CROQUET NEWS:  A&S Ambassadors Beat Alabama Football Stars in Croquet Bowl

Event benefits United Way of West Alabama

10 April 2006
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
by Lori Creel in The Crimson White
photo by Leslie Roop

Bethany Powe, a sophomore majoring in telecommunication and film, plays croquet Saturday morning as ambassador Clint Light and football player Jeffrey Dukes anticipate a big win. The Student Ambassadors challenged the football team to a croquet match.

College of Arts and Sciences ambassadors showed their pluck and grit Saturday by beating Alabama football players and A-team members in the fifth annual Croquet Bowl to benefit the United Way of West Alabama.

A&S Dean Robert Olin, who created the annual event, said ambassadors host the event in the spring to avoid conflicts with football season.

Donors could contribute by sponsoring an A&S student ambassador for $100, a UA football player for $75 or a ball or wicket for $25. Olin said last year's Croquet Bowl raised more than $35,000 for United Way.

Olin coached the A&S ambassadors' team, and Alabama wide receivers coach Charlie Harbison coached the football players and A-team members during the event.

"I've never played this before, but I love it," Harbison said. "It's strategy. We've got to defend the title."

The football team has won the Croquet Bowl the past two years, and the A&S ambassadors won the competition the two years before that, A&S spokeswoman Becky Florence said.

"It's two for two, so it's a grudge match," Florence said.

Florence said Olin, an avid croquet player, invited A&S ambassadors to have dinner at his house and practice croquet on his lawn Thursday night.

The ambassadors took home the trophy in the best two-out-of-three competition after winning the first two games in this year's Croquet Bowl.

Ramzee Robinson, a senior majoring in business management and cornerback on the football team, said the event was fun this year even though the coaches made it competitive.

"It's just a game," Robinson said. "It's a lot more fun this year. We've got a lot more guys out here."

Maroun Ghossein, the 2006-2007 president of A&S ambassadors, said the event is growing, but he hopes to see bigger crowds and more media attention in the future.

"With a crowd, it'll aid in our fundraising," he said. "Definitely the No. 1 goal of this is to raise money."

Rachel Duncan, junior adviser to the A&S ambassadors, said the Croquet Bowl is the first official event for incoming ambassadors, who cannot play but serve as the "cheerleaders" for the team.

"It gives us the opportunity to be out in the public eye outside of our roles as ambassadors," Duncan said. "It's a very fun way to do charity work."

Eric Edwards, a freshman majoring in math and physics and a new A&S ambassador, joked that he would go through a stringent regimen of croquet training before the next Croquet Bowl.

"We're going to revolutionize croquet here at the University," he said.

Jess Mann, a freshman majoring in biology and a new A&S ambassador, said he didn't mind supporting the event from the sidelines.

"Nothing says 'Roll Tide' like watching Dominic Lee hit a croquet ball," he said.

John Parker Wilson, a sophomore majoring in business and Alabama quarterback, said he enjoyed his first year playing in the Croquet Bowl.

"We practice and play so much," he said. "It's kind of good to get away from football and help raise money for a great cause."

Katie Boyd, a junior majoring in dance and communicative disorders and an A&S ambassador, said the event was just a friendly competition.

"It's fun though because I went to high school with John Parker, and we've always been on the same team," she said. "Now we're rivals."

Katie Chamberlain, a senior majoring in English and an A&S ambassador, said she enjoyed being able to interact with the football players.

"This year I get to play so I'm definitely enjoying myself," she said. "And Tyrone is here too!"