Question: Why do people cheer for the University of Alabama football team when they didn't attend school there?

[Slowpoke Catracho]

This is untrue - kids have to be taught to be hateful.

I'm glad to see that "blue font" is still the standard!

 

[Power Eye]

When my mother was a young kid in the 50's, her neighbor was Ears Whitworth. They lived off 10th Ave. She said she doesn't remember him well, but recalls him being very nice and always gave my grandparents tickets to the games, but he was a terrible football coach. Years later as a young kid in the 80's, I would stand outside my grandparents' same home off 10th Ave and watch and shake my crimson and white shaker at the team bus as they drove by to the stadium on game days.

 

[STONECOLDSABAN]

For those of us who are alums, we sort of have a built-in interest in the team's performance... and most likely are fans regardless of that performance.

Also, for many of us, fandom started long before we made college or work or location decisions. For example, my dad got his Ed.S. at Alabama during the summers when I was 1,2, and 3 years old. We lived in Rose Towers and it was eleventy thousand degrees on the playground and at the pool. Despite those scorching memories, I ALWAYS said I was going to be a "Bama boy" (according to my Mom) and I don't have any memories of anything else (because there was nothing else in the picture for me because of that lifelong desire).

Others of you probably have family stories, or the fact that Alabama was dominant during your formative years. Others, you have entirely different reasons for cheering for the Tide.

Whatever your story, I want to hear it!

Because I could.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

When my mother was a young kid in the 50's, her neighbor was Ears Whitworth. They lived off 10th Ave. She said she doesn't remember him well, but recalls him being very nice and always gave my grandparents tickets to the games, but he was a terrible football coach. Years later as a young kid in the 80's, I would stand outside my grandparents' same home off 10th Ave and watch and shake my crimson and white shaker at the team bus as they drove by to the stadium on game days.

sounds like you were practically neighbors with my grandparents.

 

[TexasBama]

October 16, 1965

My dad was a Bama fan, and we went to the Tennessee game that year. We were sitting in the north end zone, and it was a cloudy day. When Coach Bryant came out onto the field, the sun came out. I remember the jokes about Bryant being able to walk on water, so I was hooked.

I decided to study engineering in college - got accepted to Ga Tech, Vandy, Bama, and Auburn. I couldn't swing the out of state tuition, so it was Bama or Auburn. My dad told me he'd help me out if I went to Bama, but if I went to Auburn, I was on my own.

I graduated May, 1979 with a BS in Chemical Engineering from Alabama. And Paul W Bryant is still the greatest college football coach of all time.

 

[gtowntide]

I was born and raised in Birmingham and graduated high school in 1966. We didn’t have the money for college so I went to work. Like a lot of lucky young men I was given an all expenses paid trip to a lovely little paradise called Vietnam. My dad and I went to a few games when I came home. My problem was I came home with a major drug addiction that lasted throughout the 70’s .
I finally kicked drugs with a whole lot of help but I still got my Bama addiction! RTR!

 

[CB4]

I was born and raised in Birmingham and graduated high school in 1966. We didn’t have the money for college so I went to work. Like a lot of lucky young men I was given an all expenses paid trip to a lovely little paradise called Vietnam. My dad and I went to a few games when I came home. My problem was I came home with a major drug addiction that lasted throughout the 70’s .
I finally kicked drugs with a whole lot of help but I still got my Bama addiction! RTR!

Congratulations on your continued sobriety and thank you for your service to our country.

 

[bama2112]

Looking at his biography he was born in LA but apparently received most of his education in Alabama. We would need to dive a bit deeper to know the details.

Does anyone have the bio on John Forney. He hooked me on Bama football in the 60's, staying with my grandpa on saturdays, he had a cheap transitor radio and listed to the games, so I was exposed and hooked at an early age. Mr. Forney gave me my first description of Coach Bryant. I do recall looking at the Sunday paper to look for a pic of him. Forney did a great job in his own way of describing players and coaches. I still miss his voice on Saturday..... RTR

 

[64met]

I am youngest of 7 siblings. Dad was stationed in Alabama and although I was born in Illinois and as far back as i can remember, watching Coach Bryant and Bama football with my Dad. Fast forward to present day. Our children both off the books graduated from Alabama and if I had to summarize why I'm a fan. Its in the blood! ROLL TIDE ROLL!

 

[BayouBama75]

I grew up in Brewton, AL and my Dad attended both Alabama and Auburn but didn't graduate from either. He always had two radios going listening to and rooting for both Alabama and Auburn. At the end of the year he pulled for whoever had the most to gain (higher ranking). As a kid I was more of an Auburn fan but I decided to go to college in Tuscaloosa. The first time I pulled for Alabama against Auburn was the Punt Bama Punt game. (1972). Once I was on campus, it has been die hard Roll Tide and most of the time I pull for AU to lose due to their fans on-line. My sister went to Auburn and i rub it in all the time. A few years ago my wife passed away and I remarried a woman from Knoxville and her boys both graduated from UT. They are good guys and we have a lot of fun with the rivalry (until last year and they won). My son is a huge Bama fan as well. Not a lot of Bama fans in Knoxville.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

For those of us who are alums, we sort of have a built-in interest in the team's performance... and most likely are fans regardless of that performance.

Also, for many of us, fandom started long before we made college or work or location decisions. For example, my dad got his Ed.S. at Alabama during the summers when I was 1,2, and 3 years old. We lived in Rose Towers and it was eleventy thousand degrees on the playground and at the pool. Despite those scorching memories, I ALWAYS said I was going to be a "Bama boy" (according to my Mom) and I don't have any memories of anything else (because there was nothing else in the picture for me because of that lifelong desire).

Others of you probably have family stories, or the fact that Alabama was dominant during your formative years. Others, you have entirely different reasons for cheering for the Tide.

Whatever your story, I want to hear it!

My Mom gave me no choice. By age 4 I was a diehard Alabama Fan. BTW. We lived a few blocks from LSU. My Mom listened to Alabama Football every game. When I graduated College I took my Mom to see a Alabama game in B-ham. My Mom was and still is a Joe Namath fan for life. I got to introduce her to Joe. She has had one of his pictures autographed by Joe, until she went in a Nursing Home. I have that picture now. RTR.

 

[toledotider]

My dad, Mitch Best, was a fullback at Alabama in 1935 and 1936. He was on the same team as Paul Bryant for one year. In fact, in the team photo in 1935, he is sitting next to Bryant. That photo is a treasure for me, and is framed and hanging on the wall right behind me!
Dad played at Arkansas Tech, a junior college. He was good enough that he was recruited by Alabama and LSU. I am SOOOO grateful that he chose Alabama!!
Dad transferred to Alabama in January, 1935, so right after the Rose Bowl game which showcased Dixie Howell and Don Hutson.
Dad never played football with Hutson, but he was on the same track team. He said Hutson was the fastest man he ever saw. He told a story about an intersquad relay race, the 880 yard relay, where he ran anchor on the second team against Hutson on the first team. Of course, Hutson took the baton with a significant lead. Dad took the baton and ran his heart out, and he was closing in on the lead. He was thinking to himself that he was catching up to Don Hutson. Then, as soon as he got close enough so Hutson could hear him, Hutson kicked it into a different gear and blew away from him!
So, that's my story. I grew up and live in Ohio. I have two degrees from Ohio State, but not a Buckeye fan. I bleed Crimson. Roll Tide!!!

 

[paulpatt48]

I was born in Alabama but family moved to Tennessee when I was one year old. Family was all BAMA fans. Actually attended high school with Phatumus Fulmer (two years ahead, wife was in his class). Her family are all big Orange fans but she is die hard BAMA. Both of my kids, grandkids and great grandkids are BAMA to the core. Roll Tide Roll!!!

 

[Ole Man Dan]

My dad, Mitch Best, was a fullback at Alabama in 1935 and 1936. He was on the same team as Paul Bryant for one year. In fact, in the team photo in 1935, he is sitting next to Bryant. That photo is a treasure for me, and is framed and hanging on the wall right behind me!
Dad played at Arkansas Tech, a junior college. He was good enough that he was recruited by Alabama and LSU. I am SOOOO grateful that he chose Alabama!!
Dad transferred to Alabama in January, 1935, so right after the Rose Bowl game which showcased Dixie Howell and Don Hutson.
Dad never played football with Hutson, but he was on the same track team. He said Hutson was the fastest man he ever saw. He told a story about an intersquad relay race, the 880 yard relay, where he ran anchor on the second team against Hutson on the first team. Of course, Hutson took the baton with a significant lead. Dad took the baton and ran his heart out, and he was closing in on the lead. He was thinking to himself that he was catching up to Don Hutson. Then, as soon as he got close enough so Hutson could hear him, Hutson kicked it into a different gear and blew away from him!
So, that's my story. I grew up and live in Ohio. I have two degrees from Ohio State, but not a Buckeye fan. I bleed Crimson. Roll Tide!!!

Welcome to TideFans.

 

[CrimsonTheory]

Eli Gold is the reason why I am a Bama fan.

My only regret was never going to Bama. I simply did not let school get in the way of my naps and my grades were never good enough into Bama.

 

[willie52]

Somewhere around 1960 playing yard ball, our side picked Bama. That and watched the Bear Bryant show with my dad all the time. Never thought of picking another team.

 

[skipster63]

Why do people establish citizenship in the U.S. when they were born in some other country? For me, I grew up pulling for Alabama. We didn’t have the money for me to attend there. I got a job and paid my way through UAB but I’ve always been a fan….not that I had a choice in my family.

 

[Perrett4Bama]

I did not attend the University of Alabama but my grandfather his father, and my father were all born in Alabama. My story starts around 1974 when my father told me that I needed to either love coach Bryant and Alabama football or I could move out. I was 6 years old. I say that jokingly, but that's how serious it was in my household. The pride they had for their home state team was unbelievable. Of course I decided to love those things and stayed at home. I was certainly brainwashed as a child and it has carried over till today. I brainwashed every one of my children and that's just the way it is. Unfortunately I could not afford to attend the University of Alabama, and growing up in Northwest Florida FSU was the easy decision. It was affordable. While in Tallahassee I gave up the majority of my FSU student tickets to listen to Alabama games on the radio or travel to Tuscaloosa with other buddies to watch the games. That's why I love seeing Alabama fans from all walks of life. Alumni, people that just loved Coach Bryant, folks that respect Nick Saban, new fans, old fans, etc. I was fortunate enough to serve as president of, what I believe was the first out-of-state Red Elephant Club, the Emerald Coast Red Elephant Club, for many years. I met a lot of great friends during those years and was so grateful for the opportunity at meeting many of our coaches, former players, and Alabama football personalities. Those are all fantastic memories for me but let me say I was just excited when I woke up this morning for this Middle Tennessee State game and to see how this offensive line is going to perform as I was in the seventies when I literally had butterflies in my stomach during the Friday night High School football game, knowing the next day I was going to get to lay down in front of that giant console stereo in my parents living room to listen to my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide. Listening to those games on the radio as a child are probably my fondest memories, and still send chills up my spine. With that said, let me just say Roll Tide to all of my Tidefans brothers and sisters. We might not all agree with each other when it comes to politics, religion, our favorite color, or whether you prefer to be a carnivore versus a vegan but one thing I can say is we all love the Tide....ROLL TIDE!

 

[Krymsonman]

I was born in Mobile in 1957, and became a Tide fan at birth. My parents were BAMA fans and my Mom did go there for a couple of years. Later, when I was 14, my Dad took a job in New Orleans and moved us all over there. Despite being in LSU land, I retained my love for BAMA. When I graduated high school in 1976, I wanted to go to BAMA but due to circumstances at the time, I was unable. Fast forward many years, and my son did attend BAMA and is a 2011 graduate of the Engineering College. My daughter ended up at Springhill College in Mobile, but later wished she would have picked BAMA. So, I love BAMA, my kids love BAMA, and every time my oldest grandson sees red, he says "that's Roll Tide". Also, despite living in LSU country my BAMA flag flies year round in front of my house. I was not fortunate enough to attend BAMA, but will always be a true fan.

 

[CullmanTide]

It's part of our culture. It's just who we are.