Here's the deal. Alabama fans are fanatical. No pun intended. They are obsessive, crazy and still gloat about the Bear Bryant glory days. I should know, I was raised by one of Bears Boys.
Saturday was always dedicated to Red Elephant flags hanging off cars, off houses, on t-shirts and on tattoos. Chili, nachos, coke and beer -- all broken out before noon and stayed out until midnight. Whether we were at the game or in the living room, everyone wore red t-shirts, red hairbows, face paint. My aunt even wore red sweatpants. And "Roll Tide" was said as a greeting, a salutation, a high-five and even a curse.
And the stories were always the same. Remember the 1979 goal-line stand against Penn State? Bama held and we won another national championship. How about the 1993 Sugar Bowl when George Teague chased down that Miami guy and stripped the ball, held on to it and ran it back -- we won 34-13? You can't forget the Bear's last game: December 1982, the same year he became the winningest coach of all time.
There were also stories of us at home. Remember when Granddaddy jumped off the couch and launched into the air in front of the TV to catch a ball Joe Namath threw in the hopes of catching it for the win? How about when Momma was 8 months pregnant and hid behind the couch because she was afraid to watch all the excitement for fear of accidental delivery from football stress? And Sister...can't watch a game with her. She screams at the TV, the players, the coaches and you if you get anywhere near her view.
But that's SEC football. The best game in town. The fall is made for burning leaves, parades and tailgating. Down here it's religion. Down here it's life. And what better way to start it off than with huge win in Atlanta!? Next week's home opener is sure to be just as good. Doesn't matter that we're only playing Tulane. The stadium will be packed, tailgaters will be BBQing, cheerleaders will be screaming and ESPN is sure to notice the new Bama team from Tuscaloosa.
ROLL TIDE!
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