"The University of Alabama Is The University FOR Alabama" – Dr. Mohler at the UA Alumni Fall Kickoff

The Tuscaloosa County National Alumni Association of the University of Alabama held its annual Fall Kickoff event at the River Market in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday evening. A crowd of nearly 150 attended the event with several alumni proudly boasting of their long-time association with The University of Alabama, including Don Garner. A gentleman who is in his eighties and let people know that he was actually born in the university. As back when he was born, there was a small hospital on the campus of The University of Alabama.

Several speakers comprised the evening's program. With the featured speaker being the University of Alabama's Head Baseball Coach, Rob Vaughn. However, the most significant speaker of the annual Fall Kickoff event was the President of The University of Alabama, Dr. Peter J. Mohler. Dr. Mohler is in his second year as the 30th President of The University of Alabama and eagerly mingled with the attendees at the Fall Kickoff throughout the entirety of the evening.

While over the past ten years, The University of Alabama has been dubbed, "Illinois State", due to the large number of out-of-state students the university has been recruiting to its lovely campus, Dr. Mohler stated that "The University of Alabama is the University FOR Alabama". With Dr. Mohler further clarifying that the university was going to focus on admitting students from Tuscaloosa County and in Alabama in important fields like nursing. Dr. Mohler stated that the university was focusing on programs like ACT preparation courses that are provided for high school students for free so that more Alabama students will be prepared to attend the university. He also stated that the university is working on making it to where all 67 counties of the State of Alabama are represented in Tuscaloosa. Mohler also specified that they want to make it to where graduates from The University of Alabama want to "continue to want to do great things for Alabama."

The President of The University of Alabama stated that "We've been The University of Alabama for almost two-hundred years." Indeed, the university first opened its doors and held its first day of classes on April 18th, 1831, which marks five years until the university celebrates its bicentennial. With Dr. Mohler then explaining that one of the elements that is needed in the world of today is "stability". And he felt that The University of Alabama could be the North Star for the modern era. As there are two words that come to his mind when he thinks of The University of Alabama, "Tradition and Pride."

Dr. Mohler emphasized that The University of Alabama creates leaders for our state which is being further encouraged through the new School of Leadership and Policy that the university has opened on campus. Dr. Mohler also noted that 60% of the jobs that will be available for the incoming freshmen at The University of Alabama when they graduate in four years, don't exist yet. He then focused on how the university is launching the state's first dedicated School of Data Science which is scheduled to open in 2027. Mohler spoke on how we will "not be led by AI", but will lead with it. The president of the university also didn't refrain from discussing the current hot topic of college sports. With Dr. Mohler stating that, "We've taken the college out of college athletics."

The Fall Kickoff featured a BBQ dinner which guests partook of just prior to the onset of the evening's program. With the chapter president of the Tuscaloosa County National Alumni Association, Alyson Baxter, emphasizing that, "Every person in this room shares something special, which is a love of The University of Alabama." The national president of the Alabama Alumni Association, Carol Sprayberry, then spoke about how Alabama is "#1 in the state with collegiate car tag sales." With Sprayberry encouraging alumni to keep purchasing their alumni license tags. Which was also echoed by Dr. Mohler as he let everyone know that his license plate says, "UA Pres" on it.

Miss Alabama 2026, Ruby Tilghman, also spoke at the Fall Kickoff Event. Noting how she was present at the event last year under the auspices of being "Miss University of Alabama". However, she has since progressed through the state's pageant system and is now, "Miss Alabama". She will compete in Miss America in September. She has been accepted into the UAB School of Medicine as a medical student, however, she has deferred her acceptance while she completes her year as Miss Alabama. Ruby Tilghman also spoke about how all of the scholarships provided by the alumni association help students. With her scholarships giving her the financial freedom to found the "57 Miles: Mitigating Brain Drain in Rural America" program which is currently connecting students from the university with Marion, Alabama. A city that has a high poverty rate in the Black Belt.

The Head Baseball Coach for the university, Coach Rob Vaughn, concluded the evening's presentation speaking about how, "My faith and my family are the most important things for me." The Texas native spoke about how prior to coming to Alabama, he and his wife had stated that he would never coach in the SEC. As they had seen too many examples of coaches having to give up too much to win in the Southeastern Conference. However, when he got the call from Greg Byrne, they came to Alabama sight unseen, and have loved every second of it.

Coach Vaughn led the University of Alabama's baseball team to an appearance at the Men's College World Series in Omaha this year, which marks the first time the team has advanced that far since 1999. Vaughn related a cute anecdote about how one of the things that he has learned about coaching at Alabama is "what it means to beat Auburn". He related a story about how his ten year-old son's little league team was playing against the Auburn's little league team this year and he told him, "We are three to zero again Auburn". Which prompted his son's little league team to continue the trend and beat Auburn.

The music for the evening was provided by the University of Alabama's flute choir. An ensemble which boasted of their newly acquired contrabass flute. They played a lovely rendition of the beloved balled from the classic film, "The Wizard of Oz", "Somewhere Over The Rainbow". Then the flute ensemble invited all of the attendees to join them in a rousing rendition of "Yeah, Alabama!"

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, reporter, poet, vocalist, piano instructor, and columnist who writes on current events, politics, and the arts.