Group 7

Row me to Victory

Some sports are simply overshadowed by power sports like football and baseball. However, this doesn’t make them any less of a sport. Rowing events at the University of Alabama may not have as many spectators as Saturday football games, but that doesn’t stop the Crimson Tide Rowers from giving their best when the challenge arises. The rowing team at the University of Alabama is far from just any ordinary sport team. It is a family of students that work as a team to excel not only when they compete, but when they learn, practice, and give back to the community.

The Crimson Tide Rowers are still considerably a new team, coached by Larry Davis, they were established only four years ago as the University of Alabama’s 21st varsity sport. However, their lack of experience hasn’t kept them from performing at a level competitive with schools that have been hardened through experience. In their first year, the Crimson Tide Rowers managed to defeat schools like North Carolina, Notre Dame, and Duke. All of which had incredible rowing teams. Shortly after their successful first year, the rowing team started to win race after race. On the water, the Tide has made an immediate impact, climbing the ranks at the top regattas, rowing events in which several crews compete, and sweeping several dual meets in their first two years. From the day the first boat sat on the Black Warrior River, team members have dedicated themselves to excellence in all things. Success and excellence has come swiftly to the fourth year program.

Success for this team doesn't just end with the race. When it comes to the classroom, Crimson Tide Rowers rank highly in regard to grade point average. This means a lot considering that many rowers are in some of the toughest majors. Each team member is required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average just to stay on the team without any penalties. Their success in the classroom is largely a result of the coach. Coach Davis believes that as a program it is important that his student-athletes excel in all areas of the collegiate experience. Davis wants the student-athletes to be at their best athletically and academically.

The success of The Crimson Tide Rowers is largely due to their strong work ethic. The team is now in its pre-season. They practice six days a week for an hour and a half each day. A typical practice would start with a ten minute warm up that might include jogging and stretching, then on to rowing at the Black Warrior River for the remainder of practice. Located in central Tuscaloosa, the Black Warrior itself aids in the strong work ethic of the team. The River being one of the hardest to navigate gives the team an edge over other college rowers.

Besides their success in work ethic and academics, the Crimson Tide Rowers also excel when it comes to giving back to the community. In its fourth year as a varsity team, the rowers have amassed the most community outreach hours of any other team at the Capstone. They volunteered on a regular basis at an autism carnival, a summer camp for mentally challenged youths, the Puppy Foundation Fundraiser, and the Children’s Hands on Museum. Overall, the rowers put in over one thousand hours during the last school year. It is great to know that the University of Alabama’s rowing team gives back to the community.

Not only does the deep respect and knowledge of their sport allow the members of the University of Alabama’s rowing team to excel, their deep respect and knowledge of each other aids in their success. The rowers have a great sense of responsibility, leadership, workmanship, and a strong faith in the abilities of their team mates. When Emily LeBeau, a first year rower, was asked why she joined the rowing team she stated that she “wanted to be a part of a winning team.” This mentality of believing in your fellow teammates and believing that you as a team are the best, is one of the major reasons why the Crimson Tide Rowers are so successful.

The Crimson Tide Rowers are exceptionally successful, not only as a competitive team in a physically draining sport, but in reaching outstanding achievements in academics, work ethic, attitude, and community involvement. They are much more than a team, they are truly a family. Like every family they place respect and strong faith in each member. This family is led by a coach who has attempted to guide them to victory. For Coach Larry Davis the goal is simple. He wants his student-athletes to leave the University of Alabama with a championship trophy under one arm and a diploma under the other. In striving to reach this and much more, they have successfully gone above and beyond what is required of a normal sports team.