Alabama fans will get their first official look at the 2005 Crimson Tide Gymnastics team Saturday, Oct. 2 when the team will be signing autographs on the University of Alabama Quad from 3-4 pm.

Fans will get to meet three-time NCAA Champion Ashley Miles, All-Americans Alexis Brion, Mari Bayer and Shannon Hrozek along with returners Brittany Comeaux, Rachael Delahoussaye, Dana Filetti, Meredith Laxton, Dana Pierce, Michelle Reeser and Erin Rightley. They will also get their first peek at rookies Jessie Silver, Mindy Weber and Kaitlin White. Freshman Terin Humphrey is currently on tour with her U.S. Olympic teammates and will join the Tide in late December in time to start the 2005 competitive season.

And at halftime of the Alabama-South Carolina football game, which gets underway at 5 p.m., Miles and 2004 senior Jeana Rice will receive their NCAA Individual Championship Rings along with diver Lane Bassham. Miles won the NCAA Vault and Floor Exercise title in 2004 while Rice won the NCAA All-Around championship. Bassham, a senior last year, won the NCAA Three-meter Diving championship.

Update: Anyone wishing to sign up for the [ bus trips ] for 2005 may do so at the Quad during the pre-game activities of the South Carolina football game (Saturday, October 2, 2004). We will set up close to where the gymnasts will be signing autographs. So if you would rather do that than call or e-mail this is your opportunity.

Today was the first official practice for the Alabama Gymnastics team.  PBAs, Salto and a host of other interested observers stormed the gymnastics complex to see what the gals were up to.  Several eye-popping elements were being thrown by the veterans and we are happy to report that everyone is in excellent shape for so early in the fall practice season. One bit of news included the decision by Johnna Gay, a walk on from Mobile, to discontinue college gymnastics. Johnna earned Scholastic All America honors her freshman year and exhibited last season on the vault and on the floor exercise at the LSU meet in Baton Rouge, where she scored a 9.825.  Best of luck to Johnna as she continues her education at the Capstone.  Another bit of news involved newcomer Jessie Silver from Forney, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), who has walked onto the team for 2005.  Now onto the highlights!

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