Crimson Kickoff Mixer and BBQ Opens Alabama Athletics' Slate of Life Skills Program and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Events
8/28/2018 2:58:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Swimming & Diving
The event brought together a mix of Crimson Tide rookies, upperclassmen and staff from across the spectrum of Alabama teams
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – In what is quickly becoming a Crimson Tide tradition, Alabama Athletics' Life Skills program and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) closed the first week of fall classes with the Crimson Kickoff Mixer for the Tide's freshmen and transfers, as well as a BBQ for all student-athletes.
"I have a lot of friends on a lot of different teams and this is the event last year that I got to meet all those people," Sam Fisher, men's tennis sophomore and chair of SAAC's Student-Athlete Engagement committee, said. "So I think it's great that we have this event at the start of the year, for us all to be together."
The afternoon started with the Tide's rookies getting together in Alabama's Indoor Practice Facility, breaking into groups and playing a variety of games including cornhole as well as giant versions of Jenga, Connect Four and checkers.
"We're all family - everybody's in this together, to work hard, get better and eventually get to the next level if you want," baseball freshman TJ Reeves said. "So, it's great, honestly, to come together as a family and have this fellowship."
The freshmen had a chance to mix and mingle with fellow newcomers from other teams, getting to know them over the course of the afternoon.
"The thing I enjoyed most about this event was just getting to know other student-athletes, especially the freshmen, playing some games and learning things about time management," women's basketball freshman Hannah Barber said.
The upperclassmen in attendance also took the time to share advice and life lessons they earned during their Tide careers.
"The community is incredible," freshman swimmer Kensey McMahon said. "There's support everywhere, whether it's from your own teammates, someone from other teams, academic advisors, or whoever … everyone is there for you and you never feel alone."
Meeting student-athletes from other teams deepens the sense of community among the Tide's rookies.
"We're all ready to get out there and represent our school and now that we've met some of the other athletes, we're excited to go to their sporting events and support them as well," McMahon said.
The Crimson Kickoff events are just the first in a year-long slate of programming designed to fulfill Alabama Life Skill's mission to provide University of Alabama student-athletes opportunities for growth through personal development and service opportunities. The goal is to empower student-athletes to be difference-makers and people of positive influence as they pursue success at Alabama and beyond.
All the latest information on Alabama Athletics can be found via @UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Athletics on Facebook. You can follow Alabama's Life Skills program on Twitter at @BamaLifeSkills.
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