I don't completely buy into the idea that Alabama Fans are terrible. Lately you do seem to hear more complaints from outsiders about our fans than you do about our team. Frankly, most of the criticism is a load of fresh fertilizer. Certainly Tennessee and LSU fans are more obnoxious, and Vandy and Kentucky fans are the most fickle, but we Tide Fans do have our faults.
Alabama fans are maybe the most loyal and dedicated fans in the country, but we also may be the most spoiled. And that is never more evident than on game day at Bryant-Denny.
I remember sitting in the stadium as a student in those years following our back-to-back national titles in ’78 and ’79, and thinking, “What’s wrong with these people?” The Old Timers sat on their hands, never bothering to clap, yell, or stand, regardless of the play on the field. The student section was worse. My fellow students paid more attention to their buddies five rows back than what Paul Ott was doing on the field.
Why was it that way? Because the game was never in doubt.
In the old days everyone was rightfully assured the Tide was going to win regardless of how much cheering was done. The team didn’t need us for goodness sake.
Fast forward 25 years. Things have changed on the field. Big time. Yet with the exception of the Oklahoma game last year little has changed in the stands. Sure the crowd has its moments. But in 2004 you are still likely to have a rude comment thrown your way if stand and cheer too long.
You see it year after year in national lists of the Best College Stadiums; Baton Rouge, Knoxville, even the one in Auburn make the lists, not because of the history, the tradition, or even the out atmosphere outside the arena, but because of the ambiance inside the stadium. Bryant-Denny atmosphere is good, but certainly unimposing, and unimposing is not going to get you on any lists.
And its damn sure not going to win you any games.
I would never trade our history and tradition for a high decibel level, but for the life of me I can’t understand why the University of Alabama can’t have both.
Roll Tide (but can you do it a little louder this year).
Alabama fans are maybe the most loyal and dedicated fans in the country, but we also may be the most spoiled. And that is never more evident than on game day at Bryant-Denny.
I remember sitting in the stadium as a student in those years following our back-to-back national titles in ’78 and ’79, and thinking, “What’s wrong with these people?” The Old Timers sat on their hands, never bothering to clap, yell, or stand, regardless of the play on the field. The student section was worse. My fellow students paid more attention to their buddies five rows back than what Paul Ott was doing on the field.
Why was it that way? Because the game was never in doubt.
In the old days everyone was rightfully assured the Tide was going to win regardless of how much cheering was done. The team didn’t need us for goodness sake.
Fast forward 25 years. Things have changed on the field. Big time. Yet with the exception of the Oklahoma game last year little has changed in the stands. Sure the crowd has its moments. But in 2004 you are still likely to have a rude comment thrown your way if stand and cheer too long.
You see it year after year in national lists of the Best College Stadiums; Baton Rouge, Knoxville, even the one in Auburn make the lists, not because of the history, the tradition, or even the out atmosphere outside the arena, but because of the ambiance inside the stadium. Bryant-Denny atmosphere is good, but certainly unimposing, and unimposing is not going to get you on any lists.
And its damn sure not going to win you any games.
I would never trade our history and tradition for a high decibel level, but for the life of me I can’t understand why the University of Alabama can’t have both.
Roll Tide (but can you do it a little louder this year).
