How I became a Crimson Tide Fan

[CrimsonForever1]

In 1959, I was 6 years of age... My Mother and Father, (neither attended the University) would listen to Maury Farrell ( spelling may be off a little) on the radio announcing the games... I kept noticing my Mom writing things on a piece of paper... They were stats, yards, tackles, etc the whole shabang. I started reading the newspaper accounts of the game the next day and the stats and compared her notes with those stats in the newspaper, and she was right on the money most of the time other than the mistakes Maury had conveyed.. That was my first subjection to the Crimson Tide. Two years later in 1962, I was hooked and I also started doing the same thing and she tore me up by her correctness... She is 82 years old she still scratches on a piece of paper now just by listening to Eli while watching the game on tv, and she is right on spot and corrects Eli many times during the game.... God help Verne if she ever heard him.... Anyway, my Mom absolutely loved Joe Namath and so did I.... But in 1966, " The Snake" had become my favorite quarterback and arguments ensued between us on who was the better QB... The first game of 1967, Stablers last year, we played Fla. State to a draw, my Mom was furious, but I continued to back Stabler... An argument ensued again and she picked up a broom in which she yielded upon me, and hit my elbow which broke little chips off and I ended up having surgery ending a promising baseball career at the junior highschool level.... I continued to play baseball but the injury left my throwing range limited.... Doctors at that time were not as proficient on bone problems as they are today.... I ended up concentrating on football as my sports fix, just too small to exceed at the next level after highschool. Of course I still needle her about that time, joking of course... She denies that it ever happened... My Mother, Father and myself are still entrenched in Alabama football that started when I was only 6 years of age.... During 1969 and 1970, some of my friends tried to persuade me to come to the darkside... I am happy to say I relented as a true Bama Fan would.... Sorry about my personal history lesson, but it had to be told..... It would please me if some, if not all, tell me your story about becoming a Bama Fan.... Roll Tide!!!!!!!!

 

[Zorak]

I'll bite...

My family (parents, and two sisters) moved to Alabama from South Carolina, where we were not committed to any school in particular. My parents are Old Dominion Univ. grads, so we had no affiliation to any South Carolina school...USCe, Clemson, Wofford, etc. We, of course, had the requisite "who do you pull for?" questions when we moved, but we largely managed to ignore. Early in that year, our school (in Prattville) had the "wear your colors to school", and I ignorantly wore blue (hey, it was the 1980s, I was in 2nd grade...I didn't know any better...I should get a pass:wink, people assumed I was a Moo U fan, Auburn won the IB that year...we became fair-weathered Auburn fans for a few years.

Anyway, fast forward to 1992...my sister is applying to colleges. She wants to study journalism and manages to get a (minimal) scholarship to Bama and is accepted at some point that Fall. My parents decide that if they're pumping thousands of dollars a year into Bama, we might as well pull for Bama. Bama of course (and coincidentally) wins it all that year. We start following and pulling for The Tide that year. My sister graduated (went off to USCe for grad school, but remains a diehard Bama fan and has converted her husband, a UVA grad, to Bama fandom), my other sister went as well and met her husband there (both also received Master's from Bama) and they both live in Tuscaloosa...with my three nieces (ages 8, 5 and 4, all of which are becoming big Bama fans). I got bachelor's and master's degrees from Bama and am currently working on converting my wife (a Florida grad/fan, but her dad has come over to our side, bravely wearing Bama gear in public in Gainesville). My parents moved to Tuscaloosa back in 2008 to be closer to the grandchildren, and they really enjoy it there in T-Town.

My college years were during the DuBose/Franchonie/Price/Shula years (2000-2004, then 2005-2007 for grad school), so I weathered some pretty bad years, but still remained fiercely dedicated.

 

[Bamafaninco1]

I was just born this way.

 

[CrimsonForever1]

I'll bite...

My family (parents, and two sisters) moved to Alabama from South Carolina, where we were not committed to any school in particular. My parents are Old Dominion Univ. grads, so we had no affiliation to any South Carolina school...USCe, Clemson, Wofford, etc. We, of course, had the requisite "who do you pull for?" questions when we moved, but we largely managed to ignore. Early in that year, our school (in Prattville) had the "wear your colors to school", and I ignorantly wore blue (hey, it was the 1980s, I was in 2nd grade...I didn't know any better...I should get a pass:wink, people assumed I was a Moo U fan, Auburn won the IB that year...we became fair-weathered Auburn fans for a few years.

Anyway, fast forward to 1992...my sister is applying to colleges. She wants to study journalism and manages to get a (minimal) scholarship to Bama and is accepted at some point that Fall. My parents decide that if they're pumping thousands of dollars a year into Bama, we might as well pull for Bama. Bama of course (and coincidentally) wins it all that year. We start following and pulling for The Tide that year. My sister graduated (went off to USCe for grad school, but remains a diehard Bama fan and has converted her husband, a UVA grad, to Bama fandom), my other sister went as well and met her husband there (both also received Master's from Bama) and they both live in Tuscaloosa...with my three nieces (ages 8, 5 and 4, all of which are becoming big Bama fans). I got bachelor's and master's degrees from Bama and am currently working on converting my wife (a Florida grad/fan, but her dad has come over to our side, bravely wearing Bama gear in public in Gainesville). My parents moved to Tuscaloosa back in 2008 to be closer to the grandchildren, and they really enjoy it there in T-Town.

My college years were during the DuBose/Franchonie/Price/Shula years (2000-2004, then 2005-2007 for grad school), so I weathered some pretty bad years, but still remained fiercely dedicated.

Really wasn`t trying to lure someone with a bite to this thread.... Just was curious... I know I have a lot to learn, but I will never try to lure anybody to anything I say.... But, thanks for the story Athens.....

 

[CrimsonForever1]

I was just born this way.

I reckon I was also Colorado.

 

[gwilliams]

I was just born this way.

By the grace of God.

 

[bamabelle1991]

CrimsonForever1, all threads on Tide Fans are usually "invitations" to post. That is how a forum works! We like to exchange stories and opinions and this is a good and interesting topic!

That said, I am a third generation Bama graduate, so I guess it is just in my DNA.

 

[64met]

Very long story... won't get into the details other than to say I was raised right! 2 kids at Bama currently.

RTR!!!!

 

[CrimsonForever1]

CrimsonForever1, all threads on Tide Fans are usually "invitations" to post. That is how a forum works! We like to exchange stories and opinions and this is a good and interesting topic!

That said, I am a third generation Bama graduate, so I guess it is just in my DNA.

Thank you bamabelle1991...Like I said, I have a lot to learn about this forum, and people like you I learn from... Thanks again...

 

[SavannahDare]

My mother's family is from Conecuh County, Alabama. My grandmother attended Alabama, my mother graduated from Alabama, and I graduated from Alabama. I cut my teeth on Alabama football, learning the game by watching games on tv during the 70's. Win or lose, I'm crimson true - Bama through and through.

 

[bamachile]

My dad's family is from Ky, my mom's from Ala., I was born in Georgia in 1967. We moved to Gadsden when I was 7, about the time I started following college football. It was 1970-something, Bear was coaching, I was in 'Bama and my relatives were all 'Bama fans. It was automatic.

 

[TriCountyTider]

I was just born this way.

This. :cool2:

 

[CrimsonSEC]

My father was offered an Alabama scholarship (as an end) in 1947 after he returned from WW2 and finished high school. He thought he was too small and wanted to play baseball so he turned it down. I was born in 1960 and and remember listening to Alabama football from about age 6 on. We spent almost every fall Saturday in a dove field somewhere in this area and since I was too young to carry a shotgun I was my fathers bird dog. We would sit there listening to John Forney on a tiny radio and scan the skies for birds. Good times.

 

[tmv85]

I don't remember ever making a conscious choice to be a Bama fan. I just...was.

 

[TriCountyTider]

I don't remember ever making a conscious choice to be a Bama fan. I just...was.

The REC made the choice for you.

 

[Bamaparrotheads]

Mom and Dad taught me to love Alabama. They also taught me that auburn is evil. Mom and Dad know best.

 

[BigBama76]

In 1959, I was 6 years of age...

Sounds like you're about a year older than me but I came to love Bama around the same time. Nobody in my family paid much attention to college football but I'd watch the Shug and Bear shows on Sunday's and the difference between those two coaches influenced my allegiance.

I became a passionate fan and that passion must have rubbed off on my brother and two sisters and now all of our children. I was the first in my family to graduate from college when I graduated from UA in 76 with one of my sisters graduating in 78. Now my son and two nephews are alumni with a couple more potentially on the way so we've definitely become a Bama family. I'm proud to be the one who started it all for my family.

 

[TriCountyTider]

You made the right choice and taught the others well! RTR!

Sounds like you're about a year older than me but I came to love Bama around the same time. Nobody in my family paid much attention to college football but I'd watch the Shug and Bear shows on Sunday's and the difference between those two coaches influenced my allegiance.

I became a passionate fan and that passion must have rubbed off on my brother and two sisters and now all of our children. I was the first in my family to graduate from college when I graduated from UA in 76 with one of my sisters graduating in 78. Now my son and two nephews are alumni with a couple more potentially on the way so we've definitely become a Bama family. I'm proud to be the one who started it all for my family.

 

[bigjue24]

My dad graduated from Bama and we lived in Tuscaloosa when I was a little boy about ages 4 to 6. I remember Bear Bryant's funeral. My dad took me to see the funeral procession. He put me up on his shoulders so I could see. I remember my dad telling me the Bear was the greatest, and he was right by the way. After hearing all the stories and playing catch with my dad at half time every Saturday afternoon I came to love Bama football as much as him, and he started taking me to games. He is retired now and living on a fixed income, and now I take him to games. I got to take him to the "Maximum Block" game against Tennessee in '09. In the end I love Bama because my dad loved Bama. I'm going to surprise him and take to the SEC Title game if Bama makes it this year.

 

[dirtroadlizard]

I was told that when I was born I cried out ROLL TIDE and gave the doctor a high five . rtr...