide and will throw the two-footed back handspring to layout to Korbut, nice landing this week. Switch leap to wolf, cartwheel half down onto the beam and and the switch leap to straddle, slight check on the landing, full turn and dance and the back handspring to gainer full twist, stuck the landing. Whoosh!

Rachael Delahoussaye is up first for the Tide. Wolf full is completed, slightest check to pull it completely around and she throws a beautiful back handspring to layout but hesitates on the wolf to Korbut and shifts her body a bit on the back dive as she lands it. The running switch side leap also had a slight bend forward on the landing. She dismounts with a solid gainer back pike, no steps.

score tally for Stanford's beam, which appears to be 48.275, matching Alabama's score last week on the beam. Precourt received a 9.625 that was counted along with Foley's 9.775, Yim's 9.825 and Elmore's 9.800. Stephanie Gentry fell and received a 9.100.

encounter trouble on the balance beam, and Yim received a 9.825 for the final routine and Foley a 9.775 earlier. Lauren Elmore scored a 9.80. They are throwing out tee-shirts for the 9.80 scores or higher.

of her dance as she completes her second pass and then starts to groove. Lots of clapping going on around the arena. She will finish with a double pike, landed perfectly. How do you score that one after the perfect set-up from Brion? The same score, a 9.950. She had a slight, almost unnoticeable balance check on the running side wolf leap she does that is the likely source of the deduction.

Somebody put out Alexis Brion, because she is on fire as well. Opening whip-bhs-double pike is again landed perfectly. Second pass of the front-front full to front tuck, landed on a dime. She will finish with the difficult double tuck and Bryan encourages her to bring it on. Which she does! Another group hug! RaraRuss is trying to contain his excitement behind us, leading the Bama fans in their cheering. Brion receives a 9.950.

Mari is in front of her home crowd and wants to do a great job. Perfect double pike to start us off. Front-front full to front tuck is right on and the dance is elegant as always. She finishes with a double twist, a double stag leap in the barrel position and salutes the crowd with a wave of her hand as the music ends. Wow.

Erin Rightley is next and if she will nail that incredibly high double pike in bounds this week then we'll see a similar if not higher score from her, and she does! Second pass of the front through to a 1 1/2, landed very well. Straddle popa to wolf popa combination is done and she finishes with a front-front full to front pike (slight left leg lifted on the last element's landing) and she receives a big hug from her teammates. This was a big routine the Tide needed to see from her prior to post-season.

Reeser opens with a double pike, perfect landing this week! Sweet home Alabama is her music and she comes back with a front layout-front layout to a front full, super landing right in front of us. She is selling the dance elements to the Bama Nation in back of us and then ends with a front to whip 1/2 to layout-stepout, another perfect sequence for the Monroe, Louisiana native. Way to go senior!

and a nice landing. Switch side to straddle 1/2 to straddle Shushonova and this week her front layouts are landed well. The gals are getting into it, cheering her on. Nice ring leap into the corner and she sets up for the final pass, a double twist to punch front, a little low and a pop to the right after landing the second element. That will be a deduction for sure. Otherwise a solid routine.

beam. Ashley Miles just threw her double layout less than 3 feet from our place here on press row and just nailed it. Ditto for Dana Pierce. The gals are pumped. Erin Rightley nailed another double pike as well. We need her to nail that routine today and so far it looks like she's planning to do just that.

bars. The Tide is in the lead after two events still with a 98.600 running score to Stanford's 97.550. Alabama either got an increase of .05 on one of their vaults or the scores being flashed are off .05. We'll keep you posted.

vault but was shy of perfection with that one step. Alabama ended up throwing six vaulters instead of five as originally planned because they all warmed up so well. Again, Kaitlin White and Dana Pierce moved into the line-up for Shannon Hrozek and Dana Filtti today and did magnificent jobs. Depth is starting to help the Tide on this event when they most need it.

She receives a 9.900.

Ashley Miles will finish for the Tide with a Yurchenko 1/1 and she almost sticks it but has to take one tiny step (left) in place. Yim receives a 9.825 for her bars routine and Jessica Louie is next. She throws a Gienger release and a double tuck dismount, hop on the landing for a 9.825.

Yurchenko 1/1, one small hop back and the entire team just vaults down the runway to engulf her. Way to go Allen, Texas gal. She receives a 9.80.

highest score of the season. She's come a long way on the vault.

Terin Humphrey stands her vault up very well, smallest of hops on the landing (Yurchenko 1/2 on - front pike - 1/2 pike off).

Comeaux did a great vault just then, one small left check of her foot to the side. The second Stanford gymnast receives a 9.725 (major steps on her double pike dismount back towards the bars).

The judges are questioning Alabama's coaches on either vault type or gymnast. They quickly clear up whatever the question was and move on to give her a score of a 9.80 (Brittany) before the next gal gets the salute.

throws the "pinball", which is a Yurchenko 1/2 on - front tuck - 1/2 tuck off. Terin Humphrey throws the same vault but pikes it.

exhibit today.

Stanford's men are at 37.300 and the Cal Bears at 35.400 after their first events.

a 9.80 valued vault and Liz Tricase missing from the line-up as well. She is by far their best vaulter and is a former USA Nationals champ on this event.

bars while the Cal Bears men's team moves to the floor.

Alabama moves to the vault and Stanford women to the uneven bars.

Dana Filetti are under the weather. So we'll see Miles, Humphrey, Brion, Comeaux and either Pierce or White.

the vault.

Terin Humphrey is next and wants to push that score even higher.

She throws the stalder to handstand to 1/2 turn to toe-on to another 1/2 turn to Markelov release, hits the handstand on her transition to the low bar and stands up the double layout, hop back for a 9.95.

is now up, pike Jaeger, beautiful handstands so far, and she sticks the landing! The crowd behind us is on their feet for the hometown girl.

so that means Filetti will not go today. Nice front giants and a Tkatchev to a stuck reverse tuck dismount off the bars, slight leg separation on the landing. Way to go in a clutch situation Dana.

and Miles receives a 9.850 for her bars routine.

Gentry of Stanford receives a 9.80 for her vault and apparently Pintchouck did as well, so perhaps she threw a higher valued vault than we thought or we got her mixed up with someone earlier.

double tuck dismount. Ashley is through the Shaposhnikova and the Hindorff. Awesome double layout.

we go again. A final score of 9.775.

Kaitlin is on the bars, nice full turn to Geinger, pak Salto but unfortunately touches down on the double turn despite a perfect full turn on top of the bar (held the tuck too long). Argh!!!

and hops back on the landing but otherwise stands it up. She receives a 9.60.

Brittany is through her full turn to a super Tkatchev and a perfect handstand transition to the low bar, double front dismount, right foot step back only.

Stanford is in almost a faded red, solid with silver sequins along the upper bodice.

Alabama is wearing the same outfits from last week, the silver waves and sequins on the front bodice contrasted by velveteen crimson on the torso and sheer crimson netting on the upper shoulders and arms. The cuffs are etched in silver undulating waves as they near the wrist area, with silver sequins above this area as well.

Stanford women on the vault and the Cal men on the parallel bars.

on crutches so she will not be doing vault or any of the other events.

and then we'll shift to the competition. The anthem is played by one of the Stanford male gymnasts on violin. Talents in many areas. Reportedly Tabitha Yim ice skates as well.

and then the lone Stanford seniors, Mandy Delgado and Marla Ranieri, are introduced. Neither were able to compete during their senior campaigns due to career-ending injuries. The parents are proud and trying not to cry as they receive hugs and flowers from the Stanford coaches.

Michelle Reeser, Alexis Brion and Shannon Hrozek all receive flowers.

jumbotron directly overhead. They also have electronic scoring stands straight across from us for quick checks.

introduced next and the guys come out throwing tee-shirts into the crowd and casually move into line on the floor mat. It's a California thing.

and they have a few vocal fans here on our right.

Alabama is introduced next and RaraRuss leads the cheering of "Roll Tide Roll" with the Bama Nation fans in attendance. Terin Humphrey gets a huge cheer from the partisan Stanford fans present, as does Mari Bayer.

it looks to seat around 6000-7500 at most. Today there are about 500 so far in the arena watching a champion juggler go through his tricks on the floor. Fans can pretty much sit where they desire.

The judges today for the women's portion of the gymnastics competition are all from California by report. It will be interesting to see how the judging goes today after last week's experience in Arkansas. They are: Janet Packwood, Holly Balch, Lisa Boylan and D. Smith.

alarm plug, pulling us away from our very important duties. Now if they would just turn off that irritating man on the loudspeaker recording that keeps telling us a fire alert has been sounded in the building we can get on with the show. Ah, thank you!

a fire threat! See you in a little while (we hope).

but did not tumble.

The men are now on a 10 minute warm-up on floor and the pommel horse. The ladies are gathering in front of the beam for their final chat and then depart for the dressing room. Coach Patterson waits for Terin and escorts her out as several tiny girls right in front of the exit area cheer her name out loud, getting a wave in response.

last week at Arkansas. Super double tuck dismount just then from Ashley Miles. Lots of high fives from her teammates. Terin's is a little low and requires a step forward on the landing.

Erin Rightley is warming up on the beam but is still struggling with the flight series (bhs-bhs-layout).

the balance beam for long warm-ups and no doubt are wishing her a speedy recovery (she had a pre-meet injury during vault warm-ups). Tricase also gets a hug and some words of encouragement from Kaitlin White. The preliminary line-up still has her on the vault, which seems rather strange if she was injured on that event (she did not warm up bars, beam or floor).

Ashley Miles is back in the beam line-up this week and just threw a nice gainer back handspring to layout-stepout.

us along with Laura Brion, Dan Filetti and David Patterson's parents.

Super nice double pike from Michelle Reeser!

Bama will move to the balance beam next for their final long warm-up.

during her tumbling runs.

The Cal Bears and Stanford Cardinal men's teams are also competing in this arena today and their apparatus is mainly to our right.

and a soaring double tuck from Alexis (in bounds both times).

Pike full in thrown by Terin Humphrey (whipped it like a bullet that time, no steps on the landing).

balance beam.

Warm-ups on floor are in this order: Pierce, Rightley, Bayer, Humphrey, Brion and Miles. Michelle Reeser is in the seventh position for today's meet.

and so far Alexis Brion is getting terrific punch off the vault table with her front pike 1/2 twist.

Dana Pierce is also warming up with the Yurchenko 1/1 and just did a nice run. Looks like it's going to be Brittany, Ashley, Alexis, Terin, Kaitlin and Dana on the vault (Filetti will sit this event out along with Shannon).

UPDATE: Liz Tricase of the Stanford Cardinal team apparently has injured herself during warm-ups on vault. She is now in her warm-ups and on crutches but cheering her team on. Either a sprain or twist of something took place and she will therefore be out of the competition for today.

layout dismount twice in a row, the second one was textbook.

Ashley Miles is looking strong and Kaitlin White is going for the extra stick on the double tuck dismount as well. Brittany Comeaux and Mari Bayer are looking just as good. Dana Pierce threw a super exhibition routine last week at Arkansas on the bars and is back up today as well.

-Junior Dana Filetti was under the weather all last week and subsequently could not practice. However, it looks like she will go on at least a few events (bars, vault) because Shannon Hrozek suddenly came down with a bug of some sort and will not be going on any event as a result. Alexis Brion is also working out on the bars right now for long warm-ups, so whoever looks the strongest to take Shannon's place will go.

and took some time on Saturday to sight see before heading to Palo Alto that night. The ladies are in great spirits and ready to roll.

Junior Mari Bayer's home town of San Jose is only about 20 miles south of Palo Alto and she will have lots of family and friends here to cheer her and the Tide on to victory. This was one of the reasons Coach Patterson scheduled the meet against Stanford. The Cardinal will return to Tuscaloosa for Bama's hosting of this dual competition in 2006.

the Crimson Tide gymnastics team will take on the Stanford Cardinal in the final road meet of the 2005 regular season.

Bama will take off next week and return to Coleman Coliseum for their final home meet of the season on March 18th against the North Carolina Tarheels. This will also be senior night for Shannon, Michelle and Alexis.