Time to take a long look at Dana Duckworth as gymnastics coach

That was sarcasm. But Dana can’t handle pressure. That’s clear.

First time since 2007 that Bama gymnastics did not make the Super Six.

Can someone explain 1997?

Alabama won the national title with a 198 in 1996 and then missed the super six entirely the very next year?




Looking at our history, it does seem like ever 10 years or so, we miss the Super Six.




in 2007, Sarah and Alabama had a horrible outing, finishing with a paltry 196.125, good enough to tie the program low of 9th place (1997).

Alabama would return to the Super Six in 2008, but produce, oddly enough, the exact same 196.125 on the final night, finishing 6th.

2009 would see a return to form as the Tide would finish second place with a 197.575, putting the pressure on 4 time defending champion Georgia by the final rotation.



2018's 196.6250 placed Alabama in the final position of 8th.

It never ceases to amaze me that Alabama athletics has this obsession with the good ole boy/gal syndrome. If they ever played or coached at the Capstone, by God, they've walked on water and can take us to the mountaintop. I would have thought we had learned our lesson with that in football, but apparently not. It's time to let Byrne do his job and conduct a national search for the best available coach for any opening we might have. This isn't directed at Duckworth specifically, but athletics in general. If Dana is the first person to fall under that decree, so be it.

no idea, Bockrath and Mal Moore were pretty much the main culprits of that practice.

In my opinion, the most egregious such hire was Wendell Hudson as the HC of women's basketball.

I mean, a great guy and a good administrator (which is where he is now), but I can't think of a single hire that reeked of "we don't give a shite." A program with a Final Four in it's history and you basically just stick you head out the door and hire the first guy who walks down the hall? Have you no imagination? Have you no ambition?

They're not firing Dana when they haven't even given her the tools to succeed.

They won't pull the trigger on the facilities until they decide what to do with Coleman. When Auburn gymnastics has better facilities than you; you have a problem.

Facilities, coupled with Dana not being a great recruiter equals a slow transition of Alabama gymnastics into Michigan football.

Who could Alabama hire that would bring them back to winning titles?

The Wendell move pi$$ed me off. Meanwhile South Carolina hires Dawn Staley.....

It's almost a curse though when you have someone like Dana, who is close, but not quite making it work as opposed to the coach UGA hired in gymnastics, or Wendell Hudson, etc, where you know pretty quick you F'ed up.
You want someone like Duckworth to succeed and you give them every opportunity and probably let them hang around a little too long hoping the light bulb will come on for them because they are family and they are doing ok, just not good enough.
At this point, if I'm Byrne, I have a closed door meeting with Sara and ask her opinion of whether or not Dana can improve. Regardless of how that meeting goes, I'd inform Dana that these results are not acceptable at Alabama. Making the Super Six is expected and that is the standard for the program. More seasons ending short of that would result in possible termination. She's had her mulligan, better make the most of 2019. If Sara backed her, the leash would be slightly longer, but either way, time is running out and I'd put her on notice.