The Crowd Factor

by 5026 on Nov 8, 2009 11:00 PM CST Comment 15 comments

I was at the game yesterday and wanted to share a few thoughts about the crowd.

First, I have been going to Alabama games since 1961. I’ve been to most of our big games over the last 5 decades. The crowd yesterday, especially in the second half, was the loudest, play for play I have heard since the 1986 Norte Dame game, and probably the loudest I have ever heard. This is just my opinion, but if you were there you know how loud it really was. There is no doubt that the crowd had a part in LSU’s false starts which was a major factor in the game.

Secondly, the students were unreal. I know the students have at times been criticized for not showing up and not being loud. All the students, even the Greeks, were totally into it. Now I don’t expect the same from the Greeks against Chatt. but that is understandable.

Third, the little thing that Terry Saban started about saying "Roll Tide" after a 1st down is really getting loud. I was against it at first, but I like it now, and it has to pump up the players.

Finally, although most people around me wanted to go for the TD early in the when we trotted out the FG unit I did not here any boos. I think our fans trust Saban unlike they ever trusted Shula, Fran, or Dubose. I hope when we finally lose, hopefully sometime in 2012, our support for our coaches will continue. The LSU cry babies are ready to hang Miles.

To be honest there was a time when I felt like the Alabama crowd, though always large and faithful, was not as loud as some places I have been. For a long time I seemed like the crowd would sit around waiting for the team to do something. I mean when we went to Baton Rogue there crowd seemed to be into it no matter the score. But, now I think we are just as loud as anyone. And, with 10,000 more Bama fans in house starting next year we will be even louder.

By the way, I can’t help but think the crowd helped seal the deal with Allen who is going to be a good one. Tradition is awesome for old guys like me and for the kids who grew up in Alabama loving the Tide. But for your average 18 year old out of state kid our crowd, and our stadium means more than our tradition. They want excitement and that is what they are going to get at Bryant-Denny.

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We definitely played a role...

LSU called two timeouts, one on 2nd and 25 and the next on 3rd and 25. That is some inept coaching. As for the 4th and goal, there was one guy near me who got enraged about it. He thought we were going to lose after that, and everybody around us was yelling for us to go for it. But it was the right call. 12 minutes is a lot of time, and the way we were moving the ball, we were going to get another score for sure. There was no need to panic with that amount of time.

by crimsontsunami on Nov 8, 2009 11:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

yeah that caused a minor uproar in phoenix AZ at my dad's house as well

welcome to the SEC kiffykins...

by tempebamafan on Nov 9, 2009 9:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was at the game...

Sitting in the student section, and, my god, this was the loadest,most intense the stadium has ever been since I’ve been going to games, albeit I’m only 21. Still though the closest I’ve heard it get that loud was after the block against Tennessee, and that was only at that moment that it was loud. Against LSU the stadium rocked consistently. And for that you gotta be proud to call yourself a fan. Roll Tide

by batkinson on Nov 9, 2009 2:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

it was simply an incredible experience to be in the stadium for that game...

and i really want to credit the students. there were points in the game when the energy level dropped somewhat and the rush of screaming and noise from that end zone pushed the rest of us to get back into the game as well.

somewhere in the third quarter i realized i was going to seriously pay for my effort but that was bout the time i saw the guy down the row with “make his ass quit” written on his shirt. and, well, if i’m asking my team to give 100 percent…

so my voice is still so shot i cannot use a telephone and can barely speak above a whisper. but there were a few guys like me on the plane back to phoenix. one jokester was teased his buddy who was suffering like me by yelling “FIRST DOWN ALABAMA” when he walked by his seat… and you better believe there were plenty of folks sitting around that took up the slack.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Nov 9, 2009 8:12 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

if heaven don't look a lot like this... i'm not sure i want to go.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Nov 9, 2009 8:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If it was louder than the Rocky Block in BDS for most of the game, then I am proud of you guys for keeping the intensity up!

by brandonh on Nov 9, 2009 9:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

folks i spoke with said that rocky block was about the only thing they could compare it to...

but i got the feeling cody’s block is still the standard by which all such games will be judged for some time in the future.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Nov 9, 2009 9:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's close, for me...

As for single moments, I would say 1. Rocky Block, 2. Rammer Jammer after the Florida game in 2005 (31-3).

But as for sustained intensity, I gotta give it to this LSU game. The fans are finally starting to realize or feel like they’re a part of the process, and Saban even thanked them in the post-game presser. I hope it stays this way.

by Espyonage on Nov 9, 2009 2:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

damn...

that is good to hear…from the TV you could tell it was loud but you can’t really tell how loud it really is…
I do know that I heard Rammer Jammer and it was clearer than I had ever heard on TV…

enjoy...

by SpockJenkins on Nov 9, 2009 9:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs