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re: What is it like being an Alabama fan?
Posted on 8/23/22 at 12:59 pm to SanAg
Posted on 8/23/22 at 12:59 pm to SanAg
Having followed Bama since 1971 it was the same back then. National Championship or nothing. Lots of 11-1 seasons, 1972,1974,1975,77 that didn't end in titles are written off. Honored nowhere and talked about by no one other than we came up short.
Even when Ray perkins, Bill Curry and Gene Stallings took over the expectation every year was a national championship, not SEC title, national title.
When the sanctions hit in 2002, we knew there was no chance for 5 or 6 years but that was temporary and we would be back. Then Saban came, the sanctions lifted and we went back to expecting the national title. As bad as it sounds, nobody has celebrated what that team accomplished last year. Its all about where can they get better. Bama road grated the national champs for the SEC title but no one cares about the SEC title.
This is why it humors me when I hear people say Oh, you dont want to follow Saban, you want to be the guy after the guy. No, expectations will be no different for the next guy, the 4th guy or 10th guy removed from Nick. They will be expected to win national titles, frequently, and be in the hunt every single year. 10-3 and you will be shown the door. So, what is it like? You know you are the bluest of bluebloods. There is never a game you expect to lose and most games you expect a 35 point beatdown and if you beat State 24-14 there's questions to be answered. With that said, being a Bama fan is awesome. When you go to opposing teams stadiums they have a different vibe in the crowd. Everybody wants tickets to the Bama game, Wins over Bama are celebrated for years see LSU 2019, South Carolina brought back players form 2010 team for the Bama game in 2019 and Arkansas brought back their 64 team for the Bama game in 2014. You are, and you know you are, every teams biggest game including bluebloods like Ohio St, Notre Dame or Southern Cal.
Even when Ray perkins, Bill Curry and Gene Stallings took over the expectation every year was a national championship, not SEC title, national title.
When the sanctions hit in 2002, we knew there was no chance for 5 or 6 years but that was temporary and we would be back. Then Saban came, the sanctions lifted and we went back to expecting the national title. As bad as it sounds, nobody has celebrated what that team accomplished last year. Its all about where can they get better. Bama road grated the national champs for the SEC title but no one cares about the SEC title.
This is why it humors me when I hear people say Oh, you dont want to follow Saban, you want to be the guy after the guy. No, expectations will be no different for the next guy, the 4th guy or 10th guy removed from Nick. They will be expected to win national titles, frequently, and be in the hunt every single year. 10-3 and you will be shown the door. So, what is it like? You know you are the bluest of bluebloods. There is never a game you expect to lose and most games you expect a 35 point beatdown and if you beat State 24-14 there's questions to be answered. With that said, being a Bama fan is awesome. When you go to opposing teams stadiums they have a different vibe in the crowd. Everybody wants tickets to the Bama game, Wins over Bama are celebrated for years see LSU 2019, South Carolina brought back players form 2010 team for the Bama game in 2019 and Arkansas brought back their 64 team for the Bama game in 2014. You are, and you know you are, every teams biggest game including bluebloods like Ohio St, Notre Dame or Southern Cal.
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Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:00 pm to Hback
My college years were the Dubose years, so I know exactly how appreciative I should be and I am.
I would equate it to being married to the woman of your dreams. In the beginning, I followed recruiting and watched every live feed of announcements that were available. I bought all the championship magazines I could get my hands on. Clipped newspaper articles. Every bit of it was so exciting. Nowadays...its still exciting and I love very minute of it, but the new has worn off and those little things don't excite me as much. Every thing is expected now. And also like being married to a damn good woman, we won't truly know how just good we had it until its gone.
I would equate it to being married to the woman of your dreams. In the beginning, I followed recruiting and watched every live feed of announcements that were available. I bought all the championship magazines I could get my hands on. Clipped newspaper articles. Every bit of it was so exciting. Nowadays...its still exciting and I love very minute of it, but the new has worn off and those little things don't excite me as much. Every thing is expected now. And also like being married to a damn good woman, we won't truly know how just good we had it until its gone.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:00 pm to footstepsfalco
quote:
I have decided that I am going to TRY and just enjoy the next few years as time will surely take its toll even on the GOAT
This is the right attitude. It's amazing to see him still coaching at such a high level.
quote:
Also, frick LSU.
This is also the right attitude.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:01 pm to SanAg
quote:
To me it almost makes the seasons less fun.
Not as much as 8-4.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:06 pm to SanAg
it's great obviously. opposing fans are always melting down about it like you've done here which makes all the winning that much more enjoyable. 
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:14 pm to Big Balls
My college years started in 2010 and just being in the midst of Saban prime years as a student was an experience like no other. It was awesome.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:29 pm to SanAg
I’m sure Auburn 2013 and LSU 2019 were unreal for their fans. Especially Auburn. That season was as magical as it gets.
But dude, 15(and counting) straight years of being in the NC hunt nearly every single week of every single year makes college football so much fun.
Each week there’s a new fanbase excited as hell to watch their team take on the Tide and attempt to ruin their season. Engaging with them is awesome.
And let’s not pretend Alabama hasn’t been in a ton of drama filled fever pitch moments.
2008 - Insane undefeated season with an amazing matchup in the SECCG
2009 - Pull it off again and get revenge on Tebow and Urban
2010 - Disappointment
2011 - Incredible season, amazing game against LSU, reach #2 after some epic losses from Oregon and Oklahoma State(do you realize how fun it was experiencing those losses to get Alabama back in it?)
2012 - Lose crazy game against aTm and thump ND in the NC(awesome year by any standards as far as excitement for a fan and it’s STILL underwhelming compared to how exciting most seasons are for Alabama fans)
2013 - Undefeated heading into the Iron Bowl and get kick 6’d(perfect timing to knock us down a bit and set up future exciting time)
2014 - Very exciting games and another tough L to OSU in the playoffs
2015 - The Ole Miss series becomes heated and fantastic and Alabama beats Clemson in an epic game to start their epic series
2016 - Dominant year that ends in disappointment with an epic loss to Clemson
2017 - Redemption against Clemson and the epic freshman comeback against Georgia in the title game
2018 - Get Clemson again in the NC and they get their revenge, terrible loss
2019 - Stressful year all around but still enjoyable
2020 - Back up LSU’s undefeated NC with Alabama’s own(take that, LSU!)
2021 - Rocky season with close/lucky wins and a beat down of Georgia before heartbreak a month later
As dominant as it has been, there have been SO many ups and downs and crazy moments. It has genuinely been a perfect roller coaster that keeps everything wildly exciting. On top of that it’s great watching the young talent grow and do their thing.
It has been amazing.
But dude, 15(and counting) straight years of being in the NC hunt nearly every single week of every single year makes college football so much fun.
Each week there’s a new fanbase excited as hell to watch their team take on the Tide and attempt to ruin their season. Engaging with them is awesome.
And let’s not pretend Alabama hasn’t been in a ton of drama filled fever pitch moments.
2008 - Insane undefeated season with an amazing matchup in the SECCG
2009 - Pull it off again and get revenge on Tebow and Urban
2010 - Disappointment
2011 - Incredible season, amazing game against LSU, reach #2 after some epic losses from Oregon and Oklahoma State(do you realize how fun it was experiencing those losses to get Alabama back in it?)
2012 - Lose crazy game against aTm and thump ND in the NC(awesome year by any standards as far as excitement for a fan and it’s STILL underwhelming compared to how exciting most seasons are for Alabama fans)
2013 - Undefeated heading into the Iron Bowl and get kick 6’d(perfect timing to knock us down a bit and set up future exciting time)
2014 - Very exciting games and another tough L to OSU in the playoffs
2015 - The Ole Miss series becomes heated and fantastic and Alabama beats Clemson in an epic game to start their epic series
2016 - Dominant year that ends in disappointment with an epic loss to Clemson
2017 - Redemption against Clemson and the epic freshman comeback against Georgia in the title game
2018 - Get Clemson again in the NC and they get their revenge, terrible loss
2019 - Stressful year all around but still enjoyable
2020 - Back up LSU’s undefeated NC with Alabama’s own(take that, LSU!)
2021 - Rocky season with close/lucky wins and a beat down of Georgia before heartbreak a month later
As dominant as it has been, there have been SO many ups and downs and crazy moments. It has genuinely been a perfect roller coaster that keeps everything wildly exciting. On top of that it’s great watching the young talent grow and do their thing.
It has been amazing.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:32 pm to SanAg
It is peculiar.
I was reared in Gainesville Florida, a gator fan, from the early 50s through mid-60s. Florida never won squat during that time... 6-4 was a great season... yet now I remember the wins against Ga Tech, Alabama, etc., don't remember the losses... (except I do remember a Miss State QB named Billy Stacy who was amazing for that time and who kicked Florida's rear).
Back from Vietnam I went "home" to Alabama (strong family ties) in 1969 and I was student there off and on for 10 years (back for engineering, graduate master degree, student teaching, etc.) through the 1970s. During that decade, Alabama lost only about 9 games. Today I don't remember the wins, just the losses.
So... being an Alabama fan is a bitter-sweet affliction.
I was reared in Gainesville Florida, a gator fan, from the early 50s through mid-60s. Florida never won squat during that time... 6-4 was a great season... yet now I remember the wins against Ga Tech, Alabama, etc., don't remember the losses... (except I do remember a Miss State QB named Billy Stacy who was amazing for that time and who kicked Florida's rear).
Back from Vietnam I went "home" to Alabama (strong family ties) in 1969 and I was student there off and on for 10 years (back for engineering, graduate master degree, student teaching, etc.) through the 1970s. During that decade, Alabama lost only about 9 games. Today I don't remember the wins, just the losses.
So... being an Alabama fan is a bitter-sweet affliction.
This post was edited on 8/23/22 at 2:41 pm
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:43 pm to SanAg
99% of the Alabama fan base are bandwagon riders. You're asking the wrong bunch what it's like to be an Alabama fan. The vast majority of the posters here couldn't tell you anything about the University of Alabama.
The only thing they can tell you is the closest Walmart to buy a hat and t-shirt.
The only thing they can tell you is the closest Walmart to buy a hat and t-shirt.
This post was edited on 8/23/22 at 1:44 pm
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:52 pm to SanAg
quote:
What is it like being an Alabama fan?
We have to buy a lot more memorabilia compared to an A&M.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:53 pm to SavageOrangeJug
quote:
99% of the Alabama fan base are bandwagon riders. You're asking the wrong bunch what it's like to be an Alabama fan. T
AMA
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:53 pm to SanAg
It's never been lost on me. Not for one second. I'm 40, so I've watched every game since I was around 10 years old unless something -major- kept me from it. I do have a greater appreciation, I believe, than fans that are roughly 25 or younger.
I would like to think people like myself have educated them on what it's like to not live in a fairy tale. One day, this too shall end. Soak that shite up if you like it.
Fortunately, it looks like we got our cyborg for another extension. Predictably.
How does it feel? It still feels fake (b/c it's so amazing*) every fking game.
I would like to think people like myself have educated them on what it's like to not live in a fairy tale. One day, this too shall end. Soak that shite up if you like it.
Fortunately, it looks like we got our cyborg for another extension. Predictably.
How does it feel? It still feels fake (b/c it's so amazing*) every fking game.
This post was edited on 8/24/22 at 10:52 am
Posted on 8/23/22 at 1:57 pm to SanAg
The OP will be lucky to get any legit answers... because posters here are bama fans, just like cajunbama is cajun!!
Meaning frick no!!!! These people are those that what to yell roll ride at each as they go thru the Walmart checkout line.
Meaning frick no!!!! These people are those that what to yell roll ride at each as they go thru the Walmart checkout line.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:01 pm to lockthevaught
quote:
Go frick your sister and you'll know what its like to be a Bama fan.
Not every Bama fan has fricked that guy’s sister, but we have all had your mother at least once.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:11 pm to SanAg
quote:
o me it almost makes the seasons less fun.
Do you think going 8-4 every year with a upset win over Bama is more fun or something?
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:12 pm to SanAg
It's awesome in my opinion.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:12 pm to Marktastic86
quote:
Dude, you're from Mississippi.
Youtube
This video will show you what its like to be an Alabama fan.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:16 pm to SanAg
When Saban took the job, all I wanted was consistency. I was tired of losing to Auburn, Tennessee and LSU every year. I was tired of scratching and crawling for six wins. I was tired of our players talents being wasted. I wasn’t expecting National Championships as much as I wanted to beat our rivals more often and being in the SEC hunt.
He has above and beyond delivered more than I could have delusionally imagined. Nobody ever thought Bryant’s record would be broken. Not too many people thought we’d get a Heisman winner, much less four of them. People can say that winning isn’t fun for us and that the title game is the only one that matters. Tell that to the players because they take losing harder than we do. Their the ones who set the expectations that high.
Saban recruits good players, but he recruits the ones that fit his personality. The ones that hate losing more than anything. It’s been a magic carpet ride for sure, but our day will come when we fall back to mediocrity. People don’t understand how hard it is to do what he’s done. It’s a 24/7/365 job and I’d say his success is due to his ability to adapt. I think we’ve won most of our games because he’s out coached the other guy. Bryant beat a lot of tough teams due to his outworking and coaching the other team.
Just enjoy the ride cause you won’t see another team do this in your lifetime.
He has above and beyond delivered more than I could have delusionally imagined. Nobody ever thought Bryant’s record would be broken. Not too many people thought we’d get a Heisman winner, much less four of them. People can say that winning isn’t fun for us and that the title game is the only one that matters. Tell that to the players because they take losing harder than we do. Their the ones who set the expectations that high.
Saban recruits good players, but he recruits the ones that fit his personality. The ones that hate losing more than anything. It’s been a magic carpet ride for sure, but our day will come when we fall back to mediocrity. People don’t understand how hard it is to do what he’s done. It’s a 24/7/365 job and I’d say his success is due to his ability to adapt. I think we’ve won most of our games because he’s out coached the other guy. Bryant beat a lot of tough teams due to his outworking and coaching the other team.
Just enjoy the ride cause you won’t see another team do this in your lifetime.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:28 pm to SanAg
quote:
Genuinely honest question - since Saban’s run, they go in to pretty much every season with an expectation of a natty, and if you don’t get it it’s a total failure. There is basically no room for pleasant surprises in your team. To me it almost makes the seasons less fun.
It pains me to say it, but I honestly envy LSU fans. They’ve had a sustained level of success over the past 20 years yet not so much that the success isn’t truly appreciated.
You're an idiot. Winning never gets old.
Posted on 8/23/22 at 2:30 pm to SanAg
You quickly learn when something doesnt go tour way you make a massive list of excuses.
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