University of North Alabama - Diorama Yearbook (Florence, AL)

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Let ' s go Lions, Let ' s Go! Let ' s Go, Purple and Gold, Let ' s Go! Along with the roar of the crowd, the musical banter of the band and the crackle of helmets on pads, the enthusiastic yells of the cheerleaders is one of the most recognizable sounds of UNA football. Cheering has been around since 1898, when the Princeton Pep club suited up six men to rouse the crowd at a Princeton versus University of Minnesota football game. The first female cheerleaders did not appear until the 1920 ' s. In the late ' 70s, the sport entered the homes of America with a nationwide broad- cast of the Collegiate Cheerleading Championships on CBS-TV. Tumbling and dance skills and routines were adopted. Over the years, stunts and pyramids increased in size and complexity. The training and commitment required to cheer has increased to rival that of well- established sports. Gone are the days where all it took to be a cheerleader was a smile and a little effort. Now, these athletes have a year- long season, from inspiring spirit at football and basketball games to their own competi- tion season. In the new millennium, the future of cheerleading looks bright as reflected through the smiles and positive attitudes of the talented young athletes of today. The cheerleaders also provide a mascot in Leo the Lion. With his silly antics and fun- loving demeanor, Leo entertains kids of all ages at many events, from football games to on-campus dedications. Even though he is jovially outgoing in his hot and heavy suit, Leo doesn ' t want anybody to know who he is. He keeps his identity secret for the entire year. So the next time you hear Let ' s Go, Purple and Gold, you ' ll know that the cheerleaders are hard at work at keeping up the spirit of our teams, students and fans. I Coed Cheerleader squad. Row 1 ; Amanda Coates, Ashley Graves. Row 2: Catherine Waddell, Jenniter Fisher, Leo, LeeAnna Harris, Sheena Dickerson. Row 3: Jenny South, Seth Vandenbergh, Robin Blackwood, Amy Warden, Bonneil Lang, Ashley Smith, Ashley McCain, Bart Davis, Alicia Ozblrn. Not pictured: Rebecca Uptigrove, Jeff Lard, Laura Medlock.

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Lions putt a solid season The 2002-03 golf team had a season nothing short of exceptional. The Lion golfers finished off the sea- son in Sunriver, Ore., where they placed sixth in the NCAA Division II National Championship. Senior Jason Vaughn led UNA with a 19th-place finish. Senior Stephen McNair followed with a 21st-place finish. The NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament was what sent the Lions to Oregon. It was hosted at Turtle Point in Killen. There, the Lions finished in first place in a field of eight teams. UNA shot a 597 for the tournament. West Florida, a very strong competitor to the Lions, followed with 600 and Lynn University posted a 604. Justin Regan received low medallist honors, shooting 75 an d 71 for a total of 146. Vaughn finished second with 147. McNair shot 150 (8th), Jon McAlpin 154 (18th), and Jonathan Spann 158 (32nd). The Lions had placed high in several other tour- naments throughout the spring. UNA opened up spring play at Pickwick Park Country Club in Tennessee for the Tri-State Classic. UNA shot a team score of 887 with Regan receiving low medallist hon- ors. The Ross Creek Classic in Clifton, Tenn., gave UNA a first-place finish overall, shooting 600. Regan ' s 72 on the first day and 69 on the second day placed him first among his teammates. The UNA Spring Classic was held at Cypress Lakes. The UNA Gold, consisting of Chase Bullington, Bryant West, Andy McAlpin, Whitney Owens, and Michael Noe, competed as a team and finished in sixth place. Vaughn, Jon McAlpin and Spann competed as individuals. The Lions then traveled to Braselton, Ga., to play in the Nova Southeastern Spring Classic. UNA again stuck a great finish by finishing in third place in a field of 18 teams. McNair was low medallist, shooting a 65 on the second day of play to help his score to a 138 total. Regan finished 11th with 148 and Vaughn 14th with 149. The Southeastern Collegiate tournament gave UNA a fifth-place finish among 18 teams. Vaughn led the Lions with a second-place finish with a two-round total of 141. UNA finished third in the GSC Championships in Hot Springs, Ark. UNA ' s Regan shot 75, 72, and 73 to finish fourth overall. McNair finished seventh with a 74, 76, and 71. Both earned All-GSC honors. The Golf Coaches Association of America named three Lions to All-Region and All- America teams. Regan of Muscle Shoals, Vaughn of Decatur, and McNair of Hartselle were All-South Regional selec- tions. Regan was also selected second team All- American, Vaughn third-team and McNair got an honorable mention. McNair was also selected as a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar. The trio helped lead UNA to a 65-16-2 record for the spring that included a second-straight NCAA Division II South Regional title. Vaughn earned second-team All- America honors last season, and Regan had been an honorable mention All-America pick in 2001 and 2002. — Emily Plunkett KILLER PLANNING, EXECU- TION, (left) Jonathan Spann studies the slope of the green and then lines up his shot. I ' M GONNA DO IT LIKE THAT, (opposite) Jon McAlpin practices ripping the cover off of the ball at the tee. 67

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I FEEL THE SPIRIT. Cheerleaders rev up the » crowd with enthusiasm 3 and pryamids at a football § game. I