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

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Tlm«sDally photographer Richard RIckard gets up close and personal during the Championship Parade to welcome the team back to the Shoals. (Photo by Shannon Wells) A jubilant Eric Smith, Allen Williams, Fred StaHofd, Kevin Simmons and Carl Wllmer hold alolt their hard-eamed trophy alter the final game In Spring- Held, Mass. (Photo by Young Company) [H ■ Ml h H PI h| m H ? W 3 S pW iH JM m m mTv i jYii B .sslstant Coach Billy Gamble and Head Coach Gary Elliott confer on the sidelines during a tense moment on the court. Also ready to offer his advk» Is Anthony ReW, student assistant coach. (Photo by Young Company) Lion fan Greg Thomton went to Springfield pre- pared for a UNA victory. After the final game against Bridgeport, Thomton opened his blue Oxford to reveal his secret— a t-shirt that proclaimed the Lions the 1991 National Cham- pions. Thomton ' s shin delighted Allen Williams and other members of the winning team. (Photo by Young Company) NCAA Division II Cliampions 9 HMWi

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Rebound to glory ■ he men ' s basketball team regained the national title and set a few records in the process By Mollie H. McCutchen Twelve years may seem like a long time to wait between national championship titles, but don ' t try telling that to the men ' s basketball team. The team proved once again that the school ' s program is one of the most suc- cessful in the National CoUegiate Athletic Association Division n by winning the national championship this year. The title is the second national championship for the men ' s basketball program, with the first coming in 1979. Cutting down the net after winning the champi- onship Is one of the rewards of the tournament. Getting ready to retrieve their trophy, Tony Dorsey, Allen Williams and Eric Smith brandish their clip- pers and make ready the ladder. Finals honors went to Head Coach Gary Elliott, who scaled the ladder and secured ttie net to bring It home to Ror- ence. (Photo by Young Company) Senior Carl Wllmer stops durtr the adulation after the game to offer applause to his teammates, the coaches and managers, and the fans of Lion basketball. (Photo by Young Ckimpany) The Lions now join a select group of schools, namely Kentucky Wesleyan and Evansville (Indiana), that have claimed the title more than once. Other records were set by the team under Head Coach Gary Elliott ' s leader- ship. UNA posted its best record ever, 29- 4, and also the most wins in a season. This was the third season the team has been under EUiott ' s guidance. In these three years, he has amassed a remarkable 65-23 record, and has continued to enrich a program in which he formerly served as assistant coach under Bill Jones, now the university ' s athletic director. With only two starters returning from the ' 89- ' 90 team, Elliott and his players faced the toughest schedule in school history. In fact, 1 7 of UNA ' S opponents were teams who had finished with 20 or more wins themselves. There can ' t be a group of players who deserve to be national champions more than this group we have, Elliott said. ' They have worked hard and done every- thing we ' ve asked them to all season, and now they have reaped the rewards from that hard work. Hie Lions won the South Region cham- pionship by defeating Hampton (Virgirua) University 94-80, in the first round, and Gulf South Conference rival Troy State 93- 86, in the championship game. The regional title was the sixth for the Lion program, and led to a trip northward to Springfield, Mass., and the Elite 8 tour- nament. With a 92-84 win over Ashland (Ohio) and a 97-76 win over Virgli] Union, UNA advanced through the toun ment. The Lions then defeated Bridgep I (Connecticut) 79-72, before a national tej vision audience on March 23 to capture 1 1 NCAA Division n title. Seniors Fred Stafford, Carl Wilmer a Allen Williams were named to the Elite All-Toumament Team. Wilmer and W liams both were selected to the All-G. South Conference Team and the All-Sou Region Tournament Team. Elliott also received post-season hone by being named the NCAA Divisioni National Coach of the Year by Kodak i the National Association of BasketbJ Coaches. The award is the first for a W coach. Upon returning home, the team w greeted by hundreds of Shoals ar citizens who lined the streets of downtov Florence as the team was honored by Parade of Champions. Several coi munity and university officials were the to greet and thank the team with varioi awards, and Elliott presented the Nation Championship trophy to University Pre: ' dent Robert L. Potts. i Afterwards, team members commentc about how the festivities had affected thei Senior Darin Liles said, It ' s somethii that ' s going to be with me for a lifetim but I ' m never going to feel like this again Junior Darryl Hardy agreed, and sai ' There seemed like there was somethir missing after winning the game. Th makes it start to really sink in. li

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li Tipping their hats to the audience, Zetas Melissa Cameron, Malaea Nelms and Aiice Keily smiie during their tribute to the troops in the Gulf. Their presentation earned them a second place finish in the female division. (Photo by Herb Stoltes) The Sigma Chis end their simulated fire drill with a tribute to the troops. (Photo by Herb Stoi es)