Our trip to Athens, Georgia this past weekend was an important one for many reasons. As a team, we needed to perform in a "hostile" environment and rise to the challenge of competing against the Nation's #1 ranked team.

Second...this competition brought out a fire and intensity in our ladies that I had not previously seen. Don't get me wrong, the ladies have always loved competition, but Friday night I sensed they actually loved competing in this highly charged environment where the fans were actually cheering against them. I had to laugh when freshman, Alexis Brion, ended her floor routine to a "booing" 9,000 fans...actually the fans were booing the balance beam score of UGA gymnast Cory Fritzinger. Alexis saluted the judges and then turned and waved as she ran across the mat to the UGA Gym dog pound cheering section. Her fire and spirit were most evident and as a coach, you have to love that in an athlete!

We performed great, made a few steps forward and placed some of our younger gymnasts in an environment that will only make them stronger down the road. We are improving weekly on balance beam and all we needed was one more "near perfect" score to win the meet; I sense the ladies are gaining confidence in themselves. It was no easy position to be in Friday night in Athens on beam, last event, with the meet on the line, and 9,000 UGA faithful cheering against you. This experience will only serve to help us in Championship season.

I will reserve my comments about the continuation of the Bama vs. UGA home and home competitions until the issue is resolved, but I would like to go on record as saying the 2003 schedule has been set since this past summer. The Alabama coaching staff will not back down from the yearly challenge of facing the bull dogs...because you, our fans, love it, and it prepares us for Championship competition.

Come Friday night as we face the Florida Gators for yet another "nail biter." Bring a friend, we need your support, and until next week...

Roll Tide,