Roll Tide Roll!

Oh, how sweet it sounds! Three words so commonplace in Alabama but tough to come by in New York City. Imagine a world where there isn't radio talk show after talk show after talk show to keep you up to the minute on every move of the team and the coach. The nightly news headlines don't begin with how the team looked at practice, or the tailgate rules changes, or how campus is ready for the thousands of fans.

A few weeks ago I saw a guy on the street wearing an Alabama shirt - I happily exchanged "Roll Tide!" greetings with him. Other than that brief encounter, I rely on my roommates and a few trusty Crimsonettes and Bama friends - and, of course, my die-hard Daddy! - to keep me grounded in Alabama thoughts.

I love the story of when my dad and I were kind of butting heads last fall over my wanting to move to New York - he was firing off all his reasons why I shouldn't go, and I was doing a pretty good job of answering each with a reason to go. Finally, it was like he couldn't think of any more protests, so he shouted, "Well, how will you go to the football games?!!" I just rolled my eyes and huffed away and said, "Who even cares?? I just won't go! It's not a big deal!"

The next day I did a little investigative work and found the Greater New York Alumni group - they meet every weekend at Mercury Bar and watch the game together. I emailed him the link and said, "Well, maybe I can watch the game with these people!"

Last night the UA chapter had a kick off party with all the SEC schools' New York chapters. Alabama was the best-represented school and gave the loudest cheers - of course! Paul Finebaum flew up here to talk football with the group, and it was so good to hear his voice (did I seriously just say that?!) and learn of his predictions for the season and updates on the teams. I looked at the crowd while he was speaking and noticed many people were leaning forward, like they were thirsty for football talk - I guess our Southern souls are suffering from the deprivation! With so many Southerners in one spot, it was a wonderful time of conversations filled with "hey y'all" and "I grew up around there" and "who do you think will take the SEC?"

Yes, funny what I already know I'm going to miss about game days - the green grass, the sweltering heat, the anticipation, the incessant talk, the abundant Alabama paraphernalia, the all-day tailgating, the sounds of the band, the roar of the crowd, the "evaluation" of the Crimsonette costumes and routines (okay, I may be the only person who does that!), the "Roll Tide's" heard all over campus, the friends, the way my dad likes to get to the stadium SO early and watches the game so intently while listening to the play by play on his headphones, clapping and shouting as needed. I know if I were in Alabama, I wouldn't be appreciating everything about Alabama gamedays - it would be just another season of football, another reason to buy crimson-colored outfits and spend the day in Tuscaloosa.

So, Daddy, for the record - I do care, and although I can watch the game with other fans here in the big city, I'm looking forward to sitting by you in Tuscaloosa at a game very soon!

Dolo - This pic's for you!

Oh - and I love this article in Sports Illustrated by Rick Bragg...and the quick mention of the Crimsonettes!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/specials/preview/2007/08/21/saban0827/index.html