Jan. 25, 2007

Meet Notes (PDF)

AUBURN -

The No. 10 Auburn gymnastics team (4-1, 0-0 SEC) will hit the road to take on in-state rival No. 5 Alabama (1-1, 0-1 SEC) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.  The Tigers' 4-1 record is the best start since 2002 when the team started off with the same mark.  This marks the first of three meetings scheduled for this season.  Auburn dropped all four of the team's meetings last year.  The meet will be covered by ESPN2, and aired on tape dealy Feb. 13 at 1:30 p.m.

"We have talked all wekk about going up there and winning," head coach Jeff Thompson said.  "There is going to be a huge crowd rooting against us, but I feel like it's the best chance (to win) that we have had since I have been here."

Alabama enters the meet off the heels of a 196.825-195.650 loss to No. 1 Florida in Gainesville.  UA led for three rotaions, but struggled on beam, having to count two falls.  Florida was able to take advantage, posting a 49.525 on floor to take the lead and the meet.

The Crimson Tide returns two All-Americans, junior Terin Humphrey, an eight-time All-American and sophomore Brittany Magee, a floor exercise All-American last season.    Freshmna Kassi Price ranks first in the country in the all-around, with an average score of 39.412, with her best event being floor thus far.

The Auburn Tigers are ranked third on beam with a blistering average of 48.975., while junior Dwyer is ranked No. 1 in the country with an average score of 9.908

Junior Julie Dwyer has continued her quest to be one of the all-time greats in Auburn history.  So far this season, Dwyer has won the all around and beam in each of her first three meets, while also adding a vault and bars title.  For her career, the Bloomington, Ind., native has 45 titles, including 16 all -arounds, 15 on beam, eight on vault, three on floor and three on bars.

Since winning the first nine meetings between the two schools, Auburn has dropped 89 straight to the Crimson Tide and is 9-89 all-time against Alabama.  At last season's Super Six Challenge, Auburn fell to Alabama by the .575, which was the closest the Tigers have come to beating Alabama since their last victory on March 13, 1979.  On that date, the Tigers defeated the Crimson Tide, 127.75-119.55, in the AIAW Region III Championship. From 1975-79, Auburn won all nine documented meetings with the Crimson Tide, but the Tigers have not won since.  Due to insufficient information in Auburn's archives, no results are available from the 1976 season.  Jeff Thompson is 0-23 in his career vs. Alabama. Auburn has never won in Tuscaloosa.