Oct. 4 wasn’t a typical Saturday for University of Alabama student Gabby Mathis. The chemical engineering major was picked to kick a field goal during ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast when UA hosted Vanderbilt.
Mathis’s attempt was like many — the kick didn’t quite make it. But hosts Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit did their part to make it memorable. And while she’ll never forget that day, it’s just one of many things about UA that are special to Mathis.
The Alabama Experience
Mathis is a senior from California, but she knew early on that UA was for her.
“I first learned about Alabama in a “Bama in Your Town” event in Los Angeles. My parents and I loved everything we saw and thought, why don’t we just go and see it for real? That was it. I didn’t want to leave.”
In reflecting on her time at the Capstone, “College GameDay” is just one of many standout moments. Those include participating in UA Innovate’s 24-hour Hackathon challenge and presenting at the ALDAG student business plan competition.
“A few friends had asked if I wanted to do Hackathon and I was like, sure, why not,” said Mathis. “We were staying in Hewson Hall and my friends wanted to leave but I thought, no, I know very little code, but I’m going to stick this out.”
It turned out to be one of her favorite memories because it was something she never thought she would do.
“I’m a chemical engineering major who did a coding challenge that I’m so grateful I did,” she said. “It’s just one of so many opportunities you can take advantage of.”
The ALDAG competition is another opportunity Mathis embraced. She teamed up with Victoria O’Tool and Joseph Gourlay and worked with guidance from Dr. James Geyer to present their plan.
“I don’t know anything about starting a business, but Victoria and Joseph were looking for project partners and I said ‘Hey, I’ll do that!’” Mathis explained.
“We presented our business plan for Panoptes, which quantifies drowsiness, and we came in third!” Mathis said. “My part was explaining the technical jargon, but through this I also learned that I love being part of group projects. I love working as a team.”
Mathis has experienced a good bit of teamwork through multiple co-ops, internships and extraordinary learning opportunities made possible at Alabama.
She’s worked with companies like Dell, Dow and Solenis in positions that have taken her to Massachusetts, Texas and Michigan. She’s traveled to Copenhagen, Stockholm and London with UA’s chemical engineering department on a study abroad trip.
Always one for making memories, Mathis created a senior year bucket list that includes…hard hats?
“At all of my co-ops and internships, I’ve always had to wear hard hats and I’ve kept each of them,” Mathis said. “So, of course, when I learned ‘GameDay’ was coming to Tuscaloosa, I had to try to get a hard hat.”
She got a lot more than that.
The ‘GameDay’ Experience
Mathis and her good friend Olivia Hurley got to the Quad Friday afternoon to camp out for the ESPN broadcast. The hours-long wait included a last-minute tent purchase, rotating food runs and making friends with others in line. But then things started picking up.
“Around 5 a.m. they start moving us up around the stage and reminded us not to forget to get a ticket,” she said. “I’m thinking, ‘I’ll take a ticket but it’s not going to get called.’ I just wanted a hard hat.”
Around 8:45 a.m. they called out the first ticket number, but nobody claimed it. Then they called out the second ticket number, 1964. “1-9-6-4, that’s me!” Mathis said. The next hour was a whirlwind of emotions.
“They take me backstage, I’m calling my parents, I’m watching videos on how to kick a football and telling my friends to watch for me,” said Mathis. “I get to meet Pat McAfee just real quick because, you know, he’s running around. And then I realize I just told all these people to watch me and I don’t even know how to kick a football!”
Mathis said it never occurred to her that she wouldn’t be the one to take the shot. “They asked if I wanted anyone to kick for me, but I know you don’t get many chances like this and I wanted to try no matter what.”
The rest is history.
More Experiences to Come
Anyone who knows Mathis and her infectious optimism knows she’s not one to turn down any chance to grow as a student and person. She’s even writing a book called “Pipeline to the Profession: A College Student’s Guide to Internships, Networking and Career Readiness” to help others do the same.
“The ‘GameDay’ experience has opened opportunities to explore other passions and see what all I can do, what I want to do,” she said. “And here, UA just gives you so many opportunities to see where you fit, what works for you and see what you want to do.”
Mathis believes taking chances can be life-changing.
“Try a group and see if it meshes. You don’t have to be an expert on anything. You don’t have to have it all figured out,” she said. “There are so many people at UA who will tell you, ‘Let’s figure it out together.’”
And yes, Mathis did get her hard hat.
Contact
Jennifer Brady, UA Strategic Communications, jennifer.brady@ua.edu