The University of Alabama has often been recognized as one of the top powerhouse football programs in the nation. With all of the athletic honor and glory directed towards the football team, many other outstanding sports teams on campus have often become overshadowed and under-appreciated. One of the countless athletic teams that deserve support from the student body is the basketball program. Ever since the teams’ downfall in recent years, student turnout and support at games has fallen noticeably, and the energetic vibe and focus has somewhat diminished. With the arrival of a new coach this year, Alabama basketball has been rejuvenated, and students must come check out the action and show their school spirit. With the schools’ support, Alabama basketball could quickly return to its former glory.
The basketball teams’ new coach, Mr. Anthony Grant, is adorned with a pretty impressive background. After graduating from Miami High School, he became an All-City first-team selection and Player-of-the-Year at the University of Dayton. As a freshman, Grant was a member of the Dayton Squad that advanced all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing out to eventual national champion, Georgetown University (“Anthony Grant”). As a sophomore, Grant and the Flyers once again received a birth to the NCAA Tournament. As a senior, Grant was named a team captain and MVP after leading the squad in scoring and rebounding (“Anthony Grant”). Grant next moved on to coaching, where he coached at both the high school and collegiate levels. At the high school level, Grant's teams captured three state titles, five straight national rankings in USA Today, and an overall record of 172–11 (“Anthony Grant”). At the collegiate level, he assisted in taking the Gators to multiple Sweet Sixteen appearances and eventually a national championship win. With Grant’s impressive resume, there is no doubt that the Alabama basketball team is on its way back to victory.
With this new impressive leadership, Alabama basketball has become ready for a challenge. The teams’ reputation was once respectable, nationally ranked, and noticed, and this has motivated them to challenge these once held standings. During the years under coach, Mark Gottfried, Crimson Tide basketball achieved its highest pinnacle by reaching the Elite Eight in the 2004 NCAA Championship Tournament, and the number one spot in the National AP Poll in 2002 (“Mark Gottfried Biography”). This year’s basketball program is ready to achieve and even go beyond the challenge set by previous Alabama teams.
The players’ hard work and endurance is only half of the equation in high intensity games. The University of Alabama’s fans need to show up and support the ever-rising basketball team. With the support of both students and alumni, the basketball team would become more pumped and able to seal victories. It is shown that students “can have an effect on the outcome of the game with [their] voice being heard by the players and referees on the court” (“Fan Participation”). School spirit should reign heavily over basketball and give them the support and attention needed to win big rivalry games.
Students and Alabama fans alike should also support Crimson Tide basketball because many game tickets can be obtained for very low prices. Single game tickets to large matchups, such as Louisiana State and Florida, only cost ten to twenty dollars (“Single Game Tickets”). Some select student tickets for smaller games can even be found for free. With ticket prices low, and school spirit and talent high, the Alabama basketball team deserves a crowd to support them at the array of scheduled games.
Over the past few seasons, the Crimson Tide basketball team has experienced a plethora of ups and downs. From representing Alabama in the Elite Eight to earning a 5-11 Southeastern Conference record, the basketball team learned its lessons, and as a result has become a stronger team. Now that coach Anthony Grant has taken over, team response has risen significantly, and the players have been re-energized, hoping to succeed. It is only through fan support that the Crimson Tide basketball team can reclaim its once short-lived glory. Students and alumni need to realize that their ever-present school spirit can actually make a difference to the basketball team. A brand new coach, fiery school spirit, and cheap tickets should be more than enough to attract more students, faculty, and alumni to the games. With the University’s support, there is no telling what Crimson Tide basketball can accomplish in the upcoming season.
WORK CITED
“Anthony Grant”. Wikipedia Online. 12 Nov. 2009.
“Fan participation correlates with Georgia teams' defeats”. Red and Black. Online Newspaper. 16 Feb. 2004. 15 Nov. 2009.
Jemison, Demtrius. Personal Interview with student basketball player. 12 Nov. 2009.
“Mark Gottfried Biography”. SEC Sports Fan. 15 Nov. 2009.
“Single Game Tickets”. Official Site of University Athletics. 15 Nov. 2009. <http://www
No comments:
Post a Comment