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Sports Arena
A Tide of Tradition
Unbeaten Alabama inspires championship dreams.
(Page 2 of 2)
Like Republicans who’ve spent 20 years vainly seeking a worthy successor to Ronald Reagan, Alabama fans have suffered mightily during their long quest to return to the glories of the Bryant epoch. Yet as with Reagan’s legacy, the Tide tradition lives on.
Bill Curry once explained the value of that tradition: “You can put that crimson jersey on anybody — he may not be a great athlete — and he will play his heart out. He becomes somebody else on Saturday. You can work the team harder than the norm, and nobody will quit. A kid can’t quit and go home to Dothan and say to his dad, ‘I just quit the Crimson Tide.’”
In his second season as ‘Bama’s head coach, Saban has had remarkable success with a very young team (20 players in the two-deep lineup are freshmen or sophomores). The Tide has already clinched a spot in the Dec. 6 SEC championship game against Florida (currently ranked No. 2 by the AP).
Despite their undefeated record, Alabama’s season has been a nail-biter. The Tide barely beat Kentucky, 17-14, and Ole Miss, 24-20, and it took an overtime touchdown to defeat LSU 27-21. My brother, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery in February, called me during the LSU game to complain, “Don’t they know I’ve got a bad heart?”
Even with Alabama ranked No. 1 in the country, Saban can’t relax, because he hasn’t beaten Auburn yet. Though the Tigers are a woeful 5-6 coming into the Saturday’s game, they’ll be fired up for Alabama and — this being the SEC, where upsets are not unusual — nobody expects this year’s “Iron Bowl” to be a walkover. But ‘Bama fans definitely expect something better than a sixth consecutive defeat at the hands of their hated rivals, and it would be a sad thing if bricks through the coach’s window became a Tuscaloosa tradition. Roll Tide.
About the Author
Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.
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John| 11.26.08 @ 8:22AM
Bring it on. War Eagle.
Quilla | 11.26.08 @ 9:28AM
We plan to. Roll Tide!
Sear Orge | 11.26.08 @ 10:07AM
Auburn will lose this one.
Appleby| 11.26.08 @ 11:05AM
Somewhere in Mama's storage room is a large furled banner reading BEAR BRYANT FOR PRESIDENT, on the bumper of Daddy's car is a sticker that says AUBURN HAPPENS.
Neither Mama nor Daddy went to university, but they are diehard Bama fans and no mistake. On Saturday Mama moves into her new apartment, the first she has had since Daddy died last month. I am sure the first thing to be connected will be the teevee, and Daddy will be watching on the Big Screen up in heaven and when the Bear shows up just before kickoff, he will get an ovation that we just might hear down here.
ROLL TIDE!
Jeremy Jester| 11.26.08 @ 11:40AM
The rest of the country probably cannot fathom the extent to which this rivalry lives and breaths each and every day of the year in this state. Even the canned food drive in the weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl is hotly contested between the two university's student bodies.
War Damn Eagle!
Norge| 11.26.08 @ 12:59PM
That National Championship Sugar Bowl score in '93 should read 34-13 above. Bama fans remember stuff like that . . .
dave88 | 11.26.08 @ 1:49PM
I experienced a similar problem. When I bought my iPhone, I first checked with “Got Reception?” (Gotreception.com) It’s a great resource for finding out where reception problems are most likely to occur BEFORE you lock yourself with a specific carrier.
Hunter| 11.26.08 @ 2:07PM
I know it was a typo, but that 1992 championship was a resounding 34-13.
Hunter Baker| 11.26.08 @ 2:12PM
Robert, I was raised on the Bear and own one of those ridiculously vain paintings of the Miami victory. Saban's leadership of the team has put balm on an open wound. We're back.
Robert Stacy McCain | 11.26.08 @ 3:01PM
"The Stop" -- the tackle by Barry Krauss on a goal-line stand that saved 'Bama's victory against Penn State in the 1979 Sugar Bowl -- is THE great moment in Crimson Tide history, to me. "The Strip" by George Teague in the '93 Sugar Bowl -- which dramatically shifted the momentum against Miami -- is a close second.
Alan Brooks| 11.26.08 @ 8:49PM
theyve won 32 out of 55 bowl appearances. pretty darn good.
Tripp | 11.26.08 @ 8:50PM
The reason we're number one, Mr. McCain, is our defense. You hear all the commentators hate on Alabama because they all blindly follow this philosophy that star quarterbacks throwing wild passes like in EA Sports NCAA football video games wins championships. The SEC, and Alabama in particular, is the best becuause we believe in strong, fast defense, whether against the run or against wild eyed passers like Colt McCoy. We will thrash Auburn and beat Florida because we have not only the best coach in college football but because we have the best defense. You don't see games like Texas Tech and Oklahoma with those giant scores with Alabama games because we play defense, and well at that. We have tradition at the University, but we also have Nick Saban and his star defense. That's why Alabama is and deserves to be #1.
John| 11.27.08 @ 12:04PM
As a Sooner fan - I really appreciate your writings on 'Bama! I respect the tradition there - and admire (and envy) their record this year! will l be rooting for thej Tide, unless they are up against my Sooners!
Randy| 11.27.08 @ 2:43PM
Well researched and written. BAMA has that "it" that many have talked about - no flashy play - no flashy statistics - just good ole' rough and tumble grind it out ole skool football victories in the toughest conference around! Roll Tide!
Jonathan| 11.28.08 @ 11:21AM
the brick was not thrown through curry's window after he lost a third time to auburn. the brick was acutally thrown through his window after he lost homecoming to Ole Miss in 1988.
John | 11.28.08 @ 12:31PM
My brother Jeff called last night. He has dusted off his Alabama jacket and will be wearing it Saturday. I, on the other hand, will be sweating his game, Penn State's, and Navy's; the alma maters of my grandfather and my old man.
Go Bama, Fight Bama, Win!
Ms. Know| 11.29.08 @ 2:55PM
What's not tradition is the left-wing illuminati worried about football playoffs, and not the country.
Robert Stacy McCain | 11.29.08 @ 7:28PM
36-0! The biggest margin in the Iron Bowl since 1962. The sweetest play was in the 4th quarter when Alabama had its second-string offense on the field and backup QB Greg McElroy threw a 34-yard touchdown pass. Bring on the Gators!
Mrs. Southern Belle| 11.30.08 @ 9:21AM
Yes, I agree with Ms. Know, I understand they will correct the BCS and playoffs!
I also agree with Robert McCain... WOW!
Roll Tide Roll, Rama Jama Yellow Hammer, Give 'em Hell Alabama, We will beat Florida and go on to be the National Champs!!!
In the Bear's memory.
Tripp| 11.30.08 @ 5:14PM
HaHaaa seeya Tuberville!