Alabama
Alabama Gymnastics Focusing on Response to Adversity After Oklahoma Meet
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— When veteran Lilly Hudson took Alabama’s first fall of the night as the second-to-last competitor for the home team on Friday, it was something of a metaphor for how the night had gone up to that point for the No. 10 Crimson Tide.
Facing No. 1 Oklahoma (8-0) for the first time in SEC competition, Alabama (1-2) was unable to overcome a performance that saw it earn just one individual score of 9.900 or greater during the entire meet, with that score coming on junior Gabby Gladieux’s floor routine (9.950, tying for the event title) once it was too late to affect the outcome of the matchup.
With the team also battling illness throughout the past week, that added another layer of difficulty to what was already going to be a daunting challenge. Tough judging and struggles during the floor routines did little to help the Crimson Tide’s cause. Having to count a 9.575 on the fourth rotation is nobody’s ideal scenario and it put a dent in Alabama’s 196.300 final score.
Head coach Ashley Johnston did not place the result on the shoulders of the judges, explaining factors that have led to lower scores around the country. She will be submitting post-meet routine summary requests (of which Alabama is allowed six) but still wants the team to be able to get into that 9.9-and-above range multiple times in every lineup.
Johnston speaks often about meeting moments, and it is her hope that the team responds to the adversity presented both in the build to Friday’s anticipated contest and during the meet itself. ESPN’s Lauren Sisler, a former collegiate gymnast, spoke to the Alabama team afterwards at Johnston’s request.
“Those of you that know her story, she talks about, even in the low moments, it’s your perspective and how you share your story and how you respond that’s everything,” Johnston said. “She came in and talked to the team about, ‘Learn from this moment, and then put it in a box and put it away and you’ve gotta start fresh.’ I think we had to do that last week at Kentucky… then we dealt with a week of another set of just hardship and obstacles, so we’ve gotta use that [and] put it behind us.”
The Crimson Tide athletes seem to have had this message resonate. Sophomore Chloe LaCoursiere, who was one of the competitors afflicted with the aforementioned illness, said adversity is the only way to grow and did not seem to unilaterally blame that particular challenge for Friday’s outcome as she and Gladieux looked ahead to next week’s meet against longtime SEC rival Georgia.
Gladieux echoed her teammate’s thoughts. Her floor routine was one of the lone bright spots on the night, and she gave her teammates credit as she recalled it in the meet’s immediate aftermath.
“This team prides itself on its connection. We always say that we have each other’s backs no matter what,” Gladieux said. “I knew what I had to do… I just wanted to end this meet on a high note because this one’s been tough for us. A lot of adversity, a lot of illness. But we fought tonight, and that’s what I’m most proud of.”
Alabama
Roll Tide: Lilly selects Alabama site as location for $6B API facility
Alabama
Alabama named in Paul Finebaum’s head-turning CFP prediction
The Alabama Crimson Tide had a lot of nerves awaiting the committee’s decision on their College Football Playoff fate, but they ended up getting into the field as the No. 9 seed and will face off against No. 8 Oklahoma.
Kalen DeBoer and company did not have a good showing against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game. They lost that matchup by a final score of 28-7. However, they’ll have a chance to prove that they belong.
While many have already written Alabama off as a potential national championship contender, there is one notable analyst who believes that the Crimson Tide still have a path to winning it all.
Read more: Texas, Arch Manning Dealt More Bad News After Missing CFP
Paul Finebaum still believes that there’s a chance Alabama could make a stunning run to a title.
During an appearance on “Get Up” on Monday morning, Finebaum revealed the pathway that he sees for Alabama to win a championship.
“The pairings could have been a lot worse. I, frankly, think if Alabama can get past Oklahoma, at least on paper, they have a path. It may not be that great for anybody who watched Indiana play on Saturday night,” Finebaum said. “But I think a lot of Alabama people would feel pretty good about it.”
Beating Oklahoma will be no easy task. The Sooners have had an up-and-down season at times, but they are loaded with talent on both sides of the football. Should the Crimson Tide pull off a win over Oklahoma, a much tougher test would await.
As Finebaum mentioned, Alabama would then have to take on the No. 1-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. Led by head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana is fresh off of beating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game by a score of 13-10. They’re legit and they have arguably the best quarterback in the nation with Fernando Mendoza.
No one can count out any top-tier team at this point in time. There is a chance that the Crimson Tide could make a shocking run to a national championship win. That being said, DeBoer and company will have to fix a lot of weaknesses to do that.
Read more: Ohio State’s Ryan Day Sends Warning Ahead of College Football Playoff
One weakness that Finebaum sees has been the recent play of quarterback Ty Simpson and Alabama’s running game.
“Anything I say about Ty Simpson, it will be articulated 1000 times more,” Finebaum said. “But something is wrong. Is it the lack of running game? Is it problems up front? But he just doesn’t seem to be the same quarterback he was eight weeks ago. I think that has to be a major concern going into Norman.”
The Crimson Tide will face off against the Sooners on December 19. Fans can only wait and hope that the team can fix the issues that were clearly present against Georgia.
For more on the Alabama Crimson Tide and college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.
Alabama
University of Alabama alumni launch fundraiser to save student magazines
University of Alabama alumni have launched a fundraising campaign for two print magazines that were shut down.
Masthead, a nonprofit dedicated to “diverse, anti-racist and equitable student media at the University of Alabama,” opened a $25,000 fundraising campaign for Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six, two student-led print magazines focused on women’s lifestyle and Black culture.
The university shuttered the magazines after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives may violate federal anti-discrimination laws.
The alumni group said it doesn’t think the magazines violated federal regulations.
“Even if their subject matter is specific, Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six have always been by anyone, for everyone,” Masthead said in a news release. “The editors-in-chief of both magazines said their staff are ready to continue their work, with or without UA.”
The nonprofit the university’s decision silences viewpoints “disfavored by the government because they dared to write about those topics at all.”
The fundraiser will go towards printing costs, equipment and student salaries. Masthead president Victor Luckerson told AL.com it costs about $7,500 to print 1,000 copies.
“This fundraising drive is the first step in ensuring the staff at Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six receive the mentorship, advice and support they need during this tumultuous time,” Masthead said.
Masthead will post updates about the campaign in their newsletter.
“Even if the university says that Nineteen Fifty-Six is suspended, this proves that there is no suspension of the stories that we’re going to tell,” Nineteen Fifty-Six editor-in-chief Kendal Wright said. “It takes away a space for us to be able to tell our own stories and for everyone to read our stories. But I think this experience has taught our community and our staff that there is always another way. We will always have a space to tell our stories, and we will always make one. We cannot be silenced.”
The University of Alabama has not responded to requests for comment.
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