You won’t catch Alabama gymnastics coach Dana Duckworth rocking her normal sky-high heels on Friday night in Coleman Coliseum. Patience. It’s not time for the competitive season just yet.
But the team is hosting its very own Crimson and White Preview.
“It’s casual,” said Duckworth, who is in her fourth season as the Crimson Tide’s head coach. “I’m not going to be dressed up in my fancy stuff. It’s going to be a work day.”
The front doors of Coleman Coliseum will open at 6 p.m. to the public, including UA students. Admission is free. The show will start at 7 p.m.
Alabama has held similar events in the past, but nothing in recent years.
“This is not going to be a standard intrasquad or meet,” Duckworth said. “It is literally an opportunity for our fans to see a lot of gymnastics with no waiting periods for scores and such. It’s going to be one routine after another.”
That will happen on every event, too. The Crimson Tide will knock out the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise in order. There will be full and modified routines.
All 15 gymnasts – four seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen – will be introduced. There are question-and-answer sessions scattered throughout the night’s itinerary, which fans will be able to submit questions to for the picking.
“We have absolute amazing role models in the women that represent the University of Alabama gymnastics program,” Duckworth said. “They have great grades. They are kind, sweet. They want the little girls in the stands to be them.”
Before the gymnastics action starts, the UA cheer and dance teams are going to do their national championship performances. Those are scheduled around 6:50 p.m.
There will also be giveaways.
Overall, the night is dedicated to everything and anything Alabama gymnastics.
“We can just be free and go do what we love,” Duckworth said. “That’s pretty much what the Crimson and White Preview is going to be about.”
