It's Thanksgiving time of year, and a good time to talk about something for which we can all be thankful. In fact, we've talked a lot this fall about the gymnasts, and how well they are coming along, athletically. I'm happy to report that a recent visit to practice found the gymnasts all to be 'up and at 'em', practicing hard, and doing a great job. In addition, another area that the GymTide concentrates on - community involvement - has also had some great success with the recent 2005 Golf Classic and Chopper Drop benefiting the DCH Breast Cancer Fund, which is in some ways an outgrowth of Coach Sarah Patterson's 'Think Pink' breast cancer awareness campaign begun last year and continuing on this season. However, it is the other factor in the GymTide equation, academics, which a recent field trip brought to the forefront.

A short while ago, the Medalist Club board of directors accepted an invitation from Coach Sarah Patterson and Jon Dever, the Assistant Athletics Director for Student Services, to tour the University's incomparable Academic Center at the newly renovated Bryant Hall.

Bryant Hall was constructed as a state of the art athletic dorm shortly after the Tide won the 1961 National Football Championship and served in that capacity until athlete-only dorms were outlawed by the NCAA. Nevertheless, the building continued to be used after that time as the academic hall, a use for which, of course, it was not originally designed.

As part of the Crimson Tradition fund - and the commitment by the University and the athletic department to upgrade every aspect of the University's athletic facilities - Bryant Hall has been renovated and converted into what has to be the finest academic facility in the nation. As well as a reading laboratory, a writing laboratory, and a math laboratory, the facility has numerous rooms of various sizes available for group or individual tutoring sessions and a lecture hall large enough for the entire football team to hold a meeting, if need be.

In addition, a fully equipped and staffed computer center is available to the student-athletes which has internet connections and access, not only to most of the content of the library system of the University, but also by special agreement to the library systems of every school in the Southeastern Conference. As a further convenience for the student-athletes - who have real 'time-management issues' to deal with because to their extensive travel and practice schedules - a University dining hall is being built adjacent to the Academic Center. For the same reason, a dormitory will also be built close to the facility, although, by NCAA rule, it must house a majority of non-athletes.

The lobby of Bryant Hall has been converted into what I will describe as an academic 'Hall of Champions'. Numerous plaques are on display around the room honoring the academic accomplishments of Crimson Tide athletes. I am happy to report that, despite a bit of a head start by other athletic teams on campus, the argument could be made that Bama gymnastics dominates the room.

That is not an accident. Very early on in their careers at the University, Sarah and David Patterson made a decision that theirs would not be a 'win at all costs' program. Instead, they decided to take a more balanced approach, blending athletics with academics and community involvement. The GymTide has been so successful in those three areas that it is now, perhaps, difficult to remember what a bold step the Patterson's approach was at the time.

And it wasn't - and isn't - just a matter of signing the 'best and the brightest', not at all. Although not a few of Bama's gymnasts have been highly gifted academically, by far the majority have been average students who were willing to 'pay the price' to achieve, even beyond their own expectations. That desire, that drive, is an important part of what the GymTide coaches are looking for when they are out recruiting. In addition, and I think any former or current GymTider will vouch for this, the coaches also believe, to paraphrase St. Luke, to whom much is given, much is expected.

All of that is why the renovation of Bryant Hall is so significant - why it's something to be thankful for this holiday season. To be successful in academics or in gymnastics - or just in life, in general - it's important to have at least three things. First, you must have the will, the desire, to accomplish the task at hand. Secondly, you must have a nurturing environment, one that allows you to flourish in your endeavors by promoting your strengths and mitigating your weaknesses. Thirdly - and this is where Bryant Hall comes in - you must have the tools necessary to get the job done. In the past, Crimson Tide gymnasts have accomplished so much academically with, frankly, limited facilities. It boggles the mind what the future now holds.

Roll Tide!!!