I live in Virginia, so I don’t get many chances to say “Roll Tide” in my daily life. I am thrilled when I happen upon someone wearing a Bama hat or shirt, so I can send out a friendly “Roll Tide”. Most of the time that happens for me on planes or in airports because I’m a travel agent and fly a lot. When I went to Australia last year with a bunch of travel agents, there was a guy with us that had a Bama hat on, so of course I said “Roll Tide”. Well, when he answered with an Aussie accent, I almost fell over. Turns out he married a Bama girl and one of his agency’s specialties is packages to Bama games. I don’t think I’ve had anyone not want to say “Roll Tide” back to me and then we’re happy to talk(or bitch as the case may be) about the team.

I’ve never had a Bama fan approach me, but I have actually had two Auburn people approach me and say, “War eagle.” They were nice about it, I guess.

I have been in the military 11 yrs now, and every Bama fan has said that to me. I also say it back. Then we find out where we are from in Bama. I have been going to physical therapy for shin splints, and everyone of my trainers are from Bama. The first day I walked in with one of my Bama shirts on, and I got a hearty Roll Tide!! I of course returned with a hearty Roll Tide!! Everyone else just laughed at us…it was great!

another “Roll Tide!” story. I was eating in a posh Los Angeles restaurant last year and I spotted a guy wearing a Bama shirt at another table. He looked like a total phony, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt and approached him. When I said, “Roll Tide” he looked at me like I was crazy. I think he even said, “What?” in an annoyed manner.

Some snotty woman sitting next to him looked disgusted so I explained that I saw his Bama shirt, had gone there, and thought he might have gone there also or just been a fan, since he was in fact wearing a Bama shirt. I briefly explained the “Roll Tide” expression.

He said he had a relative who went to Bama, but otherwise, he didn’t know a thing about it and was just wearing the shirt. It kind of pissed me off (especially because I was being uncharacteristically friendly and they acted like a bunch of snobby a**holes who were too cool and sophisticated for something of this nature).

Although I am here in Northeast GA, there are a lot of fellow Bama fans in the area (and Barners too…) -I and the ones I know around here are quick to offer an enthusiastic “Roll Tide!” to those who sport the crimson and white. The best of all was when my family and I went to Disney last year-we got so many “Roll Tide”’s, my wife, not being into sports much, actually suggested that I take off the windshirt! But rest assured, my daughter and son are being raised right…as BAMA FANS!!!

Well how many off you use it for more than just hello. I mean its th most perfect greeting in the world. It means to me hi, how ya doing, goodbye , etc….......

Guys, i know how you feel. Here in Tennessee everytime i see bama gear a proud roll tide comes from my mouth and 90% of the time i gets a “dumb” look back. Look, be proud of it or dont wear it, thats my moto. I sign my credit card receipts at resturants with my name, then a Roll Tide at the bottom of it! oh well, ill say it again Roll Tide

Roll Tide

Bamagrad reminded me of a funny L.A. story. I was at a “hip” L.A. party in the fall of 2002 and I had not yet heard the day’s scores and was having a hard time finding a football fan until I spotted a “BAMA” trucker hat. I ran over and gave a hearty “Roll Tide” to the group of ultrahip disheveled fellows and they just looked at me like I had stolen their lunch. The leader explained that they were not BAMA fans and had just picked up the hat at a gas station after their band had played the Homecoming festivities on the quad. Lynrd Skynrd had just played Homecoming that year and I asked incredulously if they were part of a re-formed Sknyrd. They now looked as though I had cussed their Mama and explained that they had played the Bama quad the previous year and I was speaking to Pete Yorn. I said who?—Who’s the idiot-the guy wearing a Bama hat at a LA party to look “Red-Neck” cool and is offended at the possibility of being part of Sknryd or the Bama grad that had never heard of Pete Yorn?

I live in Bowling Green. I’m actually surprised at the number of Alabama bumper stickers and license plates I see around here. Fortunately for me, one of the guys i rent with is a Bama fan, so I’m not alone.

I’ve actually got a Pete Yorn song that was a free iTunes download. I thought that the name sounded familiar when you mentioned it. haha.

I posted this on the main page after a road trip last year, but figured a bunch of y’all probably missed it the first go around since there’s so many new faces around here:

Sunday, May 20, 2007: Orlando, Florida:

After a splendid day at the Canaveral National Seashore, my friends and I headed back to Orlando to see the Arctic Monkeys at Hard Rock Live. We were sitting in a Whataburger (much to my dismay since I don’t eat hamburgers) arguing about whether the show started at 8:00 p.m. or the doors opened at 8:00 p.m. I was convinced it was show at eight, but everyone else was sold on it being doors at eight. We get home, check the tickets and it’s show at 8 p.m. We look at the clock, it’s 7:42 pm and we’re all covered in sand and have that sticky, saltwater hair thing going on. It’s roughly half an hour drive to the venue. Not good. At least there’s an opening band that we don’t mind missing, but even with that time padding, we’ll still be pushing it to see the beginning of the Arctic Monkeys’ set. We all changed clothes and skipped showers and piled into the car.

Hard Rock Live is on the property of Universal Studios which means that even though it’s a 30 minute drive there, it’s about another thirty minute walk through parking decks and parking lots not to mention battling throngs of people from all of the world that couldn’t be in less of a hurry to get anywhere. We’ve now parked and are sprinting at top speed in flip-flops (the state shoe of Florida) which is not easy to do. We get through the security check at 8:59 and go running into the venue right as the band walks on stage. As we’re sprinting towards the open floor, some girl spots me in my crimson “BAMA” shirt and screams “Roll Tide!” as we dash past her, I raise my fist and howl “Roll Tide!” in reply to the complete befuddlement of hoards of English tourists decked out in Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United jerseys.

had to convert my wife to Bama. She went to UCLA, so football is just kind of like something they’ll watch without getting too passionate about. Because of this, she doesn’t always seem to get it when I panic to sign up for ESPN Gameplan ASAP and she gets a little scared when I go off by myself to watch Bama games and I scream at the television, stomp, pace, and threaten to bring the motherf*ing thunder on our opponents if they act a little too cocky, but as we grow in our relationship, I think she will appreciate it. What can I say? It still brings the fire out of me. In fact, I probably care more about how Bama does in their game Saturday then I do about the team I coach on Friday nights. Don’t tell anyone that, though. Ozzie Newsome once told us the same thing when I was playing at Bama and I completely understand what he’s talking about. Other schools and teams just don’t attach themselves to you the way Bama does. It’s a stronger addiction than Heroin, Belladonna, or Meth.

Roll Tide

After checking out a Cubs game at Wrigley a couple of years ago, the wife and I made our way down the bars at Wrigleyville. after stopping in several, we came across a bar called the “Houndstooth” It’s sign was like a hounddog with a Houndstooth hat, i believe, sort of a Yankee version of the strip favorite….

Anyway, being more than a little inebriated after several Old Styles at the game and other beers from Goose Island and other bars on this strip, we stumble into this place. The waitress’ are all wearing Crimson shirts, i believe there’s a picture of Bear on the wall, and it occurs to me that i’m in a Tide themed bar. So I give my best gameday, “Roll Tide!” only to be give a completely blank stare by the waitress to whom i gave the salutation….

Anyway the bartender was nice, said they had the games on every weekend. So if you’re ever in Chi-town check it out. Just don’t give the Blond a Roll Tide, she won’t know what your talking about. ;)

I’m born in Bama and lucky enough to have spent the best 4-ish years of my life in Tuscaloosa. Like most of us who frequent the blogosphere I take sports waaaay too seriously, espeically about 5 months of the year when the Tide and couple 100 or so other schools play every Saturday.

The best perspective I ever had was living outside the South and realizing that a Bama connection is unlike any other. It’s all about being a decent person in the first place and having respect for tradition. Sadly only a small minority of fans really care that much. Perhaps I’m jaded from living in Los Angeles for a while, or maybe it’s because I’m characteristically not that out-going with someone I don’t know anyway. Although like you guys, I would take that chance to reach out.

All I’m saying is that a#%holes will always be a#%holes. They come is different shapes and sizes and certainly do not deserve to wear crimson. Just think of “Roll Tide” as another litmus test. Never get your panties in a wad but don’t waste offering them beer either. As for me, I’ll never stop saying it or making sure that it’s the first phrase my kids learn.

I live in Jax. I was at the TPC a few weeks ago and over 4 straight days every Tide Fan wearing a hat/shirt gave me at the least a polite “Roll TIde” in response. Golf folks can not get to lathered up.

Then again in Jax, FL we are a minority so we like to stck together. Gaytors and Criminoles are everywhere!

i always get a happy “roll tide” from fellow bama fans when they espy my red hat with the mighty “A” upon it. and, interestingly, it’s often an excuse for other fans (usually SEC, of course) to comment as well.

case in point, waiting on a flight from lima to cusco last week a nice bama grad from montgomery wandered over to give me a “roll tide” and merry hello. minutes later, a young florida fan feigned horror at encountering a rival so far from home but proved to be damned cool.

our shared interest in, not just football but our schools, is something that fans – no matter how fierce their rivalry is normally – can finally talk about after being adrift in a society that really is completely ignorant of our shared passions.

because this far from the homeland, the college football allegances are more of a point of similarity – particularly on a continent where soccer reigns supreme. because while locals sometimes wear team apparel but usually for pro teams and almost always without any real enthusiasm.

of course it should be noted that i always bring a Bama hat with me when i head into the remote areas and give it to some kid i meet – my patient revenge on some unsuspecting Auburn fan hiking into the highlands sometime in the future.