I usually read the blog of University of Alabama Athletic Director Bill Battle and enjoy the information he provides. This week was no exception. He spoke of individual effort, courage, and the drive to excel. And Alabama athletes excel.
Battle pointed out several individual efforts, calling them by name, as is deserving. He spoke of the the individual awards as well as the team awards. Something here that comes shining through... the pride of the athletes, the pride of the institution toward said athletes, and the pride of us, the fans, who love them all.
According to Battle, the total of Alabama's individual NCAA champions has now risen to 91. Also, Crimson Tide athletes have brought home 11 NCAA individual titles over the last two years.
UA now has a crown in women's golf for the first time, as well as a title in tennis as a first for Bama. Both of these were individual efforts and awards. The Tide also has 26 individual titles in men's track and field, 25 in gymnastics, 16 in women's track and field, 12 in men's swimming and diving, and nine in women's swimming and diving.
Team-wise, Bama athletes have given us two SEC team titles during the 2014-15 season. Those titles came in football and gymnastics, making that a total of six SEC team titles during the past two years. And Battle proudly pointed out that makes 19 SEC team championships since 2008. Also for this year, 10 of Bama's 17 sports teams, four of which are men's and six are women's, are either currently ranked, or finished ranked, in the top 25 nationally.
Thank you, Bill Battle, for continuing to foster the kind of atmosphere that helps the coaches to help the athletes strive for both academic and sports excellence.
Check out RollTide.com this weekend and read the entire article by A.D. Bill Battle. Why not make it a regular read?
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Shelley Godwin Returns Home As Asst. Women's Tennis Coach
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Shelley Godwin is coming home. She has been named the new Alabama women's assistant tennis coach by head coach Jenny Mainz. Godwin played four seasons under Mainz from 2005-09, and returns home after spending the past four seasons as the MTSU Blue Raiders head coach.
"It's great to welcome back former UA women's tennis standout Shelley Godwin
to our Alabama family," Mainz said. "Our Alabama women's tennis program
has taken a giant step forward with Shelley's commitment to return to
her alma mater to coach. Shelley has done a commendable job in her
coaching career where she has coached the same way she competed for the
Tide -- with a fierce competitive spirit and a genuine love for the
game."
As a head coach Godwin had good success. She lead MTSU to four consecutive winning season, which is a first in 11 years. Before MTSU, Godwin served two seasons as an assistant head coach at Michigan State.
Godwin commented, "I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be the assistant women's tennis coach at The University of Alabama. It's an honor to return to my alma mater and have the privilege of giving back to a program and university that has given so much to me. I'm excited to work alongside Coach Mainz, one of the best in college tennis, as we share the same passion and vision for continuing to grow this great program."
As a head coach Godwin had good success. She lead MTSU to four consecutive winning season, which is a first in 11 years. Before MTSU, Godwin served two seasons as an assistant head coach at Michigan State.
Godwin commented, "I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to be the assistant women's tennis coach at The University of Alabama. It's an honor to return to my alma mater and have the privilege of giving back to a program and university that has given so much to me. I'm excited to work alongside Coach Mainz, one of the best in college tennis, as we share the same passion and vision for continuing to grow this great program."
Shelley her career at Alabama with a combined 88 victories, including 59 singles matches. In 2009 she was the ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award
honoree. The award is presented to the women's tennis player who
exhibited outstanding leadership and sportsmanship as well as
scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
Mainz concluded, "Shelley has been a pillar of our Alabama Program since she graduated in 2009. She epitomized the consummate student-athlete representing the Tide with character, integrity and class. The future of our program is bright with Shelley's experience, leadership and passion for the Alabama Crimson Tide."
Mainz concluded, "Shelley has been a pillar of our Alabama Program since she graduated in 2009. She epitomized the consummate student-athlete representing the Tide with character, integrity and class. The future of our program is bright with Shelley's experience, leadership and passion for the Alabama Crimson Tide."
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OT Charles Baldwin Commits To The Tide
The Crimson Tide has received another verbal commitment to play football. He's 6' 5" , 315-pound junior college offensive tackle Charles Baldwin. He committed while visiting the Capstone this weekend. Baldwin is the number two overall junior college prospect in the country, according to 247Sports.
This is the fourth commit for Bama this week, and the tenth in this class overall. Baldwin will graduate in December from ASA College in Brooklyn, New York and be geared up and ready to go in spring practice for 2016.
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4-Star QB Jalen Hurts Commits
Photo Credit: 247Sports
Bama football picked up a second commitment yesterday, and its first quarterback commitment for 2016, 4-star recruit Jalen Hurts from Channelview, Texas has verbally committed to the University of Alabama.
The 6' 2", 208 pound Hurts says he is very happy to be declaring for the Tide. He loves the competitive spirit as well as the academics.
According to 247Sports, Hurts is the ninth-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class, and holds a 277 ranking among all recruits. He threw for 21 touchdowns and a total of 2,545 yards. He also rushed for 951 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior.
