via www.gymtidemedia.com

Release from RollTide.com:

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/w-gym/spec-rel/110112aaa.html

Nick Saban has turned Alabama Football into an near perfect colossus of destruction here in Alabama, but there's another juggernaut on campus, currently fine-tuning for the next title run. Well this morning, they received some very good news. The NCAA has announced that the Women's Gymnastics Championships, (Prelims, Super Six and Event Finals) will be held 45 minutes from Tuscaloosa in the Bama-friendly confines of Birmingham. The BJCC Arena will host the top 12 Teams in the nation for the first time ever. Sarah Patterson has a 3-1 record for Super Sixes in state (the lone loss coming in Auburn Arena).

Obviously this is great news for the Tide's freshman and sophomores as well as their unsigned commitments. With the championships so close to the fanbase it will be an instant boost to recruiting as well as pitching gymnastics to new fans. With the 2013 NCAA Championships in Pauly Pavillion in L.A., the trip Birmingham will be much easier on the wallet of any Bama fan wishing to see our girls play for a title.

Two years ago, the BJCC auditioned for big time college gymnastics by hosting the SEC Championships. Alabama came in as decisive underdogs to Florida but raced past the Gators on beam and floor to the delight of the 80% pro-Crimson Tide audience. "Roll Tide Roll" echoed after every gymnast stuck and the next year in Duluth (about two or three hours away) Sarah brought the Pep Band with the team, turning the Gwinnett Center into an extension of Coleman Coliseum (complete with "basketcase" before the 4th rotation and a "rammer jammer" at the end). Hopefully the pep band makes the trip again.

For an idea of why to save the date right now, here is Alabama, rolling on to victory in Birmingham for the SEC title in 2011.

Alabama Gymnastics: The 2011 SEC Champions (via BamaGymnastics)