Alabama gymnasts dominate Florida



01/22/2000

By GENE DUFFEY

Times Sports Staff



TUSCALOOSA - A lot of athletes hate practice. Not Alabama gymnast Robin
Hawkins.



''It's the best part of my day,'' Hawkins said. ''Even if I've had a bad day
in school, failed four tests, there's always somebody in the gym to make me
laugh.''



Hawkins led the Alabama gymnasts to an easy 196.125 to 192.725 victory over
Florida Friday night at Coleman Coliseum.



Alabama coach Sarah Patterson began the season with a game plan of developing
more depth to overcome injuries and be prepared for the NCAAs.



Hawkins, a junior from Memphis, has been the only member of the Tide to
compete in every event in all three meets this season, and she's been
amazingly consistent. She totaled 39.2 in the all-around against Florida, a
fraction below the 39.225 she scored in the Super Six and Auburn meets.



''She's competent enough we don't have to overtrain her in practice and we
can save her legs,'' Patterson said.



Hawkins said she practiced every other day this week, which helped her Friday
night.



She led off for Alabama on the floor exercise and scored a 9.8.



''Floor's my favorite event,'' said Hawkins, who missed half her freshman
season with a torn ACL. ''You get to show your personality. I got to pick my
own music this year.''



The gymnast, formerly known as Robin Hawkins, performed to a melody by the
artist formerly known as Prince.