A Dream Come True for the Crimson Tide!!

This is a dream come true for the Crimson Tide! As an Alabama basketball fan honestly, I wasn't sure if this day was ever going to come. It almost doesn't seem real yet that the University of Alabama is a Final Four team.

In 2004, as a sophomore in college, it was an incedible feeling celebrating in the dorms as the Crimson Tide made their first ever Elite 8. Who knew it was going to be another 20 years before there would be an opportunity for Alabama to reach this game again, and thankfully the goal was completed Saturday night in LA.

The way this team has responded to adversity during this NCAA Tournament is almost something like a movie. From having to win multiple games without Latrell Wrightsell, to overcoming big first half runs from both North Carolina and Clemson, and most importantly turning a lackluster end of regular season into the most amazing 4-game run in school history.

For the majority of the season, the conversation has been that Alabama lives and dies by the three-point shot, and during the second half of Saturday night's game the Crimson Tide thrived from beyond the arc. What Mark Sears and Jarin Stevenson did against Clemson was a thing of beauty.

In addition to the great shooting, what Alabama's Nick Pringle brought in the paint was what Coach Oats knew he could bring. Since coming back from two in-season suspensions, his focus has been on a different level and we witnessed just how tough he is. Playing with a bad heel, he battled with a physical Clemson front court and won many of those battles. He had several big putbacks and even hit some very big free throws with the game on the line.

We all know the next battle against UConn will be a tougher matchup than anything the Crimson Tide has seen all season, but for now Alabama nation it is time to celebrate. History has been made in Tuscaloosa and honestly this run has turned into one of my fondest sports memories in my 40 years on this Earth.