I’m not a superstitious guy. But I do have a few game day rituals that help get me prepared for the task ahead. The task, of course, is eating too much and yelling at the television. Just as Coach Saban talks about “The Process” which prepares his team to stomp opponents on a given Saturday, there’s a process involved in being the prepared fan. Let’s face it; the team is counting on me to have my lucky shirt ready in case I’m needed. I have a responsibility in this.
The first factor is whether it’s a home or an away game. This has nothing whatsoever to do with where the team is playing; their schedules are determined years in advance, while mine fluctuates. If I am watching on TV at my home, it is a home game for me. I am away if I’m at the game or watching with The Downtowners (a group of friends in the loft district in Birmingham). Certain game day rituals demand I address these questions early and stick to the script.
Game day rituals bring out the OCD in all of us. I am not really obsessive-compulsive most of the time, although people have commented that I only eat chocolate chip cookies in groups of four. I think cookies taste better in fours, if you must know, and I am comfortable with that. Anyway, back to the game day preparations.
My Home Games:
Food: I tend to eat a lot of food. I’m talking Man vs Food amounts, if possible. Buffalo wings, red beans and rice, nachos, or pizza are all suitable. These need to be ready to eat prior to kickoff. It is better to eat them cold than to have to go tend to them during a game. Grilling is also good and is the only method of preparation that should be done during the game.
Drink: I may or may not have beer during the game. I am happy with coffee, tea, water or anything. Ideally, I would like to have a Bloody Mary before a game. I tell myself that these are healthy and almost like drinking a salad — filled with vitamins and nutrients. Unlike cookies, I don’t consume these four at a time. Sometimes, I can’t get a Bloody Mary, which is ok. Stay hydrated. You have to be prepared to yell at the screen when the quarterback can’t manage to see the correct routes.
Clothes: I don’t wear the head-to-toe polyester Bama sweatsuits some folks tend to love. I have a few shirts that are game day-approved. One is a red elephant dress shirt. I also have a couple of different crimson polo shirts that are acceptable. Pants are optional. (Maybe I should clarify that a bit. I do wear pants but I do not have specific game day pants.) I also tend to wear red and white boxers on game day. Maybe you think you could’ve lived a long and happy life without knowing this, but my underwear is important. As game day ritual goes, it’s the key to success. For example, I was in Orange Beach for the Florida game (an away game for me and the Tide) and realized as I was packing the night before, that my game day shirt and boxers were still in the laundry. So, at 4am I washed them. When I got home from work they were dry and ready to go. Alabama beat Florida. You’re welcome.
Other People: I love to watch with friends and family but there are rules. 1) Do not stand in front of the tv (very important) and 2) do not talk to me about your personal problems during the game. Even if it’s something you have been meaning to say for weeks and never felt right, you can wait a few more minutes. Do not go all Dr. Phil on me while I’m watching the game. I do care (really) and I can probably solve your problems in a matter of seconds – three hours from now. Be patient.
My Away Games: (depending on if I am away watching it on tv or if I am away and at the game.)
Food: I have no control over this and I am okay with that (and you thought I was OCD). If I’m with The Downtowners, everyone brings something. We graze throughout the game. The TV there is bigger than my car, so life is good. If I’m at the game, I either eat with my alumni group or I eat wings. If I cannot do either, I usually skip it, which makes the next point more of a problem.
Drink: I almost always get a game day Bloody Mary in Tuscaloosa. I found a place downtown that serves them with bacon in them. As you well know, everything is better with bacon. Anything beyond that I do in moderation. A new tradition for me, when I am with the alumni group in Tuscaloosa, is to have an Arnold Palmer — half sweet tea and half lemonade. If you have not tried this, you must. With The Downtowners, they usually have beer (I prefer Good People Brown) and sweet tea. They don’t have Arnold Palmers, but I’m considering making that my role in the future if it doesn’t throw the ritual off balance.
Clothes: There is no difference between home and away attire. Part of being a fan is being social and you have to be consistent.
People: Similar rules apply for my away and home viewing. 1) Do not stand in front of other people (especially me) and 2) I am not Dr. Phil or Oprah. Conversation is good. We can talk about a game we once saw in the past, a funny thing we did in college, or some similar story, but any chat can be preempted by a yell or a high five when Alabama scores or forces a turnover.
Alabama usually finishes the football season in January. From that day until kickoff in September, we live with anticipation. Some people follow recruiting. Some weirdos actually watch other sports. Purists live for the day when the Tide takes the field for the first game. You can smell football season in the air. The game day ritual is one of life’s most important tasks, and you should never be a casual fan. They say football is a religion in the South. Don’t just play church. Life is too short.
What game day rituals or habits do you have?