Five students from The University of Alabama were recently named to this year’s USA Today All-USA College Academic Team, the largest number of students from UA ever named to the USA Today team in one year. (Photo from uanews.ua.edu) Full story »

Prospective students choose education over athletics at UA

By April Whitfield [Ramsay High School]

“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” is a common phrase associated with a lot of inhabitants of the workplace.

Only when it comes to our schools, students at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa are receiving their education first and putting sports in second place.

Even though the university is known primarily for its athletic department, everyone are not in the stands yelling, “Roll Tide, Roll!” University of Alabama admissions counselor T. Jacquita Smith says UA is a school with a lot of opportunities and advantages.

“It is not just about football,” Smith said. “Television just likes to make viewers believe it is that way.”

Germanique Pickens, an incoming student at the university, says the athletic program doesn’t really have anything to do with her arrival.

“I am here because UA has a better Engineering program than the school I transferred from,” Pickens said.

All students aren’t totally in the court with Pickens. According to Tiffany Mosley, another incoming student, sports are one of the reasons she is proud to be apart of the UA family.

“I am mainly here for the research program, but it feels good to be a fan of the athletics program” Mosley said. “It is a great way to show pride in school.”

Although Alabama has long been among the collegiate sports leaders in the country, recent scandals in the football program have given the Crimson Tide as much negative media attention as positive attention.

Terdell Sims, a senior at the university says at first he was a Bama fan, but now he really is not a fan anymore because he realized there was too much Alabama on TV.

Sports use to be the highlighter at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, but things change. Today, students that are interested in the university are looking forward to the academic department, which include the outstanding Engineering, Business, Research, and Journalism program.

Jawaun Jenkins, a senior at the university, said his education was much more important than sports.

“Everyone can’t make it in sports,” Jenkins said.

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