2003 AFL Grand Final, Match summary, Fourth quarter
Collingwood attacked hard to open the final quarter, but after four behinds, Brisbane ran away with the game, kicking five goals between the 15th and 26 minutes of the quarter to open a game-high 69-point lead. Three late goals to Collingwood narrowed the final margin to fifty points, Brisbane 20.14 (134) d. Collingwood 12.12 (84).


2003 AFL Grand Final, Match summary, Norm Smith Medal
Simon Black of the Lions was awarded the Norm Smith Medal for being judged the best player afield. His 39 disposals set and, as of 2021, still holds the record for equal most disposals by a player in a grand final sharing that record with Christian Petracca. Jason Akermanis kicked five goals for Brisbane.


2003 AFL Grand Final, Match summary, Post match
The Hawks, the Bombers, the Crows! They couldn't do it in the 80's or the 90's! But the Lions have gone back-to-back-to-back to become the greatest side of the modern era! They are football's Invincibles!


2003 AFL Grand Final, Match summary, Post match
With this win, Brisbane became AFL premiers for the third consecutive year, the fifth team in VFL/AFL history to do so and first since 1955–57, earning a place among the greatest teams of the modern era. Brisbane would go on to contest a fourth consecutive grand final in the 2004 AFL Grand Final, but would lose that game to Port Adelaide.


2003 AFL Rising Star
The National AFL Rising Star award is given annually to a stand out young player in the Australian Football League. The 2003 medal was awarded to Hawthorn player, Sam Mitchell.


2003 AFL Rising Star, Eligibility
Every round, an Australian Football League rising star nomination is given to a stand out young player. To be eligible for the award, a player must be under 21 on 1 January of that year, have played 10 or fewer senior games and not been suspended during the season. At the end of the year, one of the 22 nominees is the winner of award.


2003 AFL Under 18 Championships
The 2003 National AFL Under 18 Championships was the eighth edition of the AFL Under 18 Championships. Eight teams competed in the championships: Vic Metro, Vic Country, South Australia and Western Australia in Division 1, and New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory (NSW/ACT), Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania in Division 2. The competition was played over three rounds across two divisions. Vic Country and NSW/ACT were the Division 1 and Division 2 champions, respectively. The Michael Larke Medal (for the best player in Division 1) was awarded to Western Australia's Kepler Bradley, and the Hunter Harrison Medal (for the best player in Division 2) was won by Queensland's Jake Furfaro.


2003 AFL Under 18 Championships, Under 18 All-Australian team
The 2003 Under 18 All-Australian team was named on 13 July 2003:


2003 AFL Under 18 Championships, Under 18 All-Australian team
New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory: Shaun Daly, Nick PotterNorthern Territory: Tom LoganQueensland: Jake FurfaroSouth Australia: Adam Cooney, David Kellett, Brad Symes, Beau Waters, Josh WilloughbyVic Country: Troy Chaplin, Ryley Dunn, Colin Sylvia, Kane Tenace, Andrew WalkerVictoria Metro: Eddie Betts, Ricky Dyson, Luke Herrington, Brock McLean, Brayden Shaw, Fergus WattsWestern Australia: Kepler Bradley, Farren Ray


2003 AFL Women's National Championships
The 2003 AFL Women's National Championships took place in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The tournament began on 19 June and ended on 24 June 2003. The 2003 tournament was the 12th Championship. The Senior-vics of Victoria won the 2003 Championship, defeating Queensland in the final. It was Victoria's 12th consecutive title.


2003 AFL draft
The 2003 AFL draft was the 2003 instance of the AFL draft, the annual draft of talented players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League. The 2003 draft consisted of a trade period, the national, pre-season and rookie drafts and the elevation of previously drafted rookies to the senior list.


2003 AFL draft
There were 83 draft selections between the 16 teams in the national draft. The Western Bulldogs received the first pick in the national draft after finishing on the bottom of the ladder during the 2003 AFL season. The Bulldogs and Melbourne both received a priority selection for having earned 20 premiership points of less during the preceding season. Carlton also received a priority selection, despite being banned from the first two rounds of this year's draft, owing to salary cap breaches discovered the previous year.


2003 AFL draft
This draft is considered one of the weaker drafts, with almost half of the 16 club's first picks delisted within the following 4 years. It has produced one Brownlow Medallist, Adam Cooney, who is the first and, as of 2021, only number-one draft pick to win the award.


2003 AFL draft
The main trades that occurred involved Nathan Brown switching from the Bulldogs to Richmond and Trent Croad returning to Hawthorn after spending two years with Fremantle. The trading period also contained The Veale Deal, where unknown youngster Lochlan Veale was traded by Hawthorn to the Western Bulldogs in a lopsided three-way deal involving Essendon.


2003 AFL draft
In the deal Hawthorn gained Danny Jacobs, Essendon gained Mark Alvey and the number six selection in the draft and the Bulldogs officially only received Veale, and had an understanding Hawthorn that they would not trade Jade Rawlings to any other club, allowing the Bulldogs to select him with the first selection in the pre-season draft.


2003 AFL draft, Rookie elevation
In alphabetical order of professional clubs. This list details 2003-listed rookies who were elevated to the senior list; it does not list players taken as rookies in the rookie draft which occurred during the 2003/04 off-season.


2003 AFL season
The 2003 Australian Football League season was the 107th season of the elite Australian rules football competition and the 14th under the name 'Australian Football League', having switched from 'Victorian Football League' after 1989.


2003 AFL season
See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.


2003 AFL season, Wizard Home Loans Cup
The 2003 Wizard Home Loans Cup saw Adelaide defeat Collingwood 15.14 (104) to 10.13 (73) in the final.


2003 AFL season, Premiership season, Round 21
The Sydney vs. Collingwood game is notable as it is the highest attended Australian rules football match ever played outside of Victoria.


2003 AFL season, Ladder
This marks the first time that Fremantle played a finals match and the first, and only time to date that all non-Victorian teams played in a finals series.


2003 AFL season, Match attendance
Total match attendance for all games was 5,872,352 people. Attendance at the grand final was 79,451 people. The largest non-finals attendance was 72,393 people for the Sydney vs Collingwood game in round 21.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships
The 2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo in Japan that was part of the International Series Gold of the 2003 ATP Tour and of Tier III of the 2003 WTA Tour. The tournament ran from September 29 through October 5, 2003. Rainer Schüttler and Maria Sharapova won the singles title.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships, Finals, Men's Doubles
Justin Gimelstob /  Nicolas Kiefer defeated  Scott Humphries /  Mark Merklein 6–7(6–8), 6–3, 7–6(7–4)


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships, Finals, Women's Doubles
Maria Sharapova /  Tamarine Tanasugarn defeated  Ansley Cargill /  Ashley Harkleroad 7–6(7–1), 6–0


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Men's Doubles
Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard were the defending champions but lost in the first round to Jiří Novák and Petr Pála.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Men's Doubles
Justin Gimelstob and Nicolas Kiefer won in the final 6–7(6–8), 6–3, 7–6(7–4) against Scott Humphries and Mark Merklein.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Men's Singles
Kenneth Carlsen was the defending champion but lost in the third round to Hyung-Taik Lee.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Men's Singles
Rainer Schüttler won in the final 7–6(7–5), 6–2 against Sébastien Grosjean.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Men's Singles, Seeds
All sixteen seeds received a bye to the second round.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Women's Doubles
Shinobu Asagoe and Nana Miyagi were the defending champions, but lost in quarterfinals to Yan Zi and Zheng Jie.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Women's Doubles
Maria Sharapova and Tamarine Tanasugarn won the title by defeating Ansley Cargill and Ashley Harkleroad 7–6(7–1), 6–0 in the final.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Women's Doubles
This tournament saw an unusual event, as all seeded pairs were eliminated in quarterfinals.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Women's Singles
Jill Craybas was the defending champion, but lost in quarterfinals to Arantxa Parra Santonja.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Women's Singles
Maria Sharapova won the title by defeating Anikó Kapros 2–6, 6–2, 7–6(7–5) in the final.


2003 AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships – Women's Singles, Seeds
The first two seeds received a bye into the second round.


2003 AIHL season
The 2003 AIHL season was the fourth season of the Australian Ice Hockey League (AIHL). It ran from 3 May 2003 until 29 August 2003, with the Goodall Cup finals following on 6 and 7 September 2003. The Adelaide Avalanche won the Premiership after finishing the regular season first in the league standings. The Newcastle North Stars won the Goodall Cup for the first time by defeating the Western Sydney Ice Dogs in the final.


2003 AIHL season, League business
In 2003, AIHL President Tony Lane introduced the 'top four' finals (playoff) format that replaced the one off final format used in the first three seasons of the AIHL.


2003 AIHL season, League business
The new format saw the top four placed teams in the regular season standings qualify for the finals weekend where first would play fourth and second would face off against third in a single match elimination with the two winning teams advancing to the Goodall Cup final and he two losing teams advancing to the third place play-off, however this only occurred in 2003 and was dropped from the format in future years.


2003 AIHL season, Regular season
The regular season began on 3 May 2003 and ran through to 29 August 2003 before the top four teams advanced to compete in the Goodall Cup playoff series.


2003 AIHL season, Regular season, Standings
The 2003 AIHL season statistics and standings are incomplete. No one source has all the information and the AIHL has not published official statistics on www.theaihl.com. The Statistics for the following table comes from Elite Prospects with the final placings coming from hockeyarchives.


2003 AIHL season, Regular season, Statistics, Scoring leaders
List shows the ten top skaters sorted by points, then goals.


2003 AIHL season, Goodall Cup playoffs
The 2003 playoffs, known in 2003 as the 'Canadian Club On Ice Finals Series' for sponsorship reasons, was scheduled for 6 September with the Goodall Cup final and 3rd place play-off held on 7 September 2003. Following the end of the regular season the top four teams advanced to the playoff series which was held at the Sydney Ice Arena (then known as the new Sydney Glaciarium, but not to be confused with the original Sydney Glaciarium that closed in 1955) in Sydney.


2003 AIHL season, Goodall Cup playoffs
The series was a single game elimination with the two winning semi-finalists advancing to the Goodall Cup final and the two losing teams advancing to the third place play-off. The Goodall Cup was won by Newcastle North Stars (1st title) who defeated the Western Sydney Ice Dogs 4–1 in the final. The hosts, Sydney Bears, secured third spot with a high scoring 10–5 victory over league Premiers Adelaide Avalanche.


2003 AMA National Speedway Championship
The 2003 AMA National Speedway Championship Series was staged over two rounds, which were both held at Auburn on July 25 and September 26. Greg Hancock won the title for the fourth time, his first since 2000.


2003 AMA National Speedway Championship, Event format
Over the course of 20 heats, each rider raced against every other rider once. The field was then split into sections of four riders, with the top four entering the 'A' Final. Points were then awarded depending on where a rider finished in each final. The points in the 'A' Final were awarded thus, 20, 18, 16 and 14. Bonus points for were also awarded.


2003 AMA Superbike Championship
The 2003 AMA Superbike Championship was the 29th season of the AMA Superbike Championship.


2003 AMF Futsal Men's World Cup
The 2003 AMF Futsal Men's World Cup was the 8th edition of the AMF Futsal World Cup. It was held in Paraguay from 21 to 29 November 2003. Twenty teams were involved, with the host nation eventually emerging as champions.


2003 AMF Futsal Men's World Cup
The matches were played in Asunción, Pedro Juan Caballero, Concepción, Minga Guazú and Encarnación.


2003 ANAPROF
ANAPROF 2003 is the 2003 season of the Asociación Nacional Pro Fútbol (ANAPROF), the Panamanian professional football league. The season started on February 26, 2003 with the Torneo Apertura Bellsouth 2003 (Bellsouth Opening Tournament 2003), and ended on October 26, 2003 with the Torneo Clausura Bellsouth 2003 (Bellsouth Closing Tournament 2003). The champion of both the opening and closing tournaments were Tauro; therefore, for the second time in history, Tauro were crowned ANAPROF champions without the need to play a grand final.


2003 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open
The 2003 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open was the first edition of the WTA tournament held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India organized for women's professional tennis. It was held from 3 February until 9 February 2003 on outdoor hardcourts. Tamarine Tanasugarn won the singles title.


2003 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open, WTA entrants, Other entrants
The following players received entry through the lucky loser spot:


2003 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open – Doubles
Elena Likhovtseva and Iroda Tulyaganova won in the final, defeating Eugenia Kulikovskaya and Tatiana Poutchek 6–4, 6–4.


2003 AP Tourism Hyderabad Open – Singles
Tamarine Tanasugarn won in the final, defeating Iroda Tulyaganova 6–4, 6–4.


2003 ARAG World Team Cup
The 2003 ARAG World Team Cup was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 25th edition of the World Team Cup and was part of the International Series of the 2003 ATP Tour. It took place at the Rochusclub in Düsseldorf in Germany from May 18 through May 24, 2003.


2003 ARAG World Team Cup
Argentina were the defending champions but were eliminated in the round robin stage.


2003 ARAG World Team Cup
Chile defeated the Czech Republic in the final to win the title for the first time.


2003 ASB Classic
The 2003 Auckland Open (also named ASB Classic for sponsorship reasons) was a 2003 WTA Tour tennis tournament, played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 18th edition of the WTA Auckland Open. It took place at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, New Zealand, from 30 December 2002 to 5 January 2003. Second-seeded Eleni Daniilidou won the singles title and earned $22,000 first-prize money.


2003 ASB Classic, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2003 ASB Classic, Doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pair received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2003 ASB Classic, Finals, Doubles
Teryn Ashley /  Abigail Spears defeated  Cara Black /  Elena Likhovtseva, 	6–2, 2–6, 6–0


2003 ASB Classic – Doubles
Nicole Arendt and Liezel Huber were the defending champions, but none competed this year.


2003 ASB Classic – Doubles
Teryn Ashley and Abigail Spears won the title by defeating Cara Black and Elena Likhovtseva 6–2, 2–6, 6–0 in the final.


2003 ASB Classic – Singles
Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi was the defending champion, but retired in the semifinals against Cho Yoon-jeong.


2003 ASB Classic – Singles
Eleni Daniilidou defeated Cho 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–2) in the final to win her title.


2003 ASCAR season
The 2003 ASCAR Season was the 3rd season of United Kingdom-based NASCAR style stock car racing, originally known as ASCAR. From this season 'Days of Thunder' was adopted as a promotional brand inspired by the NASCAR based movie of the same name. It was used alongside the ASCAR brand for the 2003 season before taking over entirely from 2004.


2003 ASCAR season, Race calendar
The season consisted of eight meetings with either one or two races taking place at each. The grid for the opening race of each meeting was set by a qualifying session with the second race grid being set by the finishing order of the first. Two meetings were held at the EuroSpeedway in Germany with the remaining six at the Rockingham Motor Speedway in the United Kingdom.


2003 ASEAN Club Championship
The 2003 ASEAN Club Championship or the 2003 ACC is the first edition of the ASEAN Club Championship, an international association football competition between domestic champion clubs sides affiliated with the member associations of the ASEAN Football Federation. It was held at Indonesia. Invitee's East Bengal FC from India were crown the inaugural champions. It was only time that a non ASEAN side had won the title. Originally, the championship was to be hosted by Vietnam.


2003 ASEAN Para Games
The 2003 ASEAN Para Games, officially known as the 2nd ASEAN Para Games, was a Southeast Asian disabled multi-sport event held eight days after the 2003 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam from 21 to 27 December 2003. This was the first time Vietnam hosted the ASEAN Para Games and the first time East Timor participated at the ASEAN Para Games.


2003 ASEAN Para Games
Vietnam is the second country to host the ASEAN Para Games after Malaysia. Around 740 athletes from 11 participating nations participated at the games, which featured 287 events in 5 sports. The games was opened by Pham Gia Khiem, the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam at the My Dinh National Stadium.


2003 ASEAN Para Games
The final medal tally was led by Thailand, followed by host Vietnam and Malaysia.


2003 ASEAN Para Games, Development and preparation
The 2nd ASEAN Para Games Organising Committee was formed to oversee the staging of the games.


2003 ASEAN Para Games, Development and preparation, Venues
The 2nd ASEAN Para Games had 5 venues for the games.


2003 ASEAN Para Games, Marketing, Logo
The emblem of the 2nd ASEAN Para Games is a stylised image of a wheelchair athlete with two hands raised up upwards in the shape of a "V" which symbolises Vietnam and victory. At the top of the emblem, 11 small circles linked together around the image of "Khue Van Cac" (room for reciting poems). The linked small circles represents solidarity, cooperation, and friendship of disabled athletes among 11 countries in the Southeast Asian region, while the Khue Van Cac represents the host country Vietnam. The colours of the athlete and the Khue Van Cac are dark sea blue which represents unity while the colours of the 11 circles are vermilion which represents courage and passion.


2003 ASEAN Para Games, Marketing, Mascot
The mascot of the 2003 ASEAN Para Games is "The Golden Goat" which was designed by Nguyen The Nguyen. It was selected by the Organising Committee because the year 2003, year of which Vietnam hosting the second ASEAN Para Games is a goat year in most lunar calendars, especially in Vietnamese and Chinese calendar. The goat is widely described in many art and literary works of Vietnam as a very intimate, friendly and useful animal to the people in daily life. The Golden Goat symbolises happiness, victory and courage when facing challenges. The mascot's design of wearing the sports costume, holds its left hand on its waist, and raises the right hand upwards with two fingers stretching out in a "V" shape represents the strong belief in fair-play among athletes to reach the highest achievements at the games.


2003 ASEAN Para Games, Marketing, Songs
The theme song of the 2003 ASEAN Para Games is "Welcome to Para Games-Hanoi".


2003 ASEAN Para Games, The games, Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was held at the My Dinh National Stadium on 21 December 2005 at 19:00 (VST - UTC+7).


2003 ASEAN Para Games, The games, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was held at the Hanoi Sports Palace on 27 December 2005 at 19:00 (VST).


2003 ASEAN Para Games, The games, Sports
5 Sports are introduced for the 2003 ASEAN Para Games with 4 of them are Paralympics events.


2003 ASEAN Para Games, The games, Medal table
A total of 760 medals comprising 287 gold medals, 245 silver medals and 228 bronze medals were awarded to athletes. The Host Vietnam's performance was its best ever yet in ASEAN Para Games History and was second behind Thailand as overall champion.


2003 ASFA Soccer League
The 2003 season of the ASFA Soccer League (now known as the FFAS Senior League) was the twenty third season of association football competition in American Samoa. Manumea FC apparently won the championship, their first recorded title, with the winners of the 1998 league competition and a number of previous seasons unknown, however details of the season are not available and this is derived from a comment made by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi that a public holiday would be announced if they won the 2005 OFC Club Championship.


2003 ASP World Tour
The ASP World Tour is a professional competitive surfing league. It is run by the Association of Surfing Professionals.


2003 ATP Challenger Series
The ATP Challenger Series is the second tier tour for professional tennis organised by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The 2003 ATP Challenger Series calendar comprised 135 tournaments, with prize money ranging from $25,000 up to $150,000.


2003 ATP Tour
The 2003 ATP Tour was the global elite men's professional tennis circuit organised by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) for the 2003 tennis season. The ATP Tour is the elite tour for professional tennis organised by the ATP. The ATP Tour includes the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Tennis Masters Cup, the ATP Masters Series, the International Series Gold and the International Series tournaments.


2003 ATP Tour, Statistical information
List of players and titles won (Grand Slam and Masters Cup titles in bold), listed in order of the number of titles won:


2003 ATP Tour, Retirements
Following is a list of notable players (winners of a main tour title, and/or part of the ATP Rankings top 100 (singles) or top 50 (doubles) for at least one week) who announced their retirement from professional tennis, became inactive (after not playing for more than 52 weeks), or were permanently banned from playing, during the 2003 season:


2003 Aaron's 499
The 2003 Aaron's 499 was held on April 6, 2003, at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. It was the eighth race of 36 in the 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup Series season. Jeremy Mayfield was the polesitter.


2003 Aaron's 499
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. won the race, his first win of the season and fourth consecutive at Talladega, while Kevin Harvick finished second and Elliott Sadler finished third. This was also the fifth consecutive restrictor plate race win for Dale Earnhardt, Inc. stretching back to the previous year's spring Talladega race. There were six cautions, 16 different leaders, and 43 lead changes. The Big One did not take long, collecting 27 cars on the fourth lap — the largest crash in a Cup race in the modern era.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, The "Big One"
On lap 4, as the field entered turn 1, Ryan Newman (who already had a violent blowover at the rain shortened Daytona 500 in February) blew a tire and smashed hard into the turn 1 wall, almost turning over on his side and spinning across the middle of the track, collecting an additional 26 cars. Mayhem ensued as cars behind him checked up trying to avoid Newman, whose car suddenly burst into flames. One of Newman's tires came off and got struck by Ricky Rudd's hood, causing it to bounce right over the catch fence and land in a restricted access area.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, The "Big One"
A total of 27 cars were involved, making it the largest recorded crash in the history of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. It was also the second largest-crash overall in modern NASCAR, behind a 30 car crash on the back straightaway in Talladega's Busch race the year before. Damage to the cars involved ranged from no damage to severe damage; Hermie Sadler, Casey Mears, Johnny Benson, and some others were out immediately. Rusty Wallace and Jerry Nadeau returned but retired after making a limited number of laps following repairs.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, The "Big One"
Matt Kenseth and race winner Dale Earnhardt, Jr. also had minor damage. Kenseth finished inside the Top 10 on the lead lap. After the wreck, there were only 16 cars that did not have damage. Coincidentally, during the Busch race the day prior, the "Big One" occurred in turn 4 on lap 10 when Johnny Sauter blew a tire in the middle of the pack, collecting 22 cars.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s comeback
Perhaps the most well noted one involved in the Big One was Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who started in 43rd place because of an engine change after qualifying. In the crash, Earnhardt, Jr. went off the banking and down into the grass, making contact with Jeff Green's car that damaged his fender. He struggled for most of the race, at times going close to a half-lap down, until late in the race when he took the lead away from Matt Kenseth, who was also involved earlier, and won his fourth straight race at Talladega.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s comeback
Earnhardt, Jr. swept the weekend, having won the Busch Series race the previous day. Jimmie Johnson led the most laps of the race, but had a 15th-place finish when he spun out right before the white flag. By coincidence, the Big Ones that unfolded in both the weekend's Cup and Busch races at Talladega were the result of a car blowing a tire in the middle of the track (Ryan Newman in turn 1 in the Cup race, and Johnny Sauter in turn 4 in the Busch race the day prior).


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, Double yellow line controversy
Earnhardt, Jr. was involved in a controversial decision at the end of the race where it appeared he went below the yellow line in an attempt to improve position. As the cars were racing down the back straightaway, leader Matt Kenseth made a lane change, going to the outside to block Jimmie Johnson. Earnhardt Jr. was on the inside and was drafting with Elliott Sadler when Kenseth started moving low in an attempt to block Earnhardt; Earnhardt stormed well below the line entering the turn three apron as he passed Kenseth.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, Double yellow line controversy
NASCAR ruled that Earnhardt was forced below the line as his car's nose had already passed Kenseth's nose by the time Kenseth made the block, making it a clean pass in their opinion, this even though Earnhardt was nowhere close to clearing Kenseth when he hit the apron — what the rule was ostensibly intended to prevent.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, Double yellow line controversy
Some sanctioning bodies, such as the Indy Racing League, would have called Kenseth for violating the blocking rule — a driver is not allowed to make two lane changes on a straightaway, which is a penalty; the ethic against blocking, however, holds no weight in NASCAR given the fendered nature of the cars. The yellow line rule's absurdity belatedly led to discussion in the sanctioning body in January 2010 to possibly rescind it, though it was decided to maintain the rule "for the time being," according to NASCAR official Robin Pemberton.


2003 Aaron's 499, Race Summary, Double yellow line controversy
In the years to come, the yellow lines would provide several controversial moments, such as Regan Smith being penalized by passing Tony Stewart below the yellow line in the fall race in 2008. NASCAR decided to put another yellow line for the next year, in both Daytona and Talladega.


2003 Aberdeen City Council election
The 2003 Aberdeen City Council election took place on 1 May 2003 to elect members of Aberdeen City Council. The election was the last one using the established 43 single member wards using the plurality (first past the post), before the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004.


2003 Aberdeen City Council election
The results saw the council turn from Labour control to no overall control, with the Liberal Democrats being the largest party.


2003 Abia State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Abia State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. Incumbent Governor, PDP's Orji Uzor Kalu won election for a second term, defeating his former deputy, ANPP's Eyinnaya Abaribe, and two other candidates.


2003 Abia State gubernatorial election
Orji Uzor Kalu won the PDP nomination at the primary election. His running mate was Chima Nwafor.


2003 Abia State gubernatorial election, Electoral system
The Governor of Abia State is elected using the plurality voting system.


2003 Abia State gubernatorial election, Results
A total of four candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP candidate Orji Uzor Kalu won election for a second term, defeating three other candidates.


2003 Abia State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,285,428. However, only 64.05% (i.e. 823,347) of registered voters participated in the exercise.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar
The 2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess in Acapulco in Mexico that was part of the International Series Gold of the 2003 ATP Tour and of Tier III of the 2003 WTA Tour. The tournament was held from February 24 through March 2, 2003.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar, Finals, Men's Doubles
Mark Knowles /  Daniel Nestor defeated  David Ferrer /  Fernando Vicente 6–3, 6–3


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar, Finals, Women's Doubles
Émilie Loit /  Åsa Svensson defeated  Petra Mandula /  Patricia Wartusch 6–3, 6–1


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Men's Doubles
Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan were the defending champions but lost in the semifinals to David Ferrer and Fernando Vicente.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Men's Doubles
Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor won in the final 6–3, 6–3 against Ferrer and Vicente.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Men's Singles
Carlos Moyá was the defending champion but lost in the quarterfinals to Félix Mantilla.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Men's Singles
Agustín Calleri won in the final 7–5, 3–6, 6–3 against Mariano Zabaleta.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Women's Doubles
Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez were the defending champions, but did not compete this year.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Women's Doubles
Émilie Loit and Åsa Svensson won the title by defeating Petra Mandula and Patricia Wartusch 6–3, 6–1 in the final. It was the 6th title for Loit and the 15th title for Svensson in their respective doubles careers.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Women's Singles
Katarina Srebotnik was the defending champion, but lost in second round to Petra Mandula.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Women's Singles
Amanda Coetzer won the title by defeating Mariana Díaz Oliva 7–5, 6–3 in the final. It was the 9th and last title for Coetzer in her career.


2003 Abierto Mexicano Telefonica Movistar – Women's Singles, Seeds
The first two seeds received a bye into the second round.


2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing
The 2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing was a terrorist attack that occurred on 31 December 2003 in Peureulak, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province, Indonesia. The bombing, which occurred during a concert at a night market, killed at least 10 people, including three children, and wounded 45 others


2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing
The attack was the deadliest in Aceh since the start of hostilities between Indonesian troops and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) on 19 May 2003. The Indonesian military blamed GAM, but GAM denied responsibility for the bombing.


2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing, The attack
The bomb, thought to have been triggered by a timer mechanism, detonated around 9:00 PM at a night market in the eastern town of Peureulak. According to first responders, the device had been planted beneath a stage, where three local girls were performing.


2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing, The attack
The New Year's Eve festival, attended by hundreds, was allegedly organised by the military. Of the victims, many were teenagers and children; the victims included a 1-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy who died at the scene, as well as a 4-year-old girl who died in the hospital. Other victims included the mother of two of the children, numerous teenagers, as well as a man later identified as member of GAM. The majority of casualties were treated in Langsa general hospital, which lacked enough surgeons to operate on injured victims; they requested more doctors be sent from the provincial capital Banda Aceh and the North Sumatran city of Medan to supplement them.


2003 Aceh New Year's Eve bombing, The attack
Lt . Col. Ahmad Yani Basuki of the Indonesian military described the bomb as powerful and stated that no group but GAM could have staged such an attack, describing Peureulak as a "rebel stronghold". However, a spokesman for GAM denied responsibility, stating the separatist group had never staged an attack to kill Acehnese. Due to a victim being a member of GAM, local police investigated the possibility of a suicide attack; findings were inconclusive. At the time, the Free Aceh Movement separatists had no history of targeting civilians or public bombings.


2003 Acura Classic
The 2003 Acura Classic was a women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts in San Diego in the United States. It was part of Tier II of the 2003 WTA Tour. It was the 25th edition of the tournament and was held from July 28 through August 3, 2003. Third-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne won her third consecutive singles title at the event and earned $148,000 first-prize money as well as 220 ranking points.


2003 Acura Classic, Finals, Doubles
Kim Clijsters /  Ai Sugiyama defeated  Lindsay Davenport /  Lisa Raymond, 6–4, 7–5


2003 Acura Classic – Doubles
Elena Dementieva and Janette Husárová were the defending champions, but both players competed in this edition with different partners. Dementieva teamed up with Lina Krasnoroutskaya, while Husárová teamed up with Conchita Martínez. Both teams were eliminated by Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez in the first round and quarterfinals, respectively.


2003 Acura Classic – Doubles
Kim Clijsters and Ai Sugiyama won the title by defeating Lindsay Davenport and Lisa Raymond 6–4, 7–5 in the final.


2003 Acura Classic – Singles
Venus Williams was the defending champion, but did not compete this year.


2003 Acura Classic – Singles
Justine Henin-Hardenne won the title by defeating Kim Clijsters 3–6, 6–2, 6–3 in the final.


2003 Adamawa State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Adamawa State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. Incumbent Governor, PDP's Boni Haruna polled 68.55% to win the election for a second term, defeating ANPP's Adamu Modibbo and three other candidates.


2003 Adamawa State gubernatorial election
Boni Haruna won the PDP nomination at the primary election. He retained Bello Tukur as his running mate.


2003 Adamawa State gubernatorial election, Electoral system
The Governor of Adamawa State is elected using the plurality voting system.


2003 Adamawa State gubernatorial election, Results
A total of five candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. PDP candidate Boni Haruna won election for a second term, defeating four other candidates.


2003 Adamawa State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,280,204. However, only 74.73% (i.e. 956,664) of registered voters participated in the exercise.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival
The inaugural government-funded Adelaide International Film Festival (AIFF) took place in Adelaide, Australia, from 28 February to 7 March 2003, with screenings, special events and forums presented in various cinemas and locations. Established by South Australian Premier Hon. Mike Rann to stimulate the local film industry and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the South Australian Film Corporation, the festival showcases and explores contemporary screen culture with a program of screenings, special events and forum sessions.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival
The festival opened with the Australian premiere of Aleksandr Rogozhkin’s The Cuckoo. With a program of 150 screenings, this first festival was met with both critical acclaim and popular support. A third of the ninety ticketed screenings sold out.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival
An earlier independently-financed Adelaide Film Festival had been held from 1959 to 1980.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival
Katrina Sedgwick was the inaugural Festival Director. She had previously co-founded the 1995 Sydney Fringe Festival, was the Special Events Producer (1998, 2000) for the Adelaide Festival of Arts, and the Artistic Director for the 2002 Adelaide Fringe.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival
David Gulpilil received the 2003 Don Dunstan Award. for his contribution to the Australian film industry.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival, Board
Chair of the inaugural festival board was Sydney businesswoman Cheryl Bart. Her deputy was SAFC chief executive Judith Crombie. The other board members were Mojgan Khadem, Gabrielle Kelly, and Barry Loane.


2003 Adelaide Film Festival, Awards
The inaugural Don Dunstan Award was won by David Gulpilil.


2003 Adidas International
The 2003 Adidas International was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the NSW Tennis Centre in Sydney in Australia that was part of the International Series of the 2003 ATP Tour and of Tier II of the 2003 WTA Tour. The tournament ran from 5 through 12 January 2003. Lee Hyung-taik and Kim Clijsters won the singles titles.


2003 Adidas International, Finals, Men's Doubles
Paul Hanley /  Nathan Healey defeated  Mahesh Bhupathi /  Joshua Eagle 7–6(7–3), 6–4


2003 Adidas International, Finals, Women's Doubles
Kim Clijsters /  Ai Sugiyama defeated  Conchita Martínez /  Rennae Stubbs 6–3, 6–3


2003 Adidas International – Men's Doubles
Donald Johnson and Jared Palmer were the defending champions but did not compete that year.


2003 Adidas International – Men's Doubles
Paul Hanley and Nathan Healey won in the final 7–6 (7–3), 6–4 against Mahesh Bhupathi and Joshua Eagle.


2003 Adidas International – Men's Doubles, Seeds
Champion seeds are indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which those seeds were eliminated.


2003 Adidas International – Men's Singles
Roger Federer was the defending champion but lost in the first round to Franco Squillari.


2003 Adidas International – Men's Singles
Lee Hyung-taik won his first (and only) ATP Tour title, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final, 4–6, 7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–4). Lee became the first South Korean player to win the ATP title.


2003 Adidas International – Men's Singles, Seeds
A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.


2003 Adidas International – Women's Doubles
Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs were the defending champions, but competed this year with different partners. Raymond teamed up with Lindsay Davenport and lost in the first round to Anna Kournikova and Chanda Rubin, while Stubbs teamed up with Conchita Martínez and lost in the final to tournament winners Kim Clijsters and Ai Sugiyama, 6–3, 6–3.


2003 Adidas International – Women's Doubles
It was the 5th title for Clijsters and the 21st title for Sugiyama in their respective doubles careers.


2003 Adidas International – Women's Singles
Martina Hingis was the defending champion, but did not compete this year. Hingis would retire from professional tennis one month later.


2003 Adidas International – Women's Singles
Kim Clijsters won the title by defeating Lindsay Davenport 6–4, 6–3 in the final. It was the 1st title in the season for Clijsters and the 11th title in her career.


2003 Adidas International – Women's Singles, Seeds
The first four seeds received a bye into the second round.


2003 Adur District Council election
Elections to Adur District Council were held on 1 May 2003. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party held overall control of the council. Overall turnout was 31.7%.


2003 Advanta Championships
The 2003 Advanta Championships was a tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts at The Pavilion in Villanova, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States that was part of Tier II of the 2003 WTA Tour. It was the 19th edition of the tournament and was held from October 27 through November 2, 2003. Second-seeded Amélie Mauresmo won the singles title and earned $93,000 first-prize money.


2003 Advanta Championships, Finals, Doubles
Martina Navratilova /  Lisa Raymond defeated  Cara Black /  Rennae Stubbs 6–3, 6–4


2003 Advanta Championships – Doubles
The tournament wasn't played last year, no defending champions were declared. Martina Hingis and Anna Kournikova were the last champions at the 2000 edition, but none competed this year. Eventually, Hingis retired from professional tennis in February 2003, while Kournikova played her last professional match in April 2003, losing to Conchita Martínez at Charleston due to an injury.


2003 Advanta Championships – Doubles
Martina Navratilova and Lisa Raymond won the title by defeating Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs 6–3, 6–4 in the final.


2003 Advanta Championships – Singles
Lindsay Davenport was the defending champion from when the event was last held in 2000, but she decided not to participate this year.


2003 Advanta Championships – Singles
Amélie Mauresmo won the title, defeating Anastasia Myskina in the final, 5–7, 6–0, 6–2.


2003 Aerobic Gymnastics European Championships
The 3rd Aerobic Gymnastics European Championships was held in Debrecen, Hungary, October 24–26, 2003.


2003 Africa Cup
The 2003 Africa Cup (officially called at those time "Africa Top Nive") was the fourth edition of highest level rugby union tournament in AfricaNine teams were admitted, but Tunisia withdrew. The final was played in 2004, due to the participation of Namibia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup tournament. The teams were divided in three pools, with the winner of the pool and the better second admitted to the semifinals. A second division was also played


2003 Africa Cup, second division
The 2003 Africa Cup second division was the second  edition of lower level rugby union tournament in Africa. The teams were divided in two zones, with a final between the winner of each zone.


2003 Africa Cup, second division, South Zone
In the South Zone, played in Lusaka, four teams were involved. Uganda played with the second team, after the promotion of first team in the first division.


2003 Africa Cup, second division, North Zone
Played in Bamako, with eight teams divided in two pools of four.


2003 Africa Cup, second division, Final
The final of the tournament, between the winner of each zone, was played in Chingola, Zambia and was won by Cameroon.


2003 African Amateur Boxing Championships
The 12th edition of the African Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from May 9 to May 18, 2003. The event was organised by the African governing body for amateur boxing, the African Boxing Confederation (ABC).


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup
The 2003 season of the African Cup Winners' Cup football club tournament was won by Étoile Sportive du Sahel in two-legged final victory against Julius Berger (now Bridge Boys F.C.). Étoile Sportive du Sahel never had the opportunity to defend their title as the African Cup Winners' Cup was merged with CAF Cup the following season into CAF Confederation Cup. Thirty-six sides entered the competition. It was the first season when the CAF started to take disciplinary actions against teams withdrawing from the competition by banning them for three years.


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup
These actions were taken against Masvingo United from Zimbabwe who withdrew before the first leg of the preliminary round and JS Pobè from Benin who failed to show for their first leg match of the first round. Tanzania was not represented by JKT Ruvu Stars after the Tanzania Football Federation failed to confirm participation to CAF, also the Liberian side Mighty Blue Angles were disqualified following failure to meet dead-line for submitting players' licenses. No disciplinary actions were taken against both teams.


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, Preliminary round
Tanzania was not represented by JKT Ruvu Stars after the Tanzanian Football Federation failed to confirm participation to CAF


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, Preliminary round, First leg
Masvingo United withdrew before 1st leg and were subsequently banned for 3 years by CAF


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, First round, First leg
Match played in Kinshasa as Lubumbashi pitch (Stade Frederic Kibassa Maliba) considered into too poor condition


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, First round, First leg
JS Pobè did not show for the match and was subsequently banned for 3 years by CAF


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, First round, First leg
Mighty Blue Angles disqualified following failure to meet dead-line for submitting players' licenses


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, First round, Second leg
Kenya Pipeline 3-3 Anse Réunion. Kenya Pipeline won 9-8 on PSO


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, First round, Second leg
Al Hilal (Benghazi) 2-2 WA Tlemcen on aggregate. Al Hilal (Benghazi) won on away goals (1-2)


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, Quarterfinals, Second leg
Wydad Casablanca 2-2 Power Dynamos on aggregate. Wydad Casablanca won on away goal (1-2)


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, Quarterfinals, Second leg
APR FC 2-2 Asante Kotoko. APR FC won on away goal (1-2)


2003 African Cup Winners' Cup, Final, Second leg
BBC reported first goal as by Ibrahima KonéÉtoile Sportive du Sahel won 3-2 on aggregate


2003 African Junior Athletics Championships
The 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships was the sixth edition of the biennial, continental athletics tournament for African athletes aged 19 years or younger. It was held in Garoua, Cameroon, from 31 July to 3 August. A total of 44 events were contested, 22 by men and 22 by women.


2003 African U-17 Championship
The 2003 African U-17 Championship was a football competition organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The tournament took place in Swaziland. The top three teams qualified for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship.


2003 African U-17 Championship, Qualification, Preliminary round
The first leg matches were played on either 29 or 30 June 2002. The second leg matches were played on 14 July 2000. The winners advanced to the first round.


2003 African U-17 Championship, Qualification, First round
The first leg matches were played on either 21 or 22 December 2002. The second leg matches were played on either 11 or 12 January 2003, except for the Burkina Faso vs Sierra Leone match, which was played on 16 February. The winners advanced to the second round.


2003 African U-17 Championship, Qualification, Second round
The matches were played on different dates from 2 February to 15 March. The winners advanced to the finals.


2003 African U-17 Championship, Knock-out stage, Semi-finals
For winning their semi-finals, Cameroon and Sierra Leone qualified for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship with Egypt and Nigeria meeting in the third place match for the third and final place in the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship.


2003 African U-17 Championship, Knock-out stage, Third place match
For winning the third place match, Nigeria qualified for the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship with Egypt missing out.


2003 African Youth Championship
The 2003 African Youth Championship was an association football tournament for under-20 players (born in 1983 and before). It was held in Burkina Faso from January 4 until January 18. The top four teams qualified for the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.


2003 African Youth Championship, Qualification, Preliminary round
The first leg was played on either 6, 7 or 8 April 2002. The second leg was held on either 19, 20 or 21 April 2002. The winners advanced to the First Round.


2003 African Youth Championship, Qualification, First round
The First Round first leg matches were held on 20 and 21 July 2002. The second leg matches were held on 10 and 11 August 2002. The winners qualified for the Second Round.


2003 African Youth Championship, Qualification, Second round
The Second Round first leg matches were played on 28 and 29 September 2002. The second leg matches was played on 20 October 2002. The winners of the aggregate of the two legs qualified for the Finals.


2003 African Youth Championship, Final Tournament
The final tournament, consisting of 8 teams, were held from 18 March to 1 April 2003.


2003 African Youth Championship, Qualification to World Youth Championship
The four best performing teams qualified for the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.


2003 Afro-Asian Games
The 2003 Afro-Asian Games, officially known as the First Afro-Asian Games or I Afro-Asian Games and unofficially known as the Inaugural Afro-Asian Games, was a major international multi-sport event held in Hyderabad, India, from October 24 (excluding football and hockey, which began on October 22 and October 23 respectively) to November 1, 2003.


2003 Afro-Asian Games
The Afro-Asian Games was the largest sporting event ever to be held in Hyderabad, and one of the largest in India, second only to the 2010 Commonwealth Games by athletes' volume. The scale of these Games exceeds even the two Asian Games held in Delhi in 1951 (both by athletes' volume and by number of participating nations) and 1982 (by number of participating nations). More than 2000 athletes from 96 countries competed in the Games. A total of 131 sporting events in eight disciplines were conducted. Also, 120 countries sent 1,565 official representatives to these Games.


2003 Afro-Asian Games
The First Afro-Asian Games were held after nearly two decades of delays, shifts and cancellations. The prolonged amount of time for these Games considerably reduced interest in them. After the preliminary decision of hosting the Games, the venue was shuttled between New Delhi and Kuwait City. At the last moment, New Delhi was out favoured by Hyderabad, which had hosted the National Games of India in 2002.


2003 Afro-Asian Games
These Games, however, had lesser scope than the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games, since 96 nations participated in only eight disciplines. The Games witnessed only one new world record. Thirty-seven countries - an unprecedented 39% of the participating nations - won at least one medal in these Games.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, History
The idea to hold an inter-continental sporting event between Asia and Africa was initiated in April 1983, with New Delhi as the proposed venue. However, for unknown circumstances, the venue was shifted to Kuwait and the Games were proposed to be held in 1985. Political instability led to the cancellation of the Games. In 1989, the proposal was reconsidered, with New Delhi again chosen as the venue for the Games. The Games were then scheduled for 1991. The plans went wrong due to inefficient communication between the members, and so could not come into force.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, History
In 1999, a proposal for the renewal of the Games was accepted. Subsequently, Pune and then New Delhi were proposed as venues. However, they were postponed till November 2001. Slow preparations led to indefinite postponement again. After the occurrence of 9/11, Delhi pulled out. This led to the circulation of rumours that the games were "jinxed". Later, the IOA announced that the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) had sanctioned 2003 as the new date for the Games. Also, the venue was changed to Hyderabad after Delhi pulled out. Most critics point to the successful hosting of the 32nd National Games of India, which were held at Hyderabad, as the main reason for Hyderabad being chosen.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation
The Indian Government spent ₹ 1.03 billion (US$22.92 million), for the Afro-Asian Games, making these Games one of the most expensive sporting events held in Hyderabad. All preparations were completed within 60 days before the events began.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, General Preparation
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) decided to set up a central head of the development for the Games. Thus, the Afro-Asian Games Secretariat was set up at the Greenlands Guest House to organize, monitor and manage all the activities related to the Games. 17 functional organizing sub-committees were formed to oversee the development of the venues and other infrastructure. The various functions were divided within these committees. The special officer-in-charge of the Games was Sabyasachi Ghosh, while the Secretary-General of the Games was Ali Moradi.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, General Preparation
A large development Planning Association meant a great amount of inter-connectivity and communication requirements. A 24-hour call centre with interpreters was set up, using a Closed User Group (CUG) circuit.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, General Preparation
A large "web" of networking facilities was built to connect all the hotels, media centres, stadia and Transportation Committees. This would help in easing pressure on any one committee. Since the African continent is not very well-connected, an Accreditation Committee was dispatched to Abuja - in Nigeria - the host city of the 2003 All-Africa Games. The Accreditation committee brought all sports-persons and officials from Africa to Hyderabad.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, Technology
The software company CMC Limited had developed a Games and Event Management System (GEMS), which helped the organizers to efficiently manage events across the sports venues. It worked closely with Doordarshan, the official television broadcasters of the Games, to provide results of sporting competitions and live Games information. Additionally, cutting-edge technology like the implementation of geo-referenced maps and Geographic Information System (GIS) was implemented, so as to ensure a smooth and rapid flow of work.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, Transport
In the month of September, less than a month away from the Afro-Asian Games, the Transport Ministry of Hyderabad released a large number of luxury vehicles, to be used in the Games. It was the second time in the span of one year that the Transport Ministry had done so - the first time being for the 32nd National Games of India. In an effort to spruce up the city in time for the Games, the organizers arranged several buses, vans and cars to ferry the athletes and the guests.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, Accommodation
Accommodation of the athletes and foreign officials posed a serious problem to the organisers. Contrary to what the Olympics and related multi-sport events provide, no actual Games Village was available for the athletes to stay. The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) had initially wanted to have a separate Games Village for the Games, but could not arrange for it. Even though Hyderabad had hosted the 32nd National Games of India in 2002, for which a Games Village had been built, the organizers could not utilise it due to severe financial problems.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, Accommodation
It was estimated that about ₹ 800 million (US$16 million) would be required to upgrade the existing Games Village. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh (SAAP) instead opted to obtain bulk bookings from all the major hotels in the city so as to provide accommodation for the athletes, foreign dignitaries and the media.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, Security
About 1400 police personnel were drawn from various districts of Andhra Pradesh to provide the first layer of security. In addition to this, over 5000 city policemen were deployed in various places, including the event venues and all the major hotels of the city. Strict anti-sabotage measures were taken to provide security at the athlete hotels. Also, a 24-hour access control system was placed, with sniffer dogs used to sanitise the area.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Preparation, Security
To facilitate foreign athletes and officials, four immigration counters were set up at the airport. A time limit of 30 minutes was laid down to clear any athlete or official. To improve security speed, six interpreters of Russian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, French and Arabic were present at the airport. In addition, 24 specially trained immigration personnel were stationed round the clock in the airport.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Pressure on Organizing Committee
There was a lot of pressure upon the Secretariat for the smooth performance of these Games, as the IOA would keenly observe the Afro-Asian Games, in preparation for the 2010 Commonwealth Games at Delhi, India. Also, officials from Beijing, China - the venue of 2008 Summer Olympics - and Doha, Qatar - the host of 2006 Asian Games - would attend the Afro-Asian Games, and keenly observe the way the Games functioned.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Pressure on Organizing Committee
However, hosting of the Games was not the only major issue for the committee. The Afro-Asian Games would see the participation of various nations which are not in good terms with some other nations. The then Prime Minister of India, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had hinted that "some nations might withdraw from the Games, rather than get embroiled in international conflicts".


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Marketing
The logo of the Afro-Asian Games was the Charminar - Hyderabad's most famous landmark - surrounded by a string of pearls. Hyderabad is also famous for its pearls. The official logo of the Games was unveiled, along with the official website, by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on September 3, 2003.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Marketing
The Mascot for these Games was Sheroo, also spelt Sheru, a cartoon lion. Subsequently, a variation of the name 'Sheroo', called 'Shera', was also given for the mascot of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Marketing
Several Indian corporates such as Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), GVK Group and State Bank of Hyderabad provided sponsorships worth INR 10 million each towards the staging of several events of the inaugural Games. Several other corporates such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Videocon and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) also contributed to the Games. Also, Florida-based IMG Academy assisted in the conduct of the Games.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Participating countries
The First Afro-Asian Games were the first time that Asia and Africa came together for such a large event. 43 Asian and 53 African nations participated in this sporting event.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Participating countries
Below is a list of all the participating countries in the Inaugural Afro-Asian Games.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Venues
The events of the Games were held across eight stadiums, spread throughout the suburb of Gachibowli. The venues were:


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Sports
The program of the Afro-Asian Games was almost the same as that of the Asian Games, the only difference being in the number of sports. These Games witnessed eight disciplines in eight sports. Synchronised swimming and diving were not contested.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Sports
The list of sports is given below (Number in parentheses indicates number of events).


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Sports, Calendar
* The shooting events include 50 birds and 75 birds events.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Sports, Qualification
Qualification for the Games depended upon the performance of the countries in other major multi-sport events. Since these Games featured delegations from two continents, the qualification criteria for nations from the different continents was different. The qualification of the African nations was based on their performance in the 2003 All-Africa Games held in Abuja, Nigeria. The qualification for the Asian nations was based on their performance in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, South Korea.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Media coverage, Television
The official television host broadcaster of the Afro-Asian Games was DD Sports, India's first sports channel. The experience gained through broadcasting these Games would prove to be extremely helpful for its parent company Doordarshan, as they broadcast the 2004 Olympic Games live and will also be telecasting the 2010 Commonwealth Games. However, the schedule of the Games clashed with an ongoing Triangular Cricket Tournament, and the events were aired on DD Metro. Doordarshan deployed 350 personnel, 10 outdoor broadcasting vans and 86 cameras for obtaining coverage of the Games. Additionally, five cameras were used for the Sports news and the sidelights.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Media coverage, Radio
Commentators we have taken are the best in the country. We have not spared any expenditure in this regard.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Media coverage, Radio
India's premier radio broadcaster, the All India Radio (A.I.R), was the official radio partner of the Games. The AIR hired 150 programmers and engineers for the coverage of the Games.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies
The opening and closing ceremonies were described as "eye-filling" and "opulent" by several media centers. The ceremonies cost INR 150 million (US$3.34 million) to execute. Children from India, China and some African nations had practiced for a reported 21 days to ensure the success of the beginning and the end of the Inaugural Games. The settings utilised for the ceremonies were designed by well-known art director and film production designer Nitin Chandrakant Desai.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Opening ceremony
The Opening ceremony of the Games were held in the G. M. C. Balayogi Stadium - the main stadium of the events - at 5:30 pm IST. The organisers considered it as "a benchmark of the Games". The Opening ceremony of the Games showcased the cultural heritage of both the attending continents - Asia and Africa. 30,000 people came to watch the beginning of the gala sporting event. The ceremony, which was hosted by Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra, was spread over a time period of two hours and forty minutes. Many celebrities, like actor Sanjay Dutt and tennis player Leander Paes graced the occasion. Also, six-time pole vault winner Sergey Bubka, along with his wife, attended the ceremony.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Opening ceremony
Around 12,000 schoolchildren and college students came up with a show depicting the vast and vibrant culture of the two continents.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Opening ceremony
Chief Guest L K Advani declared the Games open. Shooter Anjali Bhagwat took the Athlete's Oath. This was followed by a laser show, fireworks and a space cannon show. The highlight of the Opening ceremony was the Umojas - a group of professional tribal dancers from Africa. There were other international showcases - the spiritual chanting by the Chinese monks, and the peace prayers by thousands of schoolchildren. Singer Shankar Mahadevan sang the theme song. Bollywood divas Shilpa Shetty, Simran and Urmila Matondkar did dance performances.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Opening ceremony
Unlike the Olympic Games, there was no individual march past for the countries. The countries came in batches of two - Asian countries in one batch and African countries in another.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony of the Games was marked by lights, colour and technology.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was hosted by Yukta Mookhey. President APJ Abdul Kalam officially closed the Games, in front of a near capacity crowd. His closing words were : "I congratulate all the athletes and officials who were part of the Games. When I see thousands of sportspersons I am sure the combined power of youth through sport will be the most powerful resource on earth." As he did so, the Stadium was lit up in a pyrotechnics display, and fireworks burst in the sky. A "daredevil" act was done by a few service personnel, who came riding on motorcycles. A fly-past of the Indian Army airplanes, trailing smoke in the colours of the Indian flag took place as the dignitaries took their seats.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Closing ceremony
The expected "high-point" of the closing ceremony was the show of camaraderie between the sportspersons of the two continents. However, few athletes trooped into the Stadium for that purpose. The "camaraderie ceremony" was followed by speeches of various important people, among them being IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, IOA and OCA Secretary-General Raja Randhir Singh, ANOCA President Alfa Ibrahim Diallo, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Vikram Verma. The speeches were shortly followed by a memento presentation.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Closing ceremony
As night fell, hundreds of Army recruits brought lighted torches, and did the "mashal dance". Laser lights and several technological innovations followed. Sheroo, the mascot, was bid farewell by noted Indian singer Hariharan and many costumed children. The Umojas performed yet again at the closing ceremony. The Chinese State circus was considered "breath-taking". Lebanese singer Diana Haddad, Egyptian singer Hisham Abbas and Indian singer Remo Fernandes performed at the closing ceremony as well.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Ceremonies, Closing ceremony
The host country was portrayed by a number of traditional folk dances, after which the Games officially ended.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Medal table
The official medal tally of the Afro-Asian Games is given below. China bagged the largest number of gold medals, followed by the host India in second place. Athletes from India won the most number of total medals, with 80.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Legacy
The success of the Games was a point in favor of India being able to host a major international sporting event. Subsequently, this success was used in the bidding of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which was ultimately awarded to Delhi.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Legacy
In addition, the hospitality sector received a major boost due to the games, as hotels and guest houses received large booking orders from people who were coming to see the Games - media-persons, delegates, officials, visitors, sports-persons, etc. Tourism also benefited from the Games, and the State Tourism Department showed many foreign journalists key tourism spots in the city. Many famous places such as the Charminar and the Chowmahalla Palace saw record number of visitors.


2003 Afro-Asian Games, Legacy
Also, famous local markets witnessed exceptional growth in sales and business, as demand peaked during the Games. Business of the world-renowned pearls of Hyderabad increased by about 50%, generating revenue of ₹ 50 million in one week. The rise in buyers was mainly driven by African visitors, who prefer pearls as jewellery. Also, sale of gold jewellery increased substantially, being driven by a large number of Muslim visitors who looked for traditional and intricate designs. In addition, bangles became the center of attraction for Chinese and African athletes.


2003 Afro-Asian Games medal table
The official medal tally of the first Afro-Asian Games held at Hyderabad, India. China bagged the largest number of gold medals, followed by the host India in second place.


2003 Air Canada Cup
The 2003 Air Canada Cup was Canada's 25th annual national midget 'AAA' hockey championship, played April 21–27, 2003 at the Sault Memorial Gardens in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Calgary Northstars defeated the Gaulois du Collège Antoine-Girouard 5-1 in the gold medal game to win the national title. It also marked the last season that the midget championship was known as the Air Canada Cup; it would be renamed the Telus Cup.


2003 Air Canada Cup
Future National Hockey League players competing in this tournament were Kris Letang, Jay Beagle, Colin Greening, and Teddy Purcell, who was named the most valuable player of the tournament.


2003 Air Canada Cup (women's tournament)
The 2003 Air Canada Cup was the first edition of the women's ice hockey tournament. It was held from 6-8 February 2003 in Hannover, Germany. The Canadian under-22 national team won the tournament, going undefeated over three games.


2003 Air Force Falcons football team
The 2003 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. They were a member of the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons were coached by Fisher DeBerry and played their home games at Falcon Stadium. They finished the season 7–5, 3–4 in Mountain West play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place.


2003 Akron Zips football team
The 2003 Akron Zips football team represented the University of Akron in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. Akron competed as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Zips were led by head coach Lee Owens.


2003 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial election
The 2003 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial election occurred on April 19, 2003. Incumbent Governor, PDP's Obong Victor Attah won election for a second term, defeating ANPP's Samson Ime Umanna and about three other candidates.


2003 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial election
Obong Victor Attah won the PDP nomination in the primary election. He retained Chris Ekpenyong as his running mate.


2003 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial election, Electoral system
The Governor of Akwa Ibom State is elected using the plurality voting system.


2003 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial election, Results
A total of about five candidates registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission to contest in the election. Incumbent Governor, Obong Victor Attah won election for a second term, defeating about four other candidates.


2003 Akwa Ibom State gubernatorial election, Results
The total number of registered voters in the state was 1,624,495. However, only 82.42% (i.e. 1,338,970) of registered voters participated in the exercise.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team (variously "Alabama", "UA", "Bama", or "The Tide") represented the University of Alabama in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 69th as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its 12th within the SEC Western Division. The team was led by head coach Mike Shula, in his first year, and played their home games at Legion Field in Birmingham and Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of four wins and nine losses (4–9, 2–6 in the SEC).


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
At the conclusion of the 2002 season, Dennis Franchione resigned as head coach and took the same position with Texas A&M. After a two-week-long coaching search, Washington State head coach Mike Price was hired as Franchione's replacement. Price then signed the 2003 recruiting class and led the Crimson Tide through spring practice. However, he was fired in May 2003 due to detrimental conduct as an employee of the University. Less than a week later, Mike Shula was hired as head coach of the Crimson Tide.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
Alabama opened the season with what turned out to be their final game ever played at Legion Field with a victory over South Florida. After a loss to No. 1 Oklahoma in the second week, the Crimson Tide entered the rankings at No. 21 after their victory over Kentucky. However, they dropped out the next week after being upset by Northern Illinois. They then lost to Arkansas and Georgia before they defeated Southern Miss on homecoming. Alabama then lost consecutive games to Ole Miss and then in five overtimes to Tennessee before they won at Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide then closed the season with losses to LSU, Auburn and Hawaii and finished with an overall record of 4–9.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, NCAA sanctions
The 2003 season was impacted by sanctions imposed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for violations that dated back as far as the late 1990s. On February 1, 2002, the NCAA imposed a two-year bowl ban, a reduction in athletic scholarships of 21 over a three-year period and five years of probation. The NCAA sanctioned the University after they found 11 major violations and five minor ones as part of their investigation that included boosters who provided players and coaches with improper benefits in violation of NCAA rules.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, NCAA sanctions
On September 17, 2002, the NCAA rejected Alabama's appeal to reduce the severity of the sanctions. At that time, the NCAA stated they felt that the sanctions were appropriate and that it was only because of the cooperation of the University that the death penalty for the football program was not considered. As the appeal was denied, for the 2003 season Alabama saw a smaller recruiting class and was ineligible for both the 2003 SEC Championship Game and bowl games. The latter penalty would end up being meaningless due to the Tide going 4-9.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Franchione resignation
Late in the 2002 season, rumors were abound that head coach Dennis Franchione was going to resign from Alabama to take the head coaching position with Texas A&M. On December 2, 2002, A&M head coach R. C. Slocum was fired after he served 14 seasons in the position. Three days later, Franchione left Tuscaloosa and formally accepted the Aggies coaching vacancy on December 6.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Price era
Immediately after the resignation of Franchione, athletic director Mal Moore started the search for his replacement. In the week of December 9, South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt was interviewed and then New Orleans Saints assistant coach Mike Riley was actually offered the Alabama coaching position, which he later declined. After Riley turned down the position, Moore considered several other candidates. Included in the search were head coaches Les Miles of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia  and Mike Price of Washington State. On December 17, Price was officially named as the new head coach for the Crimson Tide. Price did not fully assume his duties as head coach until January 4, after he coached Washington State in the 2003 Rose Bowl.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Price era, Coaching staff
In addition to completing the 2003 recruiting class, Price worked to assemble his staff in the weeks after he arrived in Tuscaloosa. Four of his assistants from Washington State came with Price to coach at Alabama: Chris Ball, Bob Connelly, Kasey Dunn and Aaron Price. The remainder of the staff was filled in the weeks that followed National Signing Day.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Price era, Recruiting class
As part of the NCAA imposed penalties related to the Albert Means recruiting scandal that dated back to 1999, Alabama had the total number of football scholarships it could award reduced by seven to 18 instead of the standard 25. As such, the 2003 class only had eighteen members, with most being from within the state of Alabama. With the departure of Franchione, the Alabama recruiting coordinator Randy Ross helped keep the class together during the transition period prior to the arrival of Price.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Price era, Spring practice
The 2003 spring practices started on March 3, and concluded with the annual A-Day game on March 29. During the month of practice, offensively the team began the transition from Franchione's option offense to Price's passing attack. For the A-Day game, the Crimson team of offensive starters defeated the White team of defensive starters by a final score of 47–0 before 34,000 fans in Bryant–Denny Stadium. For their performances, Antwan Odom earned the Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the A-Day Game Award and Brodie Croyle earned the Dixie Howell Memorial Most Valuable Player of the A-Day Game Award.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Price era, Dismissal
On May 3, 2003, university president Robert Witt announced the firing of Price immediately as the head coach of the Crimson Tide. Although both the University and Price were in agreement in principle to his seven-year, $10 million contract, Price never signed it and thus was not awarded any severance pay with his dismissal. Later, a story in Sports Illustrated stated Price had been seen at a strip club "making it rain" and yelling "Roll Tide, Roll!".


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Price era, Dismissal
He allegedly later checked into a local hotel with at least one exotic dancer from the club, and the magazine further alleged Price had sex with one of the strippers, a claim which Price denied, although he acknowledged being intoxicated on the evening in question. He filed a $20 million libel and defamation suit against Sports Illustrated.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Mike Shula hiring
After the dismissal of Price, Alabama interviewed only three candidates to serve as his successor: Sylvester Croom, Richard Williamson and Mike Shula. On May 9, 2003, Alabama hired Mike Shula as their fourth head coach in four years.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Personnel, Staff changes
Alabama head coach Mike Shula entered his first year as the Crimson Tide's head coach for the 2003 season, and it was also his first all-time season as a head coach. After he was hired, Shula retained much of the coaching staff put in place by former head coach Mike Price; however, he did make several changes. On May 13, David Rader was hired to serve as both offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach as the replacement for both Aaron Price and Eric Price. On May 23, Dave Ungerer was hired to serve as special teams coach as the replacement for Aaron Price. The final coach added was Charlie Harbison as running backs coach as the replacement for Kasey Dunn.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Schedule
The 2003 schedule was anomalous for a variety of reasons. With a two-year bowl ban imposed by the NCAA in 2002 through 2004, Alabama added a thirteenth game against Hawaii in Honolulu to the 2002 and 2003 schedules that the university would hope to serve as an effective replacement for a bowl game. The 2003 season marked just the fifth time since 1947 that the Iron Bowl was not Alabama's final regular season game (2002 at Hawaii; 2001 Southern Miss; 1988 at Texas A&M; 1963 at Miami).


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Schedule
Also beginning in 2003, the SEC altered its scheduling methodology—permanent cross-division opponents were reduced from two to one (i.e. instead of Alabama playing Tennessee and Vanderbilt annually, the Tide would only face Tennessee every year while the Commodores would rotate onto Alabama's schedule along with the rest of the SEC Eastern teams). This change resulted in Alabama not playing Vanderbilt for the first time since 1952. Finally, the Crimson Tide played their final home game at Legion Field, which had hosted many Alabama games over the previous century (including the entire 1987 home schedule).


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Florida
In 2000, the NCAA voted to allow its member schools to schedule a 12th game for both the 2002 and 2003 seasons. As such, in June 2000 Alabama scheduled the South Florida Bulls to open the 2003 season in the first all-time meeting between the schools. In what was the first game of the Mike Shula era, Shaud Williams scored three touchdowns in this 40–17 victory at Legion Field. After each team traded punts to open the game, the Bulls took an early 7–0 lead when Ronnie Banks threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Brian Fisher.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Florida
The Crimson Tide tied the game at 7–7 later in the first quarter after Charlie Peprah intercepted a Banks pass and returned it 51-yards for the touchdown. South Florida responded in the second quarter and took a 17–7 lead on a 17-yard Brian Fisher touchdown run and 45-yard Santiago Gramática field goal. Alabama then tied the game 17–17 at halftime after they scored ten points in the final 0:26 of the half.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Florida
After Brodie Croyle threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Triandos Luke, the Bulls' J. R. Reed fumbled the kickoff that ensued and gave the Crimson Tide possession at the USF 24-yard line. Three plays later the score was tied after Brian Bostick connected on a 40-yard field goal as time expired.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Florida
Alabama took their first lead of the game after they scored on a 25-yard Brian Bostick field goal early in the third quarter. After the Crimson Tide defense held the Bulls to a three-and-out on their first second half possession, Shaud Williams returned a punt 73-yards for a touchdown and a 27–17 lead. Williams then scored his second touchdown on Alabama's next offensive possession with his three-yard run, and after a blocked extra point led 33–17.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Florida
After Gramática missed a 19-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the Crimson Tide went on a 15-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in Williams' third touchdown of the game on a one-yard run and made the final score 40–17. For his 98-yards rushing and two touchdowns, Williams was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Florida
This game is also notable for being the final home game played by the Crimson Tide at Legion Field. Although Alabama was scheduled to play Middle Tennessee at Legion to open the 2005 season and was under contract to play one final game in either the 2007 or 2008 seasons, in August 2004 the eastern upper deck at the stadium was declared structurally unsound and unsafe to use. As such, on August 19, 2004, Alabama and Birmingham officials canceled their contract to play the final two games at Legion Field and thus made the game against the Bulls the final for the Crimson Tide in Birmingham.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
In what was the first game ever played by Oklahoma in the state of Alabama, the Crimson Tide nearly upset the No. 1 ranked Sooners only to lose 20–13 at Bryant–Denny Stadium. Oklahoma took a 6–0 first quarter lead after Trey DiCarlo connected on field goals of 34 and 40 yards. Midway through the second quarter, the Crimson Tide cut the Sooners' lead in half to 6–3 on a 44-yard Brian Bostick field goal. However, Oklahoma responded on their next possession when Jason White threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton and gave the Sooners a 13–3 halftime lead.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
After DiCarlo missed a 31-yard field goal late in the third quarter, the Crimson Tide scored their only touchdown of the game on the drive that ensued on a 20-yard Brodie Croyle pass to Triandos Luke and made the score 13–10. Oklahoma responded almost immediately on the next drive with a 47-yard White touchdown pass to Brandon Jones and extended their lead back to ten points at 20–10. The final points of the game came late in the fourth quarter on a 36-yard Bostick field goal that made the final score 20–13. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against the Sooners to 1–2–1.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
To open conference play for the 2003 season, Alabama hosted the Kentucky Wildcats and behind Shaud Williams' second three touchdown game of the season won 27–17. After Brian Bostick missed a 27-yard field goal on the opening possession of the game, several punts were traded before Williams scored his first touchdown on a 15-yard run to give Alabama a 7–0 first quarter lead. After a 43-yard Bostick field goal extended the Alabama lead to 10–0 early in the second quarter, the Wildcats made the halftime score 10–7 after Draak Davis scored on a one-yard touchdown run. Alabama threatened to score a touchdown just before halftime, but the Brodie Croyle pass was intercepted in the endzone by Chad Anderson for a touchback.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
In the third quarter Bostick scored on a 30-yard field goal and Taylor Begley scored on a 27-yard field goal for the Wildcats that made the score 13–10 as the teams entered the fourth quarter. On the first play of the fourth, Williams scored his second touchdown of the game on a two-yard run for a 20–10 Crimson Tide lead. Begley missed a 49-yard field goal later in the quarter, and on the Alabama drive that ensued, Williams scored his third touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run and made the score 27–10.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
Kentucky then made the final score 27–17 when Jared Lorenzen threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Derek Abney late in the fourth quarter. For his 174-yards rushing and three touchdowns, Williams was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time of the season. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Wildcats to 32–2–1.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Northern Illinois
Although the No. 21 Crimson Tide were two touchdown favorites over Northern Illinois, they were upset 19–16 in what was the first all-time win over a SEC team for the Huskies. Late in the first quarter, Alabama scored a touchdown on a 28-yard Brodie Croyle pass to Zach Fletcher. However, the extra point was blocked by Jason Frank and returned by Kevin Woods for a defensive two-point conversion and a 6–2 Crimson Tide lead. In the second quarter, the Huskies scored on a 51-yard Steve Azar field goal before Brian Bostick kicked a field goal from 35 yards out and made the halftime score 9–5.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Northern Illinois
Northern then took a 12–9 lead midway through the third quarter when Josh Haldi threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Shatone Powers. After a series of punts, midway through the fourth quarter, Haldi  threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Dan Sheldon and extended the Huskies' lead to 19–9. Alabama responded on their next possession with a 54-yard Shaud Williams touchdown run that made the score 19–16. However this proved to be the final points of the game in their defeat.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
Although the Crimson Tide led Arkansas by three touchdowns late in the third quarter, the Razorbacks rallied to tie the game at the end of regulation and win on a field goal in the second overtime period by a final score of 34–31. Arkansas took an early 7–0 lead after Matt Jones scored a touchdown on a 39-yard run on the opening drive of the game. After David Carlton missed a 32-yard field goal on their second possession, Alabama tied the game on the drive that ensued when Brodie Croyle threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Triandos Luke.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
After Carlton missed his second field goal of the game early in the second quarter, Chris Balseiro gave the Razorbacks a 10–7 lead on their next possession with his 38-yard field goal. The Crimson Tide responded on their next possession with a 48-yard Brian Bostick field goal as time expired to tie the game 10–10 at halftime.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
Alabama opened the third quarter with a 71-yard Croyle touchdown pass to Dre Fulgham for a 17–10 lead. On their first offensive play of the second half, Jones threw an interception to Anthony Madison that was returned to the Arkansas 23-yard line. Three plays later the Crimson Tide led 24–10 when Croyle connected with Fulgham on a 12-yard touchdown pass. Alabama then scored their third consecutive touchdown on their next possession on an 80-yard Shaud Williams touchdown run for a 31–10 lead.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
Arkansas then responded with three straight touchdowns of their own to tie the game at the end of regulation. The first came late in the third quarter on a five-yard Cedric Cobbs touchdown run and the final pair came in the fourth quarter on a two-yard Mark Pierce run and a three-yard Richard Smith reception from Jones.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
In the first overtime period, Charles Jones intercepted a Jones pass to keep Arkansas scoreless. However, Alabama also failed to convert a 36-yard Bostick field goal to send the game into a second overtime. On the first play of the second overtime, Croyle was intercepted by Jimarr Gallon to again keep Alabama scoreless. Seven plays into their possession, Arkansas connected on a 19-yard Balseiro field goal and won the game 34–31. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against the Razorbacks 8–6 (9–5 without an NCAA forfeit).


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
In what was their first road game of the season, Alabama traveled  to Athens where the Georgia Bulldogs scored 31 points in the second quarter en route to a 37–23 victory. After the Crimson Tide took an early 3–0 lead on a 42-yard Brian Bostick field goal, Georgia responded with a trio of Billy Bennett field goals from 27, 44 and 52-yards to take a 9–3 lead early in the second quarter. Georgia then extended their lead to 37–10 by halftime with four second-quarter touchdowns.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
The Bulldogs scored first when Jarrett Berry blocked a Bo Freelend punt that was returned seven-yards by Thomas Davis for a touchdown. The Georgia defense then held the Crimson Tide and forced a change of possession on downs to give the Bulldogs the ball at the Alabama 44-yard line. Five plays later, D. J. Shockley threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Jamario Smith for a 23–3 lead. After Ramzee Robinson fumbled the kickoff that ensued, Georgia took possession and four plays later led 30–3 when Kregg Lumpkin scored on a one-yard run.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
On their next possession, Alabama managed to score their first touchdown on an 18-yard Spencer Pennington pas to Dre Fulgham that made the score 30–10. The Crimson Tide defense did get a stop on their next possession to force a Georgia punt; however, on the first offensive play for Alabama, Pennington fumbled to give the Bulldogs possession at their 29-yard line. With only 0:30 left in the quarter, Georgia made the halftime score 37–10 when David Greene threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Benjamin Watson.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Georgia
Although the Alabama defense held Georgia scoreless in the second half, so did the Georgia defense and the only second half points came on a pair of defensive touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. In the third quarter, Charles Jones intercepted a Greene pass and returned it 30-yards for a touchdown, and early in the fourth Juwan Garth recovered a fumble and returned it 10-yards to make the final score 37–23. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against the Bulldogs 35–24–4.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
On homecoming in Tuscaloosa, Alabama defeated the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 17–3 in what was the first all-time start for quarterback Brandon Avalos. The Crimson Tide took a 7–0 first quarter lead when Shaud Williams scored on a 44-yard touchdown run. After a series of punts, late in the second quarter, Alabama connected on a 23-yard Brian Bostick field goal and Southern Miss on a 27-yard Darren McCaleb field goal that made the halftime score 10–3.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Southern Miss
After a scoreless third quarter, Bostick missed a 36-yard field goal before Chris James blocked a Luke Johnson punt that gave the Crimson Tide possession at the Golden Eagles' one-yard line. On the next play, Williams made the score 17–3 with his one-yard touchdown run. The game concluded with a pair of lost fumbles by Southern Miss and an Avalos interception with a final score of 17–3. In the game, Williams rushed for 170 yards on 28 carries and was responsible for both of Alabama's touchdowns in the game. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Golden Eagles to 32–6–2 (33–5–2 without an NCAA forfeit).


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
In their annual rivalry game against Ole Miss, the Rebels took a 24–0 first quarter lead that they did not relinquish in their 43–28 victory at Oxford. The Rebels took a 3–0 lead early in the first after Jonathan Nichols connected on a 52-yard field goal. On Alabama's first offensive series, Brodie Croyle threw an interception to Travis Johnson that gave the Rebels possession at their 23-yard line. On the next play, Ole Miss took a 10–0 lead after Eli Manning threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Taye Biddle. The Ole Miss defense then forced a punt, and Manning followed with a 55-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 17–0. The Rebels then closed the first quarter with a 10-yard Brandon Jacobs touchdown run that made the score 24–0.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
The Crimson Tide cut into the Ole Miss lead and made the score 24–10 after they scored on their first two possessions of the second quarter. Shaud Williams scored first on a three-yard touchdown run followed by a 32-yard Brian Bostick field goal. The Rebels responded later in the quarter when Manning threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Kerry Johnson 41-yard pass that made the halftime score 31–10.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
The Ole Miss defense held the Crimson Tide to a three-and-out to open the second half, and the offense extended their lead to 38–10 after Manning scored on a three-yard touchdown run. Later in the quarter, Chris James blocked a Cody Ridgeway punt and returned it 32-yards for a touchdown that made the score 38–16. Early in the fourth, the Rebels scored their final points of the game on a 19-yard Nichols field goal. Later in the fourth, Alabama scored a pair of touchdowns that made the final score 43–28. The first came on a 22-yard Croyle pass to Ray Hudson and the second on a five-yard Croyle pass to Williams after a successful onside kick. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against the Rebels to 40–9–2 (41–8–2 without an NCAA forfeit).


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
In what is the longest game ever played by the Crimson Tide to date, Alabama lost in five overtime periods to the Tennessee Volunteers 51–43 in their annual rivalry game. The first scoring opportunity of the afternoon came early in the first quarter when Mark Jones fumbled a Bo Freelend punt that was recovered by Roberto McBride to give Alabama possession at the Tennessee 26-yard line. Seven plays later the Crimson Tide took a 3–0 lead on a 33-yard Brian Bostick field goal. Neither team would score again until late in the second quarter when James Wilhoit connected on a 31-yard field goal for the Vols and Bostick connected on a 48-yard field goal that made the halftime score 6–3.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
In the third quarter, Tennessee took a 10–6 lead after James Banks scored on a 25-yard run to open the half. After Corey Campbell intercepted a Brodie Croyle pass on the Alabama possession that ensued, the Vols extended their lead to 13–6 with a 38-yard Wilhoit field goal. The Crimson Tide tied the game 13–13 later in the quarter on a 36-yard Croyle touchdown pass to Triandos Luke. In the fourth, Alabama scored on a two-yard Ray Hudson touchdown run and Tennessee responded to tie the game 20–20 late on a one-yard Casey Clausen touchdown pass to Troy Fleming that sent the game into overtime.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
In the first overtime period, the Vols scored on a six-yard Clausen touchdown pass to Derrick Tinsley. The Crimson Tide responded with a six-yard Croyle pass to Dre Fulgham that sent the game into a second overtime tied at 27–27. In the second overtime, Tim Castille scored on a 12-yard touchdown run for Alabama. Tennessee then scored on a five-yard Clausen touchdown pass to Banks that sent the game into a third overtime tied 34–34. In the third overtime, Clausen threw his second touchdown pass to Banks from 25-yards out for the Vols.


2003 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
The Crimson Tide responded with a 12-yard Williams touchdown run that sent the game into a fourth overtime tied 40–40. In the fourth overtime, each team traded field goals that made the score 43–43 as they entered the fifth overtime. In the fifth and final overtime period, Clausen scored on a one-yard touchdown run and Alabama failed to score that resulted in a 51–43 Tennessee victory. The loss brought Alabama's all-time record against the Volunteers to 44–35–7 (44–34–8 without an NCAA forfeit).