Friday, February 11, 2011

The Florida-Alabama Broadcast



Suzanne Yoculan had more of a role in the commentary of this meet.  Overall, her contributions were among the more useful.  She pointed out why Marissa King's vault doesn't score as highly as the stuck Yurchenko Fulls and pointed out Ashanee's release being caught with bent arms.  As far as Bart, Suzanne and KJC as a trio, there is still work to be done.  The order of commentary is: Bart Talks, Kathy Talks, Suzanne talks (if there is time.)  Her comments are often a bit rushed during vault and bars, after Kathy names Macko's coaches (who are meaningless to most of the viewers, especially the casual ones.)

Kudos to Suzanne and Sarah for maintaining a straight face when Suzanne told her (from one coach to another) that her heart went out to her during their bar rotation.  ESPN is contracted by the SEC to cover the meet, which is why they tend to be overly nice about everything being shown.  

Florida is leading the country.  They look solid, but they are also benefitting from a lack of competition around the country (as evidenced by the Chicago Style meet.)  They are really gelling on vault, bars and floor.  Their beam routine could really use team pressure sets where they need to achieve a 49.4 or so (twice) before rotating on to the next event.

Alabama is supposed to come on strong later in the season, but there are doubts whether they'll be able to be a true contender.  Ashley Priess is unlikely to do All-Around this season.  Her scores can only replace so much.  The fact that Rachel Terry is competing on floor shows how weak they currently are in some spots.  Geralen Stack Eaton continually looks deflated.  She makes Gina Gogean look happy, but she also tends to be consistent like the Romanian stalwart.

Kayla Hoffman is capable of being one of the top All-Arounders in the country.  Her vault and bars continue to be top-notch.  If she can hit beam and floor, she will be tough to contend with during the post season.

Becca Alexin made the error of going before the green light, which can largely be attributed to her rarely ever being in the lineup.  Many veterans, even Anna Pavlova (in the Olympics), have made that error.

Alabama's girls may be a tad large and in charge, but they can do some huge double layouts off bars and STICK them.  Some of the Gators could really benefit from additional amplitude on their bar dismounts.

Sarah DeMeo and Kim Jacob need to step it up a notch for the team to reach the next level.

Florida prided themselves on doing difficulty and executing it well.  I'd say they are looking better than usual in that respect, but still have a ways to go.  Nicole Ellis' bar routine isn't that difficult, nor does she execute it that well.

Ashanee is apparently working on her form.  Girl could use a little extra help.

Marissa King is looking great on vault and floor.  She needs to get that beam routine consistent.  It may take eliminating some of her skills, as she was quite inconsistent in workouts at NCAAs last year.  Hopefully, she will remain the alternate on bars.  It has never been a consistent event for her.

Macko and Alaina continue to energize the team.  If they can continue to push one another in the All-Around, Florida will look good in the post season.

In closing, any judge that awards Ashanee a 9.9 on bars is on serious crack.

There has been some debate online and among coaches whether or not Mrs. Sloan sitting next to Mrs. Caquatto is an NCAA rule violation in terms of recruiting.  Recruits are allowed to travel with their parents, but they are not supposed to sit with any program's boosters.  It is debatable whether or not a parent is a booster.  They do have a prior-relationship, but that comes from traveling to gymnastics meets.  It remains a gray area.  When Sloan visited UGA, Amber Trani (a former member of the team/Team Manager) was hanging out with Sloan while she was assisting ESPN.  Again---another gray area.  The NCAA rules get a tad ridiculous.  These are obviously minor infractions, as it isn't like they are paying gymnasts under the table or buying them cars...which goes on when most big schools recruit football and basketball players.

View the rest of the videos after the jump.







19 comments:

  1. Thank you for this!!! I totally missed it and was upset to not find a replay of it on ESPNU

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  2. wow! that was beyond painful to have to watch again. On a brighter note, Bama broke 197 tonight. Roll Tide! We're building depth, just being forced into B-Team mode as we ride out some injuries.

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  3. Holy cow that wasn't even close. towards the end I was actually judging the Gator's sportsmanship, celebrating defeating a team that had clearly shot itself in the foot early on. Kind of like dancing around and fist pumping after the final touchdown of a 60-3 blowout.

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  4. They were excited about posting a season-high score.

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  5. Whatever, if i won against a conference rival, and posted a season high score id be celebrating too.

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  6. Three comments:
    How the heck did Macko get a 9.25 for the wobbly beam set?
    Despite her big mistakes on floor, I thought Kayla Hoffman was lovely to watch on all events. Dickerson's knees don't go all the way straight and it bothers me when watching her beam.

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  7. Ok, two more comments:
    I like Alabama's floor choreography.

    And it was cute to get to see Macko to college floor choreography, nice change from elite stuff.

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  8. I think it says alot about the program Sarah Patterson has built. Even when they're down and having a shaky season.... everyone still considers it an accomplishment to beat them. Georgia too. I would also be judging them if they we're pounding TWU or Yale and jumping around like world beaters, but its an SEC team not named Kentucky so it will always be a big deal.

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  9. it's always sad and annoying to listen to such bitter commentary on television. these are unbelievably talented athletes and all you hear about is the mistakes. I have the same issue with figure skating: it's such a lack of respect they have for the competitors, awful to listen to.

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  10. can someone explain why I find the little dance steps on floor and beam to be really stupid? everyone has the exact same style, kinda this flicky vogueing. most likely I'm ignorant of the reason for this style and don['t want to just criticize. why aren't the in between moves more beautiful/graceful? is that because it's gymnastics and not ballet?

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  11. UF wasn't over celebrating at all. I was at that meet, and they were not unsportsmanlike. The team chemistry on this year's team is EXCELLENT, and they were happy for the score they posted. This is my 6th year watching UF meets in person, and I believe that the chemistry on the team is one of the things that is making them successful this year; it is a world of difference watching this team at the beginning of home meets vs. any other year. That team seems really tight with one another, they are simply always pumped up and that allows them to build momentum.

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  12. I don't think the commentary is bitter or awful by any means. The commentators are explaining why one team finishes ahead of another. If someone misses a free throw in basketball, those commentators don't say, "oh, they're such talented athletes....let's not point out the error." That is ludicrous and really degrading to the athletes. Just because they're in an aesthetic sport doesn't mean that they aren't fiercely tough, talented and competitive. Their errors are real and the commentators for NCAA tend to be very lenient with what they comment on.

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  13. I am fine with pointing out mistakes--that's part of what commentators are meant to do--at best, their words should help show people what excellence is and isn't in the sport. I am, however, irrationally irritated by the Gators' leo. Even if your school has an ugly-ass color combo, by God, I want to see you wear it. Obvs black is nicer, but it's your own damn fault you have to work with royal blue and orange. :)

    And I can't stand how Kathy and Bart crowd Suzanne out. Can't help but wonder whether Kathy feels the competition from her.

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  14. I always wondered if the Tennessee Volunteers had a gymnastics team, how would they go about avoiding that puke orange that their University prides itself with.

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  15. Was there any reason the crowd began chanting during Becca Alexin's mishap? That does not seem very nice.

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  16. "Was there any reason the crowd began chanting during Becca Alexin's mishap? That does not seem very nice."

    Maranda Smith got a 9.95 for her VT.

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  17. i actually prefer kathy's technical commentary over elfie's superfluous comments of exaggerated flattery. fire elfie and rehire kathy to do international meets. kathy knows her stuff! kathy knows a classic routine when she sees it and will praise a routine when it's well deserved, not because she's biased (note: yang bo's beam during world cup aa final). her dance background adds to her aesthetic eye.

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  18. Ashley Sledge's DLO off bars is ridiculous!

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  19. "Ashley Sledge's DLO off bars is ridiculous!" HECK YEAH IT IS!

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