The defending national champion Alabama gymnastics team was voted third in the 2003 Pre-season Coaches Poll released today.

The Tide received five first-place votes. UCLA, third in 2002, topped the coaches poll with 20 first place votes. Georgia was second with no first place votes. Utah and 2003 NCAA Championship host Nebraska rounded out the top-5.

The 2003 season marks Sarah and David Pattersons 25th year coaching the Crimson Tide, a stretch that includes four NCAA Championships since 1988.

The Crimson Tide will face eight members of the Top-25 during the regular season, including five members of the preseason top-10, including No. 6 Michigan (Jan. 31) and No. 9 LSU (Feb. 14) in Coleman Coliseum.

This season is the fifth in a row that Alabama has been among the top-5 in the preseason poll. The Tide was voted fourth in last year's preseason poll.

Alabama gets its season underway with a "Meet the Team" exhibition on Jan. 5 at 2 p.m. in Coleman Coliseum. The Tide's first competition will be the fourth annual Super Six Challenge in Athens, Ga.

* Alabama's 2003 Opponents listed in bold.

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