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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER> HOME ON THE PLAINS </H1>
<H2 ALIGN=CENTER> Olympian Gaines Returns To Auburn </H2>
<H3 ALIGN=CENTER> by Kevin D. Woods </H3>

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When Auburn takes the field against Fresno State tonight, there will be a familiar face on the sideline.  Former Auburn all-everything swimmer Rowdy Gaines has returned to the Plains and will be working the sideline for the Auburn Network's pay-per-view telecast of the game. </P>
<P>
Gaines is a familiar face to Auburn, where he was a 22-time All-American,  a six-time SEC champion and a five-time individual NCAA champion.  Gaines is also familiar to the rest of the world. Swimming in the 1984 Olympics he captured gold three times, in the 100-meter freestyle, the 400-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter medley relay. </P>
<P>
Gaines also has worked as a commentator for several networks, including covering the Olympics for NBC in Atlanta this past summer. Working for the Auburn Network seemed only natural. </P>
<P>
"Were going to try it out this first game, and see how it goes.  I'll do the first game, and hopefully it will continue to be something I do," says Gaines, who is still trying to recover from his whirlwind summer. </P>
<P>
"It's been a high profile summer.  I think it's a natural fit.  I don't do the commentating full time, but I do  a lot of network stuff.  I've worked for NBC, ESPN, and CBS.  I've worked all the major networks, and I'm pretty comfortable in front of a camera.  It's just something that comes natural." </P>
<P>
So natural that Gaines relished the opportunity to work with NBC in Atlanta. </P>
<P>
"I really enjoyed it.  They're a first-class network, and it was something that I had aspired to do for a long time.  I had worked a lot of television. I've done world championships, NCAAs, and Pan Am games, but never an Olympic Games for a network.  I loved it.  The United States did well, which sent the ratings through the roof.  I was just glad to be a part of it," says Gaines. </P>
<P>
Gaines admits that it was hard returning as an announcer to the venue that he had once excelled in as an athlete. </P>
<P>
"It was hard.  I couldn't sit down.  While I was doing the commentating my partner, Dan Hicks, and I are standing up the whole time.  We just couldn't sit down--it was so exciting." </P>
<P>
Gaines continues, "Normally in swimming were lucky to get 20 people.  At the Olympics there were 20,000 people.  The swimmers not only fed off that and rode the emotion, but so did we.  In '84 I'm not sure I would have won the medal if it been held in another country.  To tell you the truth, I wasn't the best swimmer on the blocks.  I may have been the best prepared, and the crowd carried me to victory." </P>
<P>
Recently, Gaines and his three children, Emily, 11, Madison, 6, and Savannah, 2, and wife Judy, have returned to Auburn, after eight years in Honolulu, Hawaii.  For Gaines it was an ideal move. </P>
<P>
"I've always wanted to come back to Auburn.  I knew when I went to school here, that this was the place I wanted to live. I'm from a small town in Florida, and Auburn is a small town.  Auburn is a really perfect location for me." </P>
<P>
Gaines also states that being closer to family made Auburn even a more ideal situation. </P>
<P>
"My mom is from Mississippi, my dad is from Tennessee, and I have relatives in all three.  It's a perfect central location.  My grandmother died about seven or eight  months ago, and my children never even knew her.  I just felt that was a crime.  I felt they needed to be close to family.  I didn't want them growing up not knowing their grandparents." </P>
<P>
Now back in Auburn, Gaines has begun to settle in.  He and his family have  just purchased a house, and are ready to engulf themselves into the community. </P>
<P>
"When I first moved back here, a lot of people kind of snickered or tried to figure what in the world was I doing.  Until I bought a home, I don't think they realized how serious I was.  I want to be a part of not only Auburn University, but the community as well." </P>
<P>
Gaines will be serving as the Assistant Director of the James E. Martin Aquatics Center under the direct supervision of director John Asmuth and the administrative division of the university. He will also be available for special assignments from the athletic director. </P>
<P>
Gaines also has high respect for the Auburn swim program and head coach David Marsh. </P>
<P>
"I think David has done an incredible job.  He has turned that program completely around.  We will be year in and year out vying for the national championship." </P>
<P>
In fact, Gaines says that the current program reminds him a lot of  when he swam for the Tigers back in the 80s. </P>
<P>
"It reminds me a lot of the program that we had.  We were always a top five team.  It's funny, last year they finished second in the country, and 15 years to the day we had finished second my freshman year." </P>
<P>
Gaines is glad to be back home in Auburn. He looks forward to raising his children here, as well as  being a leader in the community.  In fact, of all the accomplishments, all the medals, and all of the high-profile broadcasting, what are Rowdy Gaines' most memorable moments? </P>
<P>
"The biggest thing that has always stuck with me is swimming for Auburn.  I'll never forget us winning the NCAA Championships in five of the six relays we swam.  I really think those were the high points for me, because I was not only able to celebrate a victory for me, but I was able to share it with my teammates and the school that I represented." </P>
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<IMG ALT="Rowdy Gaines" ALIGN =RIGHT WIDTH=201 HEIGHT=261 BORDER=2 SRC=" pic/rowdy.jpg">
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<B><I>Gaines will work the sidelines Saturday as part of the Auburn Network's pay-per-view telecast.</I></B>
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	<H1 ALIGN=CENTER> HOME ON THE PLAINS </H1>
	<H2 ALIGN=CENTER> Olympian Gaines Returns To Auburn </H2>
	<H3 ALIGN=CENTER> by Kevin D. Woods </H3>

	<TABLE BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=3>
	<TR>
	<TD>
	<P>
	When Auburn takes the field against Fresno State tonight, there will be a familiar face on the sideline. Former Auburn all-everything swimmer Rowdy Gaines has returned to the Plains and will be working the sideline for the Auburn Network's pay-per-view telecast of the game. </P>
	<P>
	Gaines is a familiar face to Auburn, where he was a 22-time All-American, a six-time SEC champion and a five-time individual NCAA champion. Gaines is also familiar to the rest of the world. Swimming in the 1984 Olympics he captured gold three times, in the 100-meter freestyle, the 400-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter medley relay. </P>
	<P>
	Gaines also has worked as a commentator for several networks, including covering the Olympics for NBC in Atlanta this past summer. Working for the Auburn Network seemed only natural. </P>
	<P>
	"Were going to try it out this first game, and see how it goes. I'll do the first game, and hopefully it will continue to be something I do," says Gaines, who is still trying to recover from his whirlwind summer. </P>
	<P>
	"It's been a high profile summer. I think it's a natural fit. I don't do the commentating full time, but I do a lot of network stuff. I've worked for NBC, ESPN, and CBS. I've worked all the major networks, and I'm pretty comfortable in front of a camera. It's just something that comes natural." </P>
	<P>
	So natural that Gaines relished the opportunity to work with NBC in Atlanta. </P>
	<P>
	"I really enjoyed it. They're a first-class network, and it was something that I had aspired to do for a long time. I had worked a lot of television. I've done world championships, NCAAs, and Pan Am games, but never an Olympic Games for a network. I loved it. The United States did well, which sent the ratings through the roof. I was just glad to be a part of it," says Gaines. </P>
	<P>
	Gaines admits that it was hard returning as an announcer to the venue that he had once excelled in as an athlete. </P>
	<P>
	"It was hard. I couldn't sit down. While I was doing the commentating my partner, Dan Hicks, and I are standing up the whole time. We just couldn't sit down--it was so exciting." </P>
	<P>
	Gaines continues, "Normally in swimming were lucky to get 20 people. At the Olympics there were 20,000 people. The swimmers not only fed off that and rode the emotion, but so did we. In '84 I'm not sure I would have won the medal if it been held in another country. To tell you the truth, I wasn't the best swimmer on the blocks. I may have been the best prepared, and the crowd carried me to victory." </P>
	<P>
	Recently, Gaines and his three children, Emily, 11, Madison, 6, and Savannah, 2, and wife Judy, have returned to Auburn, after eight years in Honolulu, Hawaii. For Gaines it was an ideal move. </P>
	<P>
	"I've always wanted to come back to Auburn. I knew when I went to school here, that this was the place I wanted to live. I'm from a small town in Florida, and Auburn is a small town. Auburn is a really perfect location for me." </P>
	<P>
	Gaines also states that being closer to family made Auburn even a more ideal situation. </P>
	<P>
	"My mom is from Mississippi, my dad is from Tennessee, and I have relatives in all three. It's a perfect central location. My grandmother died about seven or eight months ago, and my children never even knew her. I just felt that was a crime. I felt they needed to be close to family. I didn't want them growing up not knowing their grandparents." </P>
	<P>
	Now back in Auburn, Gaines has begun to settle in. He and his family have just purchased a house, and are ready to engulf themselves into the community. </P>
	<P>
	"When I first moved back here, a lot of people kind of snickered or tried to figure what in the world was I doing. Until I bought a home, I don't think they realized how serious I was. I want to be a part of not only Auburn University, but the community as well." </P>
	<P>
	Gaines will be serving as the Assistant Director of the James E. Martin Aquatics Center under the direct supervision of director John Asmuth and the administrative division of the university. He will also be available for special assignments from the athletic director. </P>
	<P>
	Gaines also has high respect for the Auburn swim program and head coach David Marsh. </P>
	<P>
	"I think David has done an incredible job. He has turned that program completely around. We will be year in and year out vying for the national championship." </P>
	<P>
	In fact, Gaines says that the current program reminds him a lot of when he swam for the Tigers back in the 80s. </P>
	<P>
	"It reminds me a lot of the program that we had. We were always a top five team. It's funny, last year they finished second in the country, and 15 years to the day we had finished second my freshman year." </P>
	<P>
	Gaines is glad to be back home in Auburn. He looks forward to raising his children here, as well as being a leader in the community. In fact, of all the accomplishments, all the medals, and all of the high-profile broadcasting, what are Rowdy Gaines' most memorable moments? </P>
	<P>
	"The biggest thing that has always stuck with me is swimming for Auburn. I'll never forget us winning the NCAA Championships in five of the six relays we swam. I really think those were the high points for me, because I was not only able to celebrate a victory for me, but I was able to share it with my teammates and the school that I represented." </P>
	</TD>
	<TD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH=219>
	<IMG ALT="Rowdy Gaines" ALIGN =RIGHT WIDTH=201 HEIGHT=261 BORDER=2 SRC=" pic/rowdy.jpg">
	<BR CLEAR=ALL>
	<FONT SIZE=2>
	<B><I>Gaines will work the sidelines Saturday as part of the Auburn Network's pay-per-view telecast.</I></B>
	</TD>
	<TR>
	</TABLE>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="./">TABLE OF CONTENTS</A> \| <A HREF="../">PROGRAM INDEX</A> \| <A HREF="../../index.html">HOME</A></P>

	<P ALIGN=CENTER><I>© 1997 Auburn Network, Inc.</I></P>

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