[Q] Merritt, I understand you had an "interesting" holiday, why don't you tell us about it; specifically, about your trip home?

[MB] I was heading home on Dec 15, a couple of days after the big snow. I was about 30 minutes out of Tuscaloosa on I-20 and someone pulled off the shoulder in front of me from a dead stop. I swerved to miss him and lost control of my car. I ended up hitting the trees, doing a 180-degree turn, and flipping up on my side. I had seat belt on, thank goodness. The people who saw the whole thing said that I kicked the door open with my feet and jumped out in about 20 seconds; I was kind of scared that my car was going to blow up.

I let Dr. Roinson check me out. Leslie Lyda met me there and kind of took care of me for the next couple of days.

I ended up flying back a couple of days later. So yes, it was an interesting trip home.

[Q] But, you are OK, right?

[MB] Yea, I got banged up pretty bad, but for the most part I'm OK.

[Q] Were you able to work out at all over the break?

[MB] I did some things but not everything. I would have liked to have done gymnastics five days and weights four days. I wasn't able to do any gymnastics, but I did lift light weights, rode a bike and did some walking. I also stretched a lot, so it was not total inactivity.

[Q] Since we are talking about your health, how is the foot?

[MB] It's doing OK. I have some good days and some bad. On the good days I can get a lot done. I think it is doing better because I am a lot stronger this year.

[Q] Just what exactly happened with that anyway? Is this a common injury due to all of the pounding, or is it something you did in particular?

[MB] I've actually had it since I was 16. It started out as a hairline stress fracture and it eventually turned into a non-union fracture. I have to have surgery again when I am finished. So, it will have to wait. When I get through with gymnastics, it shouldn't be much of a deal. But right now, it is pretty much something that I just have to work through.

[Q] Let's shift gears and do some of the ordinary "now you're a senior stuff". Did you ever think this year would get here?

[MB] Actually the time has really flown by; it has gone by really fast. I remember Chasity and Marna used to tell me that it would go by fast. I didn't understand just how fast it would go until now.

[Q] Anyone who has had anything to do with athletics knows about the very abstract "senior leadership". What does that mean to you?

[MB] I think it is most importantly being a role model. Not necessarily in gymnastics, but outside of the gym. I think it is real important for the new girls to realize that school is real important here, as is our reputation as a University of Alabama athlete.

[Q] Do you returning gymnasts do anything in particular to help make the new ladies feel at home in Tuscaloosa? Do you recall anything special anyone did for you?

[MB] We try to keep them active, to invite them over, go out to dinner with them. This way we try to keep them busy so that they won't get as homesick.

When I got here, Meredith, Kimbo, and Stephanie had me over. I remember that they made me feel real at home. Of course, I was not as apt to get homesick since I had been away since I was 12.

[Q] How about in their transition from club gymnastics to college gymnastics? Those are two different animals aren't they?

[MB] The biggest thing is that college gymnastics is a team sport whereas club gymnastics is a "me" sport. In college gymnastics the coaches and your teammates are here to help you not to beat you out.
Also, it is more of a family atmosphere; especially here.

[Q] And finally, I guess everyone expects the old "what about this year" kind of thing.

[MB] We are very fortunate that we had a really good group of freshman come in. They are extremely excited and have good work ethics. Our sophomores, juniors, and seniors are fired up to have a great year. Everyone hopes that this will be an enjoyable and memorable year.