[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 81 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E948-E949]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GYMNASTICS COACH SARAH PATTERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 1, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor University of Alabama 
gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson who led the Crimson Tide to its sixth 
national championship this spring. In addition to racking up an 
impressive record of victories over her 34 seasons in Tuscaloosa, Coach 
Patterson has helped establish Alabama as a dominate force in college 
gymnastics.
  It is fitting that Coach Patterson was hired by then-Athletic 
Director Paul ``Bear'' Bryant, himself no stranger to bringing home 
national titles to Alabama. Since arriving in Tuscaloosa after 
graduating from Slippery Rock State College in Pennsylvania, Coach 
Patterson has proven time and again her ability to lead the Crimson 
Tide's gymnastics team and maintain its dominance in the college sport.
  Coach Patterson vaulted the University to prominence as one of only 
four teams to capture the NCAA Women's Gymnastics championship since 
Women's Gymnastics was declared a championship sport in 1982. Her 
excellence in coaching also helped to earn the Crimson Tide gymnastics 
team spots in 29 consecutive NCAA championship competitions. Coach 
Patterson has also led the Tide to 27 years of a top six finish and 20 
top three finishes.
  Fittingly, Coach Patterson was named NCAA Women's Gymnastics Coach of 
the Year in 1986, 1988, 1991, and 2002; and Southeastern Conference 
Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 1985, 1995, 2000 and 2010.
  Coach Patterson's distinguished record includes: Six NCAA Women's 
Gymnastics championships--1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, and 2012; Seven 
Southeastern Conference Championships--1988, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003, 
2009, and 2011; 27 NCAA Regional Titles--1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 
1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 
2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
  Coach Patterson is assisted by her husband, David, who helps with 
coaching the athletes. Their hard work, along with other volunteer 
coaches and assistant coaches, have led the Alabama gymnastics team to 
six national championships and the enviable position of being one of 
the best in the nation, year in and year out, as well as the many well-
rounded athletes who have graduated to go on to great success in many 
fields.

[[Page E949]]

  Inducted in the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, Coach Patterson 
has brought the gymnastics team to the forefront of intercollegiate 
athletics and she has kept them in the forefront. In a recent interview 
with The Huntsville Times, Coach Patterson noted that she felt 
``fortunate'' to be a component of the ``history and tradition'' at the 
University of Alabama.
  It's safe to say that Coach Patterson has certainly earned her 
position as a part of the University's proud athletic history.
  On behalf of the people of Alabama and my colleagues in the Alabama 
Delegation, I wish to extend personal congratulations to Coach Sarah 
Patterson for her remarkable record of achievement at the University of 
Alabama and for her many contributions to the lives of all who have 
called her coach.

                          ____________________