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{{Main|History of the University of Alabama}}
{{Main|History of the University of Alabama}}


Will you go out with me?
In 1818, [[Congress of the United States|Congress]] authorized the newly created [[Alabama Territory]] to set aside a township for the establishment of a "seminary of learning". When [[Alabama]] was admitted to the [[United States of America|Union]] on December 14, 1819, a second township was added to the [[land grant]], bringing it to a total of 46,000 [[acre]]s (186&nbsp;km²). The General Assembly of Alabama established the seminary on December 18, 1820, named it "The University of the State of Alabama", and created a Board of Trustees to manage the construction and operation of the university. The board chose as the site of the campus a place which was then just outside the city limits of Tuscaloosa, the [[List of capitals in the United States|state capital]] at the time. The new campus was designed by [[William Nichols (architect)|William Nichols]], also the architect of newly completed Alabama State Capitol building and [[Christ Episcopal Church (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)|Christ Episcopal Church]]. Influenced by [[Thomas Jefferson]]'s plan at the [[University of Virginia]], the Nichols-designed campus featured a {{convert|70|ft|sing=on}} wide, {{convert|70|ft|sing=on}} high domed [[University of Alabama Quad|Rotunda]] that served as the library and nucleus of the campus.<ref name="alheritage2">{{cite journal |last1=Center |first1=Clark E. |year= 1990 |title=The Burning of the University of Alabama |journal=Alabama Heritage |volume=Spring 1990 |issue=16 |pages=30–45|url=http://www.alabamaheritage.com/vault/UAburning.htm }}</ref> The University's charter was presented to the first University president in the nave of Christ Episcopal Church. Alabama opened its doors to students on April 18, 1831, with the Reverend Alva Woods as President.

An academy-style institution during the Antebellum period, the university emphasized the [[classics]] and the social and natural sciences. There were around 100 students per year at the University in the 1830s. However, as Alabama was a frontier state and a sizable amount of its territory was still in the hand of various [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] tribes until the 1840s, it lacked the infrastructure to adequately prepare students for the rigors of university education. Consequently, only a fraction of students who enrolled were adequately prepared for a university education and few students graduated, especially in the early years. Those who did graduate often had distinguished careers in Alabama and national politics. Early graduates included [[Benjamin Porter]] and [[Alexander Meek]].


There was an active literary culture on campus and in Tuscaloosa. The University had one of the largest libraries in the country on the eve of the Civil War at more than 7000 volumes. There were several thriving literary societies, including the Erosophic and the [[Phi Beta Kappa Society|Phi Beta Kappa]] societies, which frequently had lectures by distinguished politicians and literary figures, including United States [[Supreme Court Justice]] [[John A. Campbell]], novelist [[William Gilmore Simms]], and Professor [[Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard|Frederick Barnard]] (later president of [[Columbia University]]).
There was an active literary culture on campus and in Tuscaloosa. The University had one of the largest libraries in the country on the eve of the Civil War at more than 7000 volumes. There were several thriving literary societies, including the Erosophic and the [[Phi Beta Kappa Society|Phi Beta Kappa]] societies, which frequently had lectures by distinguished politicians and literary figures, including United States [[Supreme Court Justice]] [[John A. Campbell]], novelist [[William Gilmore Simms]], and Professor [[Frederick Augustus Porter Barnard|Frederick Barnard]] (later president of [[Columbia University]]).

Revision as of 15:54, 26 March 2010

Template:Three other uses

The University of Alabama
File:BamaSeal.png
TypePublic University
Established1831
Endowment$535,305,247 as of 9/30/2008[1]
PresidentDr. Robert E. Witt
Academic staff
1,122
Students28,807[2]
Undergraduates21,064[2]
Location
Tuscaloosa
,
Alabama
,
United States
CampusUrban (small city);
1,000 acres (4 km²)
Athletics19 Varsity Sports
25 Club Sports
ColorsCrimson and White   
NicknameCrimson Tide
AffiliationsSoutheastern Conference (NCAA Division I)
MascotBig Al
Websiteua.edu

The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA, or colloquially as 'Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship university of the University of Alabama System. Within Alabama, it is often called "the Capstone". UA is the senior and the largest in terms of enrollment of the state's major research universities, the others being rival Auburn University and fellow UA System institutions the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

The University of Alabama offers programs of study in 12 academic divisions leading to bachelor's, master's, Education Specialist, and doctoral degrees. The only publicly-supported law school in Alabama is at UA. Other academic programs unavailable elsewhere in Alabama include doctoral programs in anthropology, library and information studies, metallurgical engineering, music, Romance languages, and social work.

As of fall 2009, Alabama has an enrollment of close to 29,000 students. Its president is Dr. Robert Witt. Under his leadership, the University has experienced significant growth, despite lower admission acceptance rates, and higher academic standards. The UA Honors Program has grown rapidly as well, with one in five freshmen now enrolled in UA’s Honors College. In fall 2007, these 1,065 scored in the top 2 percent nationally on the ACT.[3]

History

View of the Quad in 1859. The Rotunda can be seen at center, with the halls visible in the background. All of these buildings were destroyed on April 4, 1865.
Main article: History of the University of Alabama

Will you go out with me?

There was an active literary culture on campus and in Tuscaloosa. The University had one of the largest libraries in the country on the eve of the Civil War at more than 7000 volumes. There were several thriving literary societies, including the Erosophic and the Phi Beta Kappa societies, which frequently had lectures by distinguished politicians and literary figures, including United States Supreme Court Justice John A. Campbell, novelist William Gilmore Simms, and Professor Frederick Barnard (later president of Columbia University).

Discipline and student behavior was a major issue at The University almost from the day it opened. Early presidents attempted to enforce strict rules regarding conduct. Students were prohibited from drinking, swearing, making unauthorized visits off-campus, or playing musical instruments outside of a one-hour time frame. Yet riots and gunfights were not an uncommon occurrence. To combat the severe discipline problem, president Landon Garland lobbied and received approval from the legislature in 1860 to transform the university into a military school. As such, many of the cadets who graduated from the school went on to serve as officers in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. As a consequence of that role, Union troops burned down the campus on April 4, 1865, which was unrelated to Sherman's March to the Sea several months earlier and farther east, in Georgia. Only four buildings survived the burning: the President's Mansion (1841), Gorgas House (1829), Little Round House (1860), and Old Observatory (1844).[4]

George Wallace's "stand in the schoolhouse door".

The University reopened in 1871 and in 1880, Congress granted The University 40,000 acres (162 km²) of coal land in partial compensation for $250,000 in war damages. The military structure was dropped approximately a decade after the school was officially opened to women in 1892 after much lobbying by Julia Tutwiler to the Board of Trustees. Tutwiler Hall is now the largest female-only dorm on campus.

On June 11, 1963, Governor George Wallace made his infamous "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door". He stood in the front entrance of Foster Auditorium in a symbolic attempt to stop the enrollment of two African Americans: Vivian Malone and James Hood. When confronted by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach and federal marshals sent in by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, Wallace stepped aside. President John F. Kennedy had called for the integration of the University of Alabama as well.[5] Although Hood dropped out of school after two months, he subsequently returned and, in 1997, received his Ph.D. in philosophy. Malone persisted in her studies and became the first African American to graduate from The University. In 2000, The University granted her a doctorate of humane letters. Later in his life, Wallace apologized for his opposition at that time to racial integration.

Academic divisions

Clark Hall, home of the College of Arts and Sciences, at The University of Alabama

The eight divisions of The University granting undergraduate degrees are:

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration
  • College of Communication and Information Sciences
  • College of Education
  • College of Engineering
  • College of Human Environmental Sciences
  • Capstone College of Nursing
  • School of Social Work

Degrees in those eight divisions at the master's, specialist, and doctoral level are awarded through the Graduate School.

The School of Law offers J.D. and LL.M. degree programs. The College of Community Health Sciences provides advanced studies in medicine and related disciplines and operates a family practice residency program. Medical students are also trained in association with the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Finally, the College of Continuing Studies provides correspondence courses and other types of distance education opportunities for non-traditional students. It operates a distance education facility in Gadsden.

Founded in 1971 and merged into the College of Arts and Sciences in 1996, the New College program allows undergraduate students more flexibility in choosing their curriculum while completing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree. The program allows students to create a "depth study" in a particular field chosen by the student. The student completes approved independent studies alongside their normal coursework. The objective of New College is to inspire interdisciplinary learning at the undergraduate level.

Campus

Denny Chimes on the Quad
See also: University of Alabama Quad

UA is composed of a singular campus of approximately 1,800 acres (4 km²). The campus is notable for its abundance of buildings built in the Greek Revival style. Four University of Alabama buildings survived the Civil War: Gorgas House, Maxwell Hall (the Old Observatory), the Little Round House (Civil War lookout post), and the President's Mansion. All are still used today.

Landmarks include the President's Mansion, the Amelia Gayle Gorgas Library, and Denny Chimes, a campanile equipped with a 25-bell carillon, all of which are located on or near the Quad, the central green on campus. The Quad lies roughly at the geographic center of the campus.

On-campus cultural facilities include the Paul Bryant Museum, the Alabama Museum of Natural History, the Allen Bales Theater, the Marion Gallaway Theater, the Sarah Moody Gallery of Art, Morgan Auditorium, and the Frank M. Moody Music Building, which houses the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and the UA Opera Theatre, as well as three resident choirs.

The University also maintains The University of Alabama Arboretum in eastern Tuscaloosa and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Dauphin Island.

Layout

The President's Mansion, opposite Denny Chimes

The Quad anchors the campus. To the east lie buildings housing most of the science and math departments, as well as the College of Nursing. Engineering Row, home of the departments of the College of Engineering, is located to the northeast, and the fine arts and humanities departments of the College of Arts and Sciences are oriented to the north and northwest of the Quad. To the west lie the buildings of the colleges of Commerce and Education. Finally, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, the College of Human Environmental Sciences, and the School of Social Work flank the Quad to the south.

Shelby Hall, home of the chemistry department, on the northeast part of campus

Additionally, the facilities of the School of Law, the School of Music (a division of the College of Arts and Sciences), and the College of Community Health Sciences are located in the far eastern edge of campus. The College of Continuing Education is located in Parham Hall further south of the Quad.

Athletic facilities generally flank the far south edge of campus. Bryant-Denny Stadium is in the southwestern edge of the campus and Coleman Coliseum is in the southeastern edge of campus, near the law school.

The entire campus is served by the CrimsonRide shuttle bus system, which officially started serving campus on August 11, 2007.[6]

Demographics

As of the fall semester of 2008, The University has a total enrollment of 28,807 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students.[7] Enrollment demographics for 2008: 76% are residents of Alabama and 24% are out-of-state students. 81% of students are white, 11% are African-American and 2% are Hispanic.[8]

In figures from 2005, the most recent available, The University had a faculty of 1,148. 829 held the rank of assistant professor or higher. 922 faculty members were full time. 527 were tenured with 244 on tenure track. 13.8% (114) were minorities and 34.7% (287) were women.[citation needed]

Capital Campaign

In April 2006, the university announced a capital campaign with a goal of $500 million called "Our Students. Our Future."[9] The "quiet phase" of the campaign, which started in 2002, raised $299 million. The focus of the campaign, to end in 2009, was stated to be "student scholarships, faculty support, campus facilities and priority needs." In November 2007, the university announced that it had raised $428 million.[10]

This campaign will add approximately $250 million to the endowment,[11] valued at over $535 million as of September 2008.[1]

Half of the money raised in the capital campaign will go toward student financial aid to recruit and retain students. So far more than $170 million has been allocated to student financial aid. Endowed scholarships account for $75 million.

An additional $77 million has been donated to buildings and facilities. The athletics department and the UA School of Law have raised substantial amounts of money for building purposes.

Rankings and Accolades

General

The University of Alabama has consistently ranked as a top 55 public university in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and has a selectivity rating of "more selective".[12] In the 2010 US News and World Report, UA is ranked 96th among all colleges in the nation.[13] The University of Alabama ranked 12th in the nation among public universities in the enrollment of National Merit Scholars in 2007. Seven University of Alabama students were named to the 2008 USA Today All-USA College Academic Team, the most of any school. This year’s team brings UA’s total for the last six years to 31, a figure that tops all other colleges and universities. In addition to this year, UA had the most students on the list in 2006 with six and in 2005 and 2003, both with five. In 2007, UA tied with Washington University-St. Louis for the most team members with four. In 2004, with four students on the team, UA came in second only to Harvard.[3]

A ranking of colleges and universities, published in the May 19, 2008 edition of Forbes magazine, ranks the University of Alabama seventh in the nation among public universities. The ranking also places UA 42nd among all national universities, both public and private.[14] According to both the 2008 and the 2009 US News and World Report America's Best Colleges Edition college rankings, UA had the highest ranking of any university in the state of Alabama.[15] In fact, among all public universities in the US, the University of Alabama is ranked #37, according to the 2009 USNWR America's Best Colleges Edition, up from its national ranking of #41 the previous year.

UA graduates include 15 Rhodes Scholars, 15 Goldwater Scholars, nine Truman Scholars, one Gates Scholar, one Portz Scholar, and one Udall Scholar. Published reports have ranked UA among the top four flagship universities in the Southeast and among the nation's top 25 public flagship universities in terms of minority enrollment.

Specific colleges and programs

UA's undergraduate business program ranked 29th among public undergraduate business schools in U.S. News and World Report’s annual college rankings, fall 2007 and 48th when private universities are included.[3] However, the school did not make the Business Week Top 100 Undergraduate Business Schools in 2009.[16]

The School of Law is ranked 11th among public law schools and 32nd among all law schools in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report's 2009 edition of its annual "Best Graduate Schools" publication.[17] The law school boasts prestigious alumni such as United States Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, long time Alabama senator Howell Heflin, and both current U.S. Senators from Alabama (Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions).

The College of Communication and Information Sciences’ doctoral program in mass communication is ranked seventh nationally by the National Communication Association. The most recent U.S. News rankings for communication graduate programs placed UA’s advertising program 12th and telecommunication 14th in the nation.[3] Additionally, in March 2009, PRWeek magazine ranked Alabama's Public Relations program as the second best undergraduate program in the nation.[18]

The doctoral program in health education, a joint program of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, ranks seventh in the nation according to a recent study published in the Journal of Health Education.[3]

UA is one of the 113 members of the Association of Research Libraries, which yearly compiles internal rankings. In 2004-2005, the last year for which statistics are available, among 113 members, the University of Alabama ranked 94th (where 113 is the bottom) in support staff; 98th in total expenditures; 83rd in total volumes; 73rd in current serials; and 103rd in total items loaned, a measurement of the library's use. This is one of the lowest rankings for a state university in the country. Nevertheless, UA's Graduate program in Library and Information Sciences is ranked 22nd in the nation, up from its ranking in the 2009 edition, according to the 2010 edition of the US News "America's Best Graduate Schools". In the 2009 ranking, UA’s School of Library and Information Science placed 30th.

Student life

With more than 25,000 students enrolled, the University has a substantial student life component. With the increasing enrollment, faculty have been added to limit increases in student to instructor ratio.[19] Student housing,[19] and other facilities are being added to accommodate the growth.

Greek life

Fraternity Row, circa 1943
Main article: List of Fraternities and Sororities at the University of Alabama

Greek letter organizations first appeared at The University in 1847 when two men visiting from Yale University installed a chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon. When DKE members began holding secret meetings in the old state capitol building that year, the administration strongly voiced its disapproval. Over the two decades, four other fraternities appeared at Alabama: Phi Gamma Delta in 1855, Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 1856 (this was the founding chapter), Kappa Sigma in 1867, and Sigma Nu in 1874. Anti-fraternity laws were imposed in that year, but were lifted in 1890s. Women at the University founded the Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority in 1903. Alpha Delta Pi soon followed.

The University today recognizes 48 social Greek letter organizations. An unknown number of unofficial fraternities and sororities also exist. Three governing boards oversee the operations of the Greek organizations: the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Panhellenic Association, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). There is also a newly established UGC, or Unified Greek Council, which includes those organizations with multicultural membership who are not national members of the latter three Greek boards. Over one quarter of undergraduates at Alabama are now members of a social Greek letter organization. The number of Greek men has more than doubled since 2002 to almost 2,500 for the fall 2008 with 15 fraternities now recording memberships of more than one hundred (within recent years there were none recorded with that number). For the fall 2008 over 3,500 females or 30% of undergraduate females were in a social sorority at UA.[20] Following 2008 fall recruitment, almost all Panhellenic sororities participating through all rounds had potential new member class sizes of 80 or more; nearly all Panhellenic sororities also now have more than 200 total members. In March 2008, the University gained two new sororities to accommodate the growing Greek system interest. Alpha Phi, which had a chapter at the University from 1932 to 1963, colonized in the fall of 2008 and was officially installed as a chapter on April 6, 2009 with its first initiates since 1963.

SGA Controversy

Main article: The Machine

Since its founding in 1914, a secretive coalition of fraternities and sororities, commonly known as "The Machine", has wielded enormous influence over the Student Government Association. Occurrences of harassment, intimidation, and even criminal activities aimed at opposition candidates have been reported. Many figures in local, state and national politics have come out of the SGA at the University of Alabama. (Esquire magazine devoted its April 1992 cover story to an exposé of the Machine.)

Honor societies

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Media

Numerous media outlets are operated by or in conjunction with The University. Student-produced media outlets are all managed by the Office of Student Media, itself controlled by The University-sanctioned Media Planning Board. However, all student publications are editorially independent of The University. The OSM oversees the production of one newspaper, one yearbook, three scholarly publications, and the student-run radio station.

  • The Crimson White is the student-produced newspaper. Published four times a week during the normal academic term and once-weekly during the summer term, the CW, as the newspaper is known, normally distributes 15,000 copies per publication.
  • First published in 1892, Corolla is the official yearbook of The University. It is produced annually by students and is the oldest student-run publication on campus.
  • The Black Warrior Review is The University's widely distributed and influential literary journal managed and published by graduate students (primarily from the English and Creative Writing departments). Founded in 1974, BWR publishes local, regional, and nationally known writers, poets, and visual artists.
  • Since 1990, UA has also published the Marr's Field Journal, an undergraduate literary journal published by, and composed of material from, Alabama's undergraduates. Like its "big brother," MFJ publishes fiction, poetry, and graphic art.
  • The Southern Historian is a journal of Southern history written, edited, and produced entirely by graduate students in the Department of History. Southern Historian features articles on all aspects of Southern history, culture and book reviews in all fields of U.S. History.
  • WVUA-FM, "90.7 The Capstone", formerly known as "New Rock 90.7", is one of the older college radio stations in the nation, tracing its roots back to 1940. It carries a variety of music programming and broadcasts the games of several of the University's sports teams.
  • WVUA-CA, also owned by The University and employing numerous students, is a commercial television station run by a professional staff.

Athletics and traditions

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide

Alabama's athletic teams are known as the Crimson Tide. Alabama competes in the Southeastern Conference (Western Division) of the NCAA's Division I. The Athletic facilities on campus include the 92,138-seat Bryant-Denny Stadium, named after legendary football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and former UA President George Denny, and the 14,619-seat Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama maintains athletic rivalries with Auburn University and the University of Tennessee. The rivalry with Auburn is especially heated as it encompasses all sports. The annual Alabama-Auburn football game is nicknamed the Iron Bowl.

While the rivalry with Tennessee is centered around football for the most part, there is no shortage of acrimony here, especially given the recent history between then-UT Coach Phillip Fulmer and his relationship to the Tide's most recent NCAA probation. There are also rivalries with Louisiana State University (football and baseball), University of Mississippi (football and men's basketball), Mississippi State University (men's basketball), University of Georgia (women's gymnastics), and the University of Florida (football, softball).

Football

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide football
Further information: 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

The University of Alabama football program is the most nationally-known of all Alabama's intercollegiate athletics programs. Started in 1892, it is one of the oldest, most tradition-rich, and most successful football programs in the country. The team has won 22 SEC titles and 13 national championships in polls (including 6 awarded by the Associated Press and 5 by the Coaches Poll).[21] Additionally, the team has compiled 31 10-win seasons and 58 bowl appearances, winning 32 of them – all NCAA records. Alabama has produced 18 hall-of-famers (Paul "Bear" Bryant, Harry Gilmer, Bart Starr, Johnny Mack Brown, Johnny Cain, John Hannah, Frank Howard, Pooley Hubert, Lee Roy Jordan, Dixie Howell, Don Hutson, Vaughn Mancha, Johnny Musso, Joe Namath, Ozzie Newsome, Billy Neighbors, Fred Sington, Wallace Wade, Don Whitmire) and 98 All-Americans honored 105 times.

The Crimson Tide's current home venue, Bryant-Denny Stadium, opened in 1929 with a capacity of around 12,000. The stadium has since grown to an official capacity of 92,138 via several additions, the latest being an upper deck in the north end zone (completed August 2006). This addition includes a premium club level, an official stadium entrance, and a promenade that is prominently featured in pre-game activities. Bryant-Denny Stadium's all-time attendance record is 92,138, set on September 2, 2006 vs. the University of Hawaii. The Tide has also played many rivalry games, among others, at Legion Field in Birmingham.

Nearly synonymous with Alabama football is legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant whose record at The University of Alabama was 232-46-9. He led the Crimson Tide to a national title in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979, which is tied with Notre Dame's legendary coach Knute Rockne. Additionally, the 1966 team was the only one in the country to finish undefeated and untied, but poll voters denied the 12-0 Alabama team the three-peat as Michigan State and Notre Dame tied each other 10-10 in what was considered the "Game of the Century" and subsequently split the national championship.

On December 12, 2009, sophomore running back Mark Ingram was awarded the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player. In so being named, Ingram became the first Heisman Trophy winner for the University of Alabama. Alabama defeated Texas 37-21 in the BCS Championship game on January 7, 2010, capping a perfect season, a SEC Championship, and winning its first national championship in the BCS era.

Men's basketball

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball
Further information: 2009–10 Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team

The Alabama's men's basketball program trails only Kentucky in SEC basketball wins, SEC tournament titles and regular season titles. In recent years, the men's basketball program has again risen in stature nationally under head coach Mark Gottfried, achieving a No. 1 national ranking briefly in December 2002. Further, UA has once again become a regular conference basketball contender, much as it was in the 1980s and early 1990s under the direction of Wimp Sanderson and the 1970s under C. M. Newton. Alabama has 7 NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. In the 2003-04 season, the University of Alabama's men's basketball team reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. It defeated the #1 seed of the Region, and then lost to the eventual national champion of that year, the University of Connecticut. Alabama has the second most NCAA tournament wins without reaching the final four. In January 25, 2005, Street & Smith magazine included Alabama in a list of the 100 greatest college basketball programs of all time. The magazine used 15 categories to determine the top 100, including NCAA and NIT appearances and wins, conference championships and tournament championships, graduation rates, all-time winning percentages, and NBA first-round draft picks. Alabama also has several former players in the NBA, including current stars Mo Williams (Cavaliers), Antonio McDyess (Spurs) and Gerald Wallace (Bobcats). One notable star, Robert Horry has earned seven NBA Championship rings.

Women's basketball

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball

The Crimson Tide has appeared in 10 Tournaments for the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, including an eight-year streak of consecutive appearances in the tournament stretching from 1992 to 1999. In 10 NCAA tournament appearances, Alabama has advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" six times and the "Elite Eight" and the "Final Four" in 1994. The most successful season was 1996-1997 when the Tide finished in second place in the Southeastern Conference (10-2 record) and had a midseason national ranking of #2 in polls by the AP and USA Today (November 12, 1996), and finished with a 25-7 overall record. The University of Alabama Women's Basketball program shares the national record with Duke University for the most total points for both teams when Alabama defeated Duke 121-120 (in four overtimes) in 1995 in the NCAA Tournament, a game that ESPN has declared as one of the best all-time women's basketball tournament games.[22] Seven former players for the University of Alabama have made rosters of teams of the WNBA. Alabama has had an active player in the WNBA through every year of its existence. The current head coach for the Crimson Tide is Wendell Hudson. Foster Auditorium will become the new venue for home games of women's basketball in 2010.

Women's wheelchair basketball

The University of Alabama won the 2009 National Championship in Women's Wheelchair Basketball.

Baseball

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide baseball
Further information: 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide baseball team

Gymnastics

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics

The women's gymnastics squad at The University of Alabama first competed in 1975. The squad did not have a winning season until the arrival of Sarah Patterson in 1979. In the intervening 26 years under Patterson and her husband David, the squad has won four national championships, six SEC championships, 24 regional titles, and 237 All-American honors. It has placed in the top 5 at the NCAA Championships 21 of the past 27 years and won the championships four times: in 1988, 1991, 1996, and most recently in 2002. The gymnastics squad also hosts an annual fundraiser for breast cancer, where the crowd is encouraged to "Think Pink" and support the cause by turning out in pink clothing. As of the 2009 fundraiser, the effort had raised in excess of $750,000.[23]

Gymnastics meets have an average attendance of over 10,000 at Coleman Coliseum. Meets against the team's arch-rival, the University of Georgia Gymdogs, often sell out. Alabama holds two of the five NCAA records for the largest gymnastics crowds of all time, including an attendance of 15,043 fans on February 1, 1997.

Women's soccer

The University of Alabama won the SEC West Division Championship in 1995, 1997, and 1998. In 1995, the Crimson Tide was the SEC Tournament Runner-up. The team is coached by Todd Bramble.

Softball

Main article: Alabama Crimson Tide softball
Further information: 2010 Alabama Crimson Tide softball season

The Alabama softball team was started in 1997. Since then it has grown to become one of the top programs in all of the country.They are currently coached by head coach Patrick Murphy and assistant coaches Alyson Habetz and Vann Stuedeman. They have won four Southeastern Conference championships (one regular season and three tournaments), made 11 consecutive NCAA tournaments (every year since 1999) and have advanced to the Women's College World Series six times, including back-to-back 3rd place finishes in the 2008 and 2009 series.

Women's volleyball

The University of Alabama Volleyball team has competed in the NCAA National Tournament in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The team won the SEC-West Championship in 2000 and 2004, and was the SEC Volleyball Tournament Runner-up in 2005. In 2000, the Alabama Volleyball team achieved the nation's best team-GPA among Division I Volleyball teams. Coaches for Alabama Volleyball have included Stephanie Schleuder, Dorothy Franco-Reed, and Judy Green.

Women's Rowing

In October 2005, Mal Moore announced the addition of Alabama's 21st varsity sport. The women's rowing team became the newest varsity sport at The University of Alabama in Fall 2006. The team was added due to the NCAA's Title IX and allows for 20 full scholarships.[24]

Taking only women who had previously rowed for the Alabama Crew Club (est. 1987) and other walk-ons, Head Coach Larry Davis built the program from the ground up. Within two years, the team has had 25 athletes earn SEC Academic Honor Roll honors and 16 earn Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete awards. For the '07-'08 and '08-'09 school years, Women's Rowing has won the team service award by posting the most number of community service hours (over 1500) out of all women's sports at Alabama.

Nationally, the Alabama women's rowing team has won both silver(in 2007) and bronze(in 2009) medals in the women's championship 8+ category at the legendary Head of the Charles regatta in Boston, MA.

Traditions

Main article: University of Alabama traditions

The most distinctive of Alabama's traditions are almost always associated with football. The nickname "Crimson Tide" originated with the 1907 Iron Bowl. Auburn, heavily favored to win, was forced to accept a tie with Alabama after a hard-fought game. Describing the game, one sportswriter described the offensive line as a "Crimson Tide", in reference to their crimson jerseys.

Further information: Yea Alabama

One such tradition is the fight song, "Yea Alabama", written in 1926 by Lundy Sykes, then editor of the campus newspaper.[25] Its opening line is often sung as "Yea Alabama, Crimson Tide!";[26] however, the correct opening line is "Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!"[27]

Notable alumni

Main article: List of University of Alabama people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b UA System Financial Report, 2008
  2. ^ a b "Brief Profile of The University of Alabama" (Press release). The University of Alabama. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
  3. ^ a b c d e Quick Facts. University of Alabama.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference alheritage2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "1963 Year In Review"
  6. ^ Cain, Mary (July 26, 2007). "Officials: CrimsonRide is ready to get started". The Crimson White. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ "University of Alabama student enrollment reaches all-time high of 28,807"
  8. ^ http://www.cw.ua.edu/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/09/22/4513981369b06
  9. ^ "UA Announces $500 Million Capital Campaign" (Press release). The University of Alabama. April 8, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  10. ^ "UA's "Our Students. Our Future." Campaign Reaches $428 Million" (Press release). The University of Alabama. November 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  11. ^ "Our Goals. Our Priorities". Retrieved 2007-11-25.
  12. ^ "UA Ranked in Top Tier By U.S. News". Retrieved June 21 2006. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |dateformat= ignored (help)
  13. ^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/tuscaloosa-al/university-of-alabama-1051
  14. ^ University of Alabama News
  15. ^ University of Alabama News
  16. ^ http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/undergrad_bschool_2009/
  17. ^ University of Alabama News
  18. ^ http://www.prweekus.com/PR-Education-Program-of-the-Year-2009/article/123799/
  19. ^ a b "Pains will come with school’s gains, but all will benefit". Tuscaloosa News, September 17, 2007.
  20. ^ http://www.greeklife.ua.edu/docs/Factbook%20Greek%20Membership%202008.pdf
  21. ^ "Past Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I FBS) National Champions (formerly called Division I-A)". NCAA.
  22. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/news/story?id=2331992
  23. ^ Walsh, Christopher. "‘Power of Pink’ draws green", The Tuscaloosa News, February 26, 2009. Retrieved on May 17, 2009.
  24. ^ http://www.rolltide.com/sports/w-rowing/spec-rel/031208aaa.html
  25. ^ Studwell, William Emmett (2001). College Fight Songs II: A Supplementary Anthology. Routledge. p. 21. ISBN 9780789009203. Retrieved 6 February 2010. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Sparks, Linda (1988). American college regalia: a handbook. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313262661. Retrieved 6 February 2010. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Songs of Alabama. Rolltide.com.

Bibliography

  • [1]. University of Alabama. Accessed 9/10/2009
  • Sellers, James B. History of the University of Alabama. Volume 1: 1818–1902. Tuscaloosa (Ala.): University of Alabama Press, 1953. ASIN: B0007ECYJO
  • Wolfe, Suzanne Rau. The University of Alabama: A Pictorial History. Tuscaloosa (Ala.): University of Alabama Press, 1983. ISBN 0-8173-0119-4

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