Is it okay to be a Bama fan if have no ties with the University?!?

[playball31580]

My wife thinks its crazy that I'm obessed with the Tide especially since I never went to school there and don't live down there. We live in Big 12 country, in Mizzou territory. She says I need to stick with the hometown teams where we live, but I told her that will never happen. I enjoy watching Mizzou football, especially the last few years. But, I bleed crimson and white all the way and go to about 2-3 games a year down South. She thinks its nuts that my dad brainwashed me to root for the Tide as he has been a Bama fan since his childhood days back in California; thanks to Ken Stabler. I plan on taking her down to Tuscaloosa next year for her first trip ever to show her why football down there is such a religion. She doesn't understand the football game well, but loves tailgating...and this is my wife we're talking about that thinks the tailgating at Mizzou is the best she's seen. She ain't seen nothing down at Ttown thats for sure :biggrin2: I've gotten my Mizzou friends and everybody else making fun of me back here about me rooting for the Tide. I think they are just jealous:biggrin: I might have to wager down the road later this year if Bama and Mizzou do end up meeting at the BCS championship game!! Roll Tide from St. Louis!!!

 

[bamanut_aj]

I didn't attend the U of A

 

[mark4tide]

I think it is fine to be a fan of a school and not have gone there. I went to UAH.

 

[We_are_Bama]

I did not attend Alabama, but my parents did. In fact, that's where they met. I am alive because of the U of A!

 

[GrayTide]

I am a UA alum and I think it is great to be a Bama fan whether you ever set foot in Tuscaloosa or not.

 

[Bamaro]

Why not. Welcome aboard to all.

 

[SavannahDare]

I have no problem with people who support Bama, but have no personal affiliation with the school, so long as they are not fair weather fans. You have to love Bama at the top of the top and at the lowest of the low. If people just jump on board because Bama's on top, I have no use for them.

There is nothing worse than a bandwagon (fair weather) fan. :mad2:

 

[TidefaninOS]

You are what a few posters on here refer to as a "sidewalk alum" mad2 - just like me. I've never attended UA - never had that opportunity - but I've been a fan for 40 years! I see you're not new to the board, so a "welcome" would not be in order, I guess. Anyway, bring your wife down for a game and tailgating, and I'm sure you'll be able to convert her. As you know, we take our football seriously! RTR!

 

[BamaEyeDoc]

I'm a Braves fan and have no ties to them, so I think it is probably okay.

 

[J4Bama]

I don't see any problem with it. I think she will change her mind once she makes the trip down next season.

 

[TideFan in AU]

The sidewalk is BS. By that logic you would need to have played for the Cowboys or the Yankees to be a fan. It would be quite a small fanbase wouldn't it? The sidewalk alum stuff was started by lesser schools (like the barn) to make an excuse for having a vastly smaller fanbase than their bigger rivals. Like here, 70% of the state are Bama fans, but the barners brag that a bigger percentage of their fanbase are alumni.
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[ROLLTRIBE]

I've been a fan my entire life and never attended although my son graduated from Bama. I think it's absurd to think someone cannot/should not be a fan just because they didn't attend.

 

[Tidewater]

Absolutely.
No snobbery or elitism in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
If you love the Tide, you have 102,000 friends.

 

[bamachile]

Need a tie? Here you go...

 

[TrampLineman]

There is NOTHING wrong with rooting for a team you never went to school at or affiliated with. If that was the case the NFL wouldnt have ANY teams.

 

[Silverback]

I grew up in Oregon and I started paying attention to Bama around 1999. I had no attachment to the University nor had I ever lived in Bama. Being a Bama fan helped me make a lot of tough decision when I retired from the Army. I now live in Bama and work 250 Yards from Denny chimes.

So I say welcome!

 

[MS TN NC Tidefan]

I actually graduated from Ole Miss, but grew up going to Bama games in the 70s. Bama had me 100% after Bob Baumhower and Sela Ward stopped by the house when I was about 10 and gave me a team autographed football on the way back from the Sugar Bowl. :biggrin:

 

[bigjue24]

I attended Jacksonville State, but my dad graduated from UA and we lived in Ttown when I was a little boy. I am a BAMA fan because my dad loved the team and passed it on to me. It was a great bond between us when I was growing up. I live 10 hours away from him and I still call him at half time of every game. I agree with the point that I don't care why you love the Tide, but don't be a bandwagon jumper. I've called out many people on this. I don't want them cheering just things are good. I lived through Dubose, Price, and Shula don't start cheering when Saban puts us back on top.

 

[exiledNms]

>>Is it okay to be a Bama fan if have no ties with the University?!?
Not according to the average USM fan. Which is absolutely fascinating, since in the very same breath of mocking my school's (alleged) fanbase, they'll whine that "the locals don't support the local school which we all should do, regardless of our alma maters." I point out this inconsistency whenever it arises; to most, I might as well be explaining the finer points of String Theory or or the inner workings of the 5th tranche of a batch of mortgage-backed derivatives being sold abroad.

With that said, I'm w/ Staci: welcome aboard! Sounds like you were with us when we were 3-8 and when we were 14-0. Attaboy!

Roll Tide!
exiled

(p.s. - back to the USM thing...I also take great delight in pointing out that I *do* attend every home game as a lifelong Bama fan in my 5th decade. {unless, of course, I can procure a Bama ticket} Then, I ask "if you lived in Oxford, would you support "the local school"? Stunned open-mouth silence is fun to see! :biggrin

 

[64met]

I have been a Bama fan my entire life as a result of growing up in a household that idiolized Coach Bryant. I am 46 and have been going to games in T Town for almost 25 years. I never lived in Alabama, and up until this year no one in my family ever attended Bama. This year, my Daughter became the first in my family ever to attend the university. Trust me.... based on out of state tuition; I wish we lived in Alabama

Simply put, I love the University of Alabama and as my wife tells me : its my happy place!!!

RTR!!!!