The Crimson Tide Experience for One Fan
When you get the Crimson Tide in your blood, it never goes away. Our new writer, Brandon Holloman, shares his experience.
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Whether you have been an Alabama Crimson Tide fan since conception or became one during the travels of your life, there are many Tide traditions—”Roll Tide” being one— that will always be imbedded deep within our heart.
Today we take a look back at where “Roll Tide” became a driving force in our lives. Think back to that time in your life. Here’s how it began for me.
Growing up with my grandparents in Western Middle Tennessee, it may seem taboo to be a diehard Alabama fan with most of the population pulling for (you know who) even though Tuscaloosa is roughly the same distance away as Knoxville.
The first memory that comes to mind is when I was five and a half years old. We all know how much that half meant at that age, but I still remember that 1992 championship season.
My grandfather is only passionate about a handful of things—hard work and Alabama football being among them. Every Saturday meant sitting around the television or the radio. Every play made by Jay Barker, Sherman Williams and every play and return from David Palmer was being analyzed through the television.
When the game was only on the radio, the sheer silence there needed to be present if only for my granddad to give the team or just me a pep talk. He’d say were doing right or wrong and how happy he would be when things went right. We all know championships always help.
The ’92 season in our household was a good one with Gene Stallings at the helm. I imagine that gave my granddad and all Tide fans a little sliver of Bear Bryant’s winning way at The Capstone.
“Roll Tide” is also the introductory statement to those at the beginning of your Crimson journey. (Just ask my wife)
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It would be several years later before I started to fully comprehend the meaning of those two words.
The first game that I remember going to was in Nashville. Alabama was playing Vanderbilt. I remember almost the entire stadium being filled with Crimson and thinking, “Wow, this is crazy”.
At a young age on that day, it appeared as if Vanderbilt Stadium turned in a sort of Roman Coliseum.
The Crimson Tide ended up being the victorious gladiators that day. Before that day, I would hear “Roll Tide” from my family and on the radio or television. It’s after you are at a live game with most or all Bama fans chanting “Roll Tide” in a sea of crimson and white that you begin to feel what “Roll Tide” means.
Maybe for you it’s a tingle up your spine or a feeling of butterflies in your stomach not knowing exactly what to expect. Whichever it is for you, keep it alive and give a “Roll Tide” to someone today.
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So Bama Faithful if you haven’t been to see the Tide play at Bryant-Denny or somewhere closer to you, that must be remedied. If you have the chance or get the opportunity go then you too will get that same feeling I did as a kid and still get to this day. Until next time.