🏈 What if Alabama beat seven top 25 teams and lost to number one?

[TheChief]

Mods, feel free to move this topic. I didn’t know where to put it.


This sort of fell through the cracks this weekend, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. Imagine if a Bama sports team beat seven top 25 teams and lost to the number one team in the nation. I’d consider that a success. That’s exactly what happened this past weekend with the Alabama Men’s track and field team at the Tyson Invitational at Arkansas. Alabama lost to Arkansas 79 to 53, yet beat eight other teams in the top 25.


Season meets aren’t a big deal in track and field, but this performance show the status of the Tide’s team as an up-and-coming squad to be reckoned with. The meet last weekend was once again loaded with talent. The Tide’s performance shows they have some talent throughout their lineup of events, an area sorely lacking in the past. Batson pulled the surprise winning the 200.



Keep an eye on these guys over the coming years and even in outdoor this year. Things could get very interesting.

 

[BamaFan334]

I didn't know much about the track program before I started school, but knew who the traditional powers were through the late 90's to now. I'd definitely say that the results you just shared is an indictment of the work and effort our athletes are putting into the program, as well as the coaches. It definitely says something when your track team, that also has athletes from other sports, can showcase the speed, agility, strength, and talent to place and beat other major programs. We'll get there to compete for a championship real soon it appears. The gap is closing quickly from what I am reading.

 

[bamaraider]

That's really great to hear about the track team. No shame in losing to Arky, as I believe they've always been a good track program.

 

[bama alum]

Coach Waters' hire, while completely insignificant in so many Updykes' eyes, was one best hires UA has had in a while (besides the obvious one). I really like the direction in which the program is headed!

 

[TheChief]

Arkansas had, if memory serves, 36 or 39 national titles under Coach McDonald, so yeah, they're a powerhouse.

 

[planomateo]

Coach Waters' hire, while completely insignificant in so many Updykes' eyes, was one best hires UA has had in a while (besides the obvious one). I really like the direction in which the program is headed!

Crazy to think he's been around for 2+ years already. I look forward to seeing how the team improves in the coming years.

 

[TheChief]

Track is a sport that is slow, slow, slow to turn around compared to others. Strength (think stamina and overall bodily strength) is something that develops slowly. Sprints are one thing. The other aspects of track are agonizingly slow.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Track is a sport that is slow, slow, slow to turn around compared to others. Strength (think stamina and overall bodily strength) is something that develops slowly. Sprints are one thing. The other aspects of track are agonizingly slow.

Slightly OT but just wanted to say that your insight and knowledge of track is really interesting and helpful. I was a swimmer for most of my life, so I can relate to some aspects of track, but I always found track an interesting sport to watch/learn about, so it's cool to get some insider knowledge :tennis:

 

[TheChief]

Thanks Philly. A close friend of mine who I ran with once upon a time was watching the Olympics a few years ago, and he said something that struck me as funny at the time. He said, "I can't believe I don't know anyone in the games this year." He meant, he had competed with athletes in school who had been in the Olympics every year until then (I think it was the 2004 games). The track community is much closer than 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Thanks Philly. A close friend of mine who I ran with once upon a time was watching the Olympics a few years ago, and he said something that struck me as funny at the time. He said, "I can't believe I don't know anyone in the games this year." He meant, he had competed with athletes in school who had been in the Olympics every year until then (I think it was the 2004 games). The track community is much closer than 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Swimming is very similar, especially here in the Mid-Atlantic region. I knew a few folks at Beijing and London (and many who went to trials and didn't make it) including Phelps (not personally, but he swam in several of the same winter state meets as I did back in the day: I still have programs from those meets with his name highlighted hahah. Mom said he would be someone to watch as he got older).