Vanguard

Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Lifestyles

Media Credit: Marzieh Atigh / Photo Editor

This past Saturday, University of South Alabama students, alumni and faculty once again had an opportunity to get down and dirty as part of the annual Oozeball tournament, sponsored by the USA Southerners. Oozeball is volleyball in a pit of mud.

"It's exactly what I expected, and I loved it," said Lauryn Davis.
New southerner Alisha Williams stated, "I didn't realize how many people were involved in Oozeball."

This year marked the 20th anniversary of Oozeball at South Alabama, which explains one of its catchy themes: "Mudslinging for 20 years." The 20-year tradition had some big change incorporated this year.

Due the building of the new recreation center, the oozeball playing area had to be moved to a new location. The new home for the courts is between The Grove and the JagTran barn.

"I like the new location a lot," said former southerner, Holly Peek. "I think the new site has better accommodations."

In addition to the new site, there were five courts versus the four that were common in past years, and 56 teams rather than 48.

The new location of the event did not come without any troubles. There were several occasions where the courts would begin to leak and loose considerable amounts of water. However, that never distracted the oozeball players. Other minor problems came up through out the day but nothing that could not be handled. Anytime an issue aroused, a southerner was working hard to fix it.

Oozeball is also a special time of fellowship and farewells for the 16-member southerner group.

It marks the beginning of the incoming southerners, and the departure of the one who have served their two-year term. It is the last bonding experience with the leaving southerners and the official welcoming in the USA southerners.

The 2008 Oozeball champions were the members of team Oozey. The team began with a good start and dominated all the way to the very end.

"It was a team effort, and we had no weak players," said collectively by the members of team Oozey. Oozey defeated the Wildcats placing them in 2nd place. Teams White Chocolate and Yellow Fever came in third and fourth places.

The southerners had several co-sponsors and helpers to make the big event a success. They included SGA, the Echsner Family, the Trophy Shop, Mobile City Fire Department, USA Landscaping and Maintenance, Dirt, Inc, Coke Company and Domino's pizza.

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