Your Fondest Alabama  Memory

I remember driving home from campus during my first week at UA. A huge smile came over my face as I was crossing the RR tracks near DCH and I realized how perfectly I was suited to UA and Tuscaloosa. It was like I knew I belonged, I was where I was supposed to be. Although I did not grow up in Tuscaloosa or even in Alabama, that is where I feel most at home. My competitive spirit and passion for UA fueled my love for Bama football so can likely be traced back to that small epiphany.

I remember being 5 years old bouncing up and down watching the 1993 Sugar Bowl, I remember the 05 Florida game… gotta be close, but losing Pro made that hurt… So I’ll go with this season as a whole, My senior year, I got to watch the UGA game with my mom, who was my Bama fan inspiration in Texas, then I was at Rocky Top, lighting up those cigars from some random Tide Fans with matches outside the stadium, and listening to their fans start calling for Fulmer’s head on the post game radio show… But the LSU game was awesome, as it was my bachelors party, and my and my buddy sat behind a former Bama line I know, and he walked up the stairs after we score our 2nd TD and stopped at each row to the LSU fans and said Roll Tide, and then getting alot of “Alllabawma?!?! Fr3#*# You!” on Bourbon Street…. And my final game as a college student, sitting in the student section an hour after the Auburn game and celebrating way into the night, and that was why we had to hurry back from our honeymoon in Mexico… TOTALLY worth it…. So I had more than one moment… Sue me!

I had tickets on the 35, row 3 on the ‘Bama side. Matt Caddell caught the game winning TD pass right in front of me (or it seemed like he was that close). BDS went nuts. Everybody hugging each other in the stands. People I didn’t even know hugged me screeming. An incredible atmosphere. We filed out of BDS screeming and yelling “ROLL TIDE WOOOO!!” I was shaking, like I had just had several volts of electricity pumped through my body. I was awesome. My last ‘Bama game before that was the ’06 Miss St. game, so I had a pretty bad taste in my mouth that needed to be washed out. JPW to Caddell did the trick. Haven’t seen them lose in person since. Hopefully that streak will continue.

While stationed in Philly I got the chance to go to Happy Valley and see my first ever Bama game. Though we lost 19-17, it was a dream come true. The fans there were very nice to us and invited us to eat and drink with them, which of course being sailors we did indulge.
But best ever was getting to go to the Southern Miss game with 1 of my daughters and see the Prothro catch right in front of us. I have the frame picture of it and will cherish the memory of it not just because of the great comeback win and the best catch ever made, but because I got to share it with one of my kids. RTR

Legion Field a bitter Dec morning. I was at the 37 yd line, there with my roommate, my mom and my friend. Swilling screwdrivers all the way up there (not driving) and chainsmoking, screwdrivers for the home game. That beautiful beautiful Langham pick was right in front of me, sealing the game and sending us to NC #12. We erupted. I turned over, emboldened, and kissed my friend. We dated for five years as of that moment, and I still adore her and have nothing but respect.

Me and my buddy had endzone seats right between the goal posts and the Irish had the ball and were coming toward the endzone we were in. Our point of view was directly behind the Bama defense. Everyone has seen the painting and the footage, but what I remember most and made it so awesome was that EVERY SINGLE PERSON (except the QB!) IN THE STADIUM saw Bennet get free from the left side and a split-second crescendo of anticipation rose ending with a stadium-shaking BOOM! at the moment of contact. WOW!

Us and everybody else were whooping it up, high-fiving, and had this wide-eyed-‘Oh-my-God-did-you-see-that?’ look on our faces. No one knew at the time that play would become one of the most famous plays in history, but it was definitely the most talked about play that day for sure. Bonus: Alabama’s first (and only?) victory against ND. I still have the ticket stub (somewhere).

It was the first Bama game I had ever been to. It was 1987 and I was 10 years old. For my birthday my Mom took me, one of my brothers and my best friend at the time who happened to be an LSU fan. We had seats on the 1st row right on the goal line. I was thrilled because we were right next to the tunnel where the Bama players came on and off the field. At that point and time getting high 5s from the players was by far the coolest thing that had ever happened to me. Bama won the game on a late TD by Bobby Humphrey. He scored on a sweep left that happened directly in front of us. I could have reached out and touched him it was so close. After a great game and Bama win she took us to McDonalds for ice cream and french fries. For a 10 year old Bama fan it just didn’t get any better than that.

in 1961. My first Bama game —after that win we were #1 the first time under Coach Bryant. I was just a kid but it felt like it was Christmas.

Also, about 7 years ago I was in speaking in a class at Phenom Phen University in Cambodia and a Cambodian student came up afterwards with an Alabama Football shirt on and I asked, “Do you like Alabama?” He said “Roll Tide” That was pretty sweet.

’Nuff said.

One a game, one not. The game—1992 NCG—did not get to go, but it was sweet because of living amongst mostly GA fans, and no one gave us a chance in that one…will never forget the George Teague steal, even if it was called back—it sort of summed up how the game was going for the U.
The other—taking my 10-year-old daughter through the campus on our way to visit my dad in Tuscumbia. They were just finishing up the Walk of Champions, and it was all just so beautiful. Went to the museum, the bookstore and Dreamland—what a great day with my girl!

1.) The first game my dad ever took me to….1992 NC game. I was 8 years old. I had begged my dad to take me to an alabama game since i could talk, but i was never grown up enough. He would always tell me that i had to be a gentlemen to attend the alabama game. Well the life lessons of how to be a gentlemen started. Christmas morning Santa “mom” delivered an envelope under my pillow. I opened it up and there were 2 tickets to the NC game in it, (i still have the envelope) and it said “from a dad to his best friend”. Yeah pretty cool, the game was amazing, seeing the crimson tide and stallings destroy a team the way they did. words cant describe it for me

2.) Being able to surprise my best friend and his brother (they dont get to see eachother very much b/c the little brother lives in ATL, were in NSH). I had 4 tix to the SECCG this year, he only thought i had 2. we get to his parents house in atl friday night and i bust out 2 extra for them so they could spend that day together and sit with eachother

This was one of the greatest game I ever saw in person…surrounded by Texas Tech fans telling us that “you are the past of college football and we are the future” then watching Demeco and Co. shut down the “unstoppable” Red Raider offense. Then winning the game with the ugliest game winning field goal ever…chanting S-E-C while Tech fans just stood there in shock. It also made the 10 hour drive back from Dallas a lot easier.

A couple of moments pop in my mind. My first game 1989 and the beat down of Tennessee, 1996 Auburn game. But my most memorable moment was the 1995 Southern Miss game in Birmingham. I was a freshman and marching in the Million Dollar Band. I was so nervous I was almost physically sick with the thought of performing in front of 87,000 people. I can remember as we marched into the stadium I was awestruck by the scene of Crimson and White throughout the stadium, fans shouting and yelling as we started the pre-game show, I don’t think I played a single note during that pre-game, it was just amazing to see all of the Alabama faithful on their feet as the Tide ran onto the field and we played Yea Alabama. Being a part of that was truly a memorable moment. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

First game I went to as a kid. I think I was about 10 so it was 99’. I remember the electricity that flowed, the pretty cheerleader, the million dollar band, Bryan hot dogs (the official game day hot dog for the Alabama Crimson Tide.), and how we beat the razorbacks on the back of Shawn Alexander. I knew after that game I had left home. It was the best game I havebeen. Since then it seems like bryant denny has gotten more silent since then. is this a challenge. You bet it is.

were the most exciting games I’ve ever watched on TV but The Bear’s 315 has to be my most memorable to attend. back in the day (which i think we have now returned to) the auburn game was always over thanksgiving weekend and i just could not get over how many people would go home and not return for the game. as an out of state student 800 miles from home, thanksgiving with the fam was out of the question because that would mean no football game. oh yeah, & plus I didn’t have a car. my friend from mobile went home with others and left me her vehicle so at 19 years of age I drove to b’ham and went to the game all by myself (also totally ‘unacceptable’ at the time to go without a date). as if the game weren’t memorable enough, i lost the keys to the car when I went over the fence to run onto the field after the game and had to hitch a ride to t-town with completely drunk strangers (who were also drunken complete strangers). The next day I took a taxi to b’ham to retrieve the keys the cleaning crew found on the field, and drove back to tutwiler. WHEW – such an ordeal but totally worth it.

as a sad sad side note, i’d be remiss if i didn’t mention being in tuscaloosa the day The Greatest Coach to ever walk the sidelines left us. it was just so eerily quiet. no people walking around, no cars, just silence. it is not something i’ve ever forgotten.

1) The 1985 iron bowl, I had just turned six in oct. and went to one of my dads friends house with him and had never payed much attention to Alabama football before but towards the end i tired and lay down in front of the tv.I was transfixed.For the first time my eyes were open, I was so nervous before the kick i held my breath and after he made it i was so happy i cried.The next week i had my first Alabama shirt,it had a goal post on it with a ball fling through with the score al 25 au 23 and it said" the game ain’t over till the little man kicks". In fact after writing most of this i you tubed “The Kick” and got a little misty eyed again.

2) I don’t remember which game of the 2002 season this was but the one where Lane Bearden made the tackle with no acl. Just the shear grit that took made me proud to be a Bama fan

Alabama-Miami, 1992.

The Gangsters and loud mouths versus one of college coachings’ true class acts, Gene Stallings and his “overmatched” tide.

All the absolute trash I had to listen to from Miami fans and people in Florida in general.

‘Bama is too slow, too predictable, their QB can’t throw deep and he’s inconsistent, they won’t stop MIami, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Sweet enough to see Stallings win, but the class act over the trash act?

Priceless. Them beating the ’Cane mouth machine was soooooo sweet.

I was living in Orlando at the time and all I heard from my 2 roommates and most of my friends was how Miami was going to destroy us. When George Teague ran Lamar (hide my head under a towel on the bench)Thomas and took the ball away from him they all magiacally shut the f up. It was glorious.

They were #3 and we weren’t ranked. I went with one of my buddies from school who was a UT fan. I still laugh when I think of the look on his face when Philip Doyle nailed that 47-yarder to end it.

I was too young to indulge in the celebratory cigar, but I remember vividly sharing a hearty “Roll Tide” with those who did. There weren’t many Bama fans at the game but those of us who were there felt like we were walking out with the deed to Neyland Stadium in hand.

There really is nothing like beating UT, especially in Knoxville!

….so I was just the right age for my “first game.” My parents were students then, but obviously I don’t have real memories of those first few campus experiences. =) I have SO MANY MORE!!!

I have been to more games than I can remember anymore, but I am trying to recreate the experiences for my own daughter—like my parents did for me. I take her to the campus when I go for various reasons b/c they took me. It used to be such a thrill to hang out in the dorm with the “college kids” and go to the library and to plays and listen to live music. When the day finally arrived that I moved my belongings in my very own room on campus, you couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face! I finally felt like I was HOME!(until the next semester when someone asked me to move into their apartment)

I cannot just pick ONE memory as a favorite from UA/Ttown! They are all so special and mean so much. Now, my hope is that they will mean as much to my daughter one day.

…was my first gameday trip to BDS. I had been for the A-Day game my freshman year (where I went the wrong way and ended up sitting in one of the skyboxes with the Snake). Even though it was a So. Miss game, it was the best experience I’ve ever had at a football game(and I’ve had Tampa season tickets), The only thing that didn’t go right was that I was sitting in the opposite endzone from where TP made the catch:(

There were many good moments in that game!
Watching the defense line up on the line and challenge the “superior” speed of Miami. The look on Gino Torretta’s (sp) face was priceless. He looked so old and lost in that game. Our D was truly amazing that night. I wonder if the game has changed too much that we couldn’t line up on line (showing blitz) like that these days.

 getting a call from Coach Scott Kellner in the spring of ’93 inviting me to walk on. I had scholarship offers to Geordia Southern, Samford, Southern Miss, Livingston, UNA, West Georgia, MTSU and a few others I already was eligible for the VA scholarship as long as I attended school in the State of Alabama. I was able to complete my dream…

But what made this memorable was my mom beating me up with excitement when I told her that I was going to play at Bama…(she was that happy….lol) T

This was one of many memorable moments ranging from Paul Ott Carruth’s run against Auburn and Van Tiffin’s kick in 85, to Gene Jelks’ run against Auburn, Bobby Humphrey destorying LSU in a night game in the Valley…. I saw as a kid……….to the friends I’ve made and played with….to being a fan again as a 34 yr old and beating Auburn 36-0.

…an eight year-old boy sat and watched his favorite team hit the field at the Orange Bowl. No my team wasn’t The Crimson and White. I am now ashamed to admit but I was a fan of the Irish. As a boy who grew up in West Central Ohio you were either a Buckeye Fan or an Irish Fan and I hated the Nuts.
On that cold January day a bama fan was born. We were at my Grandpa’s house in Northwest Alabama and the only way I could watch the game was I had to cheer for the tide. We lost that day and that was painful. But when I returned home to Ohio I was known as the Bama Kid, when ever we played our backyard football games.

Which was my first quarter in school. I decided to check this whole rivalry thing out, so two friends from high school and I drove to Bama’ham from Columbus, GA—including my friend Tina, who had just matriculated at the Capstone. So we got there, found some great parking, (glad my car was still there when we got back) secured some tickets, and went into the hostile confines of Legion Field.

I fight with Tina about sitting in the Auburn section, which we have to do because that’s where the tickets were. It’s a good game overall, and I’m really liking it in the 4th quarter, and think we have it in the bag when we score a late touchdown. Then Shula (remember him?) engineers an improbable late drive to set up that last second field goal by Van Tifflin (I understand his daughter Leigh is at Alabama now, a cheerleader or a kicker or something?)

I can’t believe it as the ball sails through the uprights as time runs out. The Auburn crowd is stunned, and deafly silent. Tina, who had been miserable the last few minutes with the Auburn cheering, gets up in my face and starts jumping up and down, laughing at screaming, “We Won, We Won!!!”. Suddenly, I realize what it means to be on the losing end of this game. In mere seconds I went from elation to total dejection. And right as I give serious consideration to choking the life out of her, someone throws a half a hotdog at her, clocking her right upside the face. I can still remember ketchup in her hair. I instantly start laughing at her. She gives me a look, like it was my fault. She curses the Auburn fans and we get out of there.

Tina and I didn’t say two words to each other the whole ride home, even though we remained friends.

And THAT is my favorite Alabama moment…