Yoculan's Style Helps Lead Georgia To Title

Coach helps lead Bulldogs to third straight national championship

April 28, 2007

By Lindsay Schnell

Special to CSTV.com

SALT LAKE CITY - Suzanne Yoculan tried to not look at the score.

During meets, the Georgia coach tries to do everything her athletes do: she stands while and cheers while athletes perform - often as close to the event as allowed - she wears the same wacky hats that coincide with the team's theme and during competition, she doesn't pay attention to other teams.

"Tonight I tried to stick with our plan of tunnel vision but I did know what was going on out there," Yoculan admitted. "It's very hard not look at the score with that giant scoreboard overhead. That's great for fans, but hard for the teams. I knew, but I didn't say anything."

If there were any time to knock off the Bulldogs, this was it. The Utes had virtually every fan in the John L. Huntsman Center rooting for them, and bars, their best event was up next. What's more, Georgia had fumbled a bit on beam, with a couple uncharacteristic pauses and a few gasps when it looked like All-American Courtney Kupets might lose her footing and slip off.

"She just pulled me aside and said it's okay to have little mistakes," Kupets said. "That's what she's said all season: it doesn't matter if we have little mistakes, it matters how we handle them. That's what she's really good at, knowing what we need [to hear]."

The Bulldogs headed to the floor and right away had a miscue: Nikki Childs fell, scoring a 9.125. It would have been easy, at this point to panic.

But hey, this was Georgia and like the postseason slogan said, "A Wounded Dog is a Dangerous Dog."

Wounded, yes. Georgia was missing seniors Ashley Kupets and Kelsey Ericksen, both victims of season-ending injuries. And dangerous? You better believe it.

From there on out it was 9.900s and higher on the floor for the two-time defending champs, including a 9.950 from anchor Courtney Kupets. The Bulldogs scored a 49.575 on the floor and all but sealed their third straight title. They cruised on vault, turning in a 49.525 behind 9.950s from both Megan Dowlen and Katie Heenan.

It was also Georgia's eighth title overall, all of which the intense Yoculan.

Yoculan has talked a lot about how she's not exactly the favorite coach in her sport. She is loud, fiery and all over at meets, running from event to event cheering on her girls. But for as much as it might bother everyone else, it seems to be working. With their third straight title, and second in dominating fashion, Yoculan just might be building a dynasty.

"When you think gymnastics you have to think of her first," said Georgia athletic director Damon Evans, who was on hand to see the meet. "She's been phenomenal. When you're winning, people are always going to be gunning for you so there might be a little chatter out there every now and then, but there's no doubt people respect her because she's a winner. She is building a dynasty."

"I believe in the benefit of enthusiasm, I believe in the energy you get from each other," Yoculan said of her coaching style.

There's proof of Yoculan's coaching in the individual events, too. Georgia had four of the top five scores in every individual event Friday night, except on beam: There, the Bulldogs had two of the top five.

And there's proof in Courtney Kupets, the brilliant sophomore who's already racked up 10 All-American honors. Kupets scored a 39.750 in the all-around Thursday night, winning her second straight title.

"It doesn't get old," Yoculan said of winning another title.

There might be more for Yoculan & Co., too. The Bulldogs will host the championships next year and might get to win a title in front of their home crowd for the first time since 1989.

"I'll start thinking about that tomorrow," Yoculan said. "I'm going to let myself rest tonight but I guarantee you I'll be thinking about that tomorrow. But first I've gotta come up with a theme."