Inside NCAA Rivalries: Georgia vs. Alabama

Inside NCAA Rivalries: Georgia vs. Alabama

Throughout the history of college gymnastics, there have always been some fierce and powerful rivalries. When two rivals meet, it seems that the best is bro

Oct 12, 2016 by Keri Monstrola
Inside NCAA Rivalries: Georgia vs. Alabama
Throughout the history of college gymnastics, there have always been some fierce and powerful rivalries. When two rivals meet, it seems that the best is brought out in each team and both will do anything to win. Let's take a look at some of the best rivalries in the history of NCAA gymnastics.

Georgia vs. Alabama


To this day, there is no doubt the Georgia-Alabama rivalry is one of the greatest, most historical rivalries in NCAA gymnastics. The Georgia-Alabama rivalry has been one of the highly contested rivalries since the mid-1980s when both programs had proven to be two of the most successful in the sport. The rivalry reached another level in 1987 after Georgia won its first national championship. Even to this day, with both teams now having new head coaches, the rivalry has not slowed down--spanning over 30 years.

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Suzanne Yoculan, center, was Georgia's head coach from 1983-2009.

The Coaches

Georgia's Suzanne Yoculan and Alabama's Sarah Patterson are known for bringing their programs to new heights while being extremely competitive and successful. From the very beginning, there was always an air of intensity between Yoculan and Patterson. Both coaches are known as the pioneers of college gymnastics who made people care about and watch the sport, along with making everyone else better. This rivalry has proven to be one of the best in the NCAA, in which ESPN made a documentary called, "Sarah & Suzanne."

The documentary details the fiery relationship between the two head coaches as they both battled to be the best in the country. Both coaches and teams were out for one thing only when they went head-to-head--to WIN. During their time as coaches, both used the media to share their story and fuel their rivalry. The war of words become a weekly topic between the two teams, often times getting heated and emotional.

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Former Alabama coach Sarah Patterson stepped down in 2014 after 36 seasons leading the Crimson Tide.
Since the exit of both Yoculan and Patterson at their respective schools, the rivalry has continued to be fierce. Current Crimson Tide head coach Dana Duckworth was a gymnast at Alabama during the coaching tenure of Patterson. Duckworth shared during the ESPN documentary how intense the rivalry became throughout her time as a gymnast. Now as a head coach, Duckworth is able to understand the history herself when facing the Gymdogs.


The Numbers


The Georgia Gymdogs have the edge over the Alabama Crimson Tide with a 80-59-2 record in the series.

Yoculan: 10 national championships, 16 SEC titles, and 22 regional titles
Patterson: Six national titles, eight SEC titles, and an NCAA-best 29 regional titles
Former Georgia gymnast Cassidy McComb on the Georgia-Alabama rivalry:
"There is something to be said about the way Suzanne Yoculan & Sarah Patterson built these two extremely competitive programs & set the bar for what college gymnastics is supposed to be like year in and year out. Rivalry against Alabama always meant excitement! It meant making every turn in practice count to make the lineup. The teams that I was on absolutely loved & thrived off of rivalry weeks. There is something to be said about wearing your school colors with pride and competing not only for your team, but for all the fans who also know the importance of the rivalry as well."

Stay tuned to FloGymnastics to learn more about the great rivalries in NCAA collegiate gymnastics.


Related:
Legendary Coaches Featured in ESPN Film



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