Expansion at Bryant Denny Stadium

The south endzone expansion should be finished by September 2010 for the first game.

This brings the capacity to over 101,000 fans. It is massive from the street looking up.

Remember this beauty? It's the Coach's Trophy from the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! Now it's on display at the Athletic Facility next to Coleman Coliseum. Cue the choir, "Ahhhhhhh!"

Women's Gymnastics

Roll Tide! Here's a shot from the cheap seats at last night's gymnastics meet at Coleman Coliseum. The #2 University of Alabama Women's Gymnastics team won the meet over the #6 University of Florida. It was a nice recovery after a sad loss last week at LSU that knocked the ladies from their #1 spot. Over 12,400 fans were there in spite of the frosty weather. Not exactly a sell out, but did I tell you it SNOWED all day here?! By the way, the cheap seats came with a hot dog, chips and a drink!

How Sweet it Is!

University of Alabama - National Championship Team

with Coach Nick Saban

This photo is from the RollTide website. (since I didn't get to Pasadena)

Here's the Tuscaloosa News coverage.

All of Tuscaloosa is CELEBRATING. Crowds are forming at the airport and the athletic dorm to welcome the team home tonight. That's 13, count 'em, 13 National Championships. RRRROOOOLLLL TIDE!

University of Alabama SEC Champions!

Photos by Robert Sutton from the Tuscaloosa News. The Crimson Tide of Alabama just beat the University of Florida to win its 22nd SEC Championship!

ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

Homecoming Floats - Return to Glory

That's twelve, count 'em, TWELVE national championship rings on this College of Nursing float.



Are you seeing the theme?

Who's Number One today? A Return to Glory Indeed

Roll Tide!

Homecoming Parade

Cool rides at the UA Homecoming Parade

This one had animated stuffed elephants beating up various other mascots. It was pretty elaborate and very funny!

At some places, they play football...at Alabama, we LIVE it.

Truer words were never spoken. Roll Tide!

(Virginia, if you happen by my blog this weekend, I'm sorry. It will be over soon. Just hit the pause button on the player QUICK)

Getting Ready for Homecoming

Tomorrow is Homecoming 2009 at the University of Alabama - "A Return to Glory" is the theme. Here are some of the sights around campus today

Lawn decorations on Sorority Row, windows painted on the "strip", a city of tailgating tents on the quad, the Million Dollar Band practicing, wood piled high for the bonfire & pep rally tonight, and even a cute Bama scooter in front of the Locker Room store.

And, just in time, the rain has finally stopped and it actually feels like FALL. It couldn't be a better weekend in Tuscaloosa!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!

Woods Hall UA

Woods Hall - more at this post

Simple Sunday

Crepe myrtle blossoms snowing down on Woods Quad at the UA

Smith Hall Details

Details in Smith Hall Grand Gallery at the Alabama Museum of Natural History

Museum Monday

The Alabama Museum of Natural History is in Smith Hall at the University of Alabama. The AMNH is celebrating its 100th year this year.

The lovely specimen hanging from the ceiling is the state fossil of Alabama, Basilosaurus cetoides. Here's a little closer shot. Note the grand staircase in the background. Smith Hall is an amazing building. Click to enlarge so you can enjoy the detailed moldings around the gallery and the skylight ceiling.

Sculpture on Woods Quad

Freeform metal sculpture on Woods Quad at the University of Alabama

Skywatch Friday

Just a peek of afternoon sky as seen through the arches of Woods Hall on the University of Alabama campus. Woods Hall is the building behind Goldie in yesterday's post. It was built during Reconstruction using materials salvaged from buildings burned by Croxton's Raiders at the end of the Civil War. It was named for the University's first president Alva Woods and housed the entire University for about twenty years. It's Gothic design was patterned after buildings at Virginia Military Institute. Woods Hall now houses the Art Department.

Please visit Skywatch Friday to see interesting skyward views from around the globe.

Goldie

Here lies Goldie, a metal robot sculpture currently on display on Woods Quad at the University of Alabama. The artist is graduate student Joseph McCreary. Goldie represents the closing of Birmingham's Sloss Furnace and the end of the reign of iron and steel in the industrial age.

Skywatch Friday

Skies in Tuscaloosa are rainy today. Last week they were blue over Bryant Denny Stadium and the tulips blooming all over campus. The tulips are worth a click to enlarge.

Please visit Skywatch Friday to see more beautiful skies from around the world.

Crimson is...

I love the University of Alabama's "Crimson is..." campaign. These banners are all over campus and just beyond and list the following: CRIMSON IS...
Academic Excellence
Access
Action
Best & Brightest
Character
Commitment
Community
Creativity
Hope
Impact
Initiative
Insight
Inspiration
Opportunity
Pride & Tradition
Progress
Responsibility
Service
Service & Leadership

University Boulevard

This is University Blvd. heading into the University of Alabama campus from the east. The bike trail and posts are fairly new. To the right are the intramural athletic fields. If you click to enlarge you can see the lightposts with the "Crimson is..." banners. You can also see the road conditions. Univ. Blvd. traverses the city and turns into Hwy 11 North or the Old Birmingham Highway. It was originally big sections of concrete that have cracked between sections and been filled in with asphalt numerous times. Parts of it have been covered in asphalt, but the cracks somehow always come back through. When you drive it sounds like"gadump...gadump...gadump." When you're from Tuscaloosa, that sound reminds you, you're almost home. :)

True Colors

Today is the Iron Bowl, the football game between the University of Alabama (my alma mater) and their state rival, Auburn University.
Roll Tide!!!
Final Score: Alabama 36, Auburn 0
This victory is particularly sweet. We haven't beaten Auburn in YEARS. AND, we've NEVER beaten Auburn in our own beloved Bryant Denny Stadium. It's about time! The curse is broken!

Homecoming Parade

Waiting for the parade to start!

Big Al and the Alabama Cheerleaders!


The drumline for the University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band

College of Nursing float

Alabama 35, Arkansas State 0
Not exactly a fair matchup, but hey - it was Homecoming!
Roll Tide!

Edited to add: WE'RE NUMBER 1 !!!! RRRROOOOLLLL TIDE