After posting a bit about my favorite football team on this blog in the past, it seems only fitting that I blog about the most important news coming out of Tuscaloosa since 1992 (the year of our last National Championship). Alabama has finally secured a head football coach! It was said yesterday on the Paul Finebaum show that this is the most significant/important hire since Bear Bryant. If you’re a Bama fan, or know anything about the legend of the Bear, then you know how a statement like that makes a Bama heart skip a beat. Finebaum went so far as to say that he will predict that Bama will win our next National Championship within the next four years. ROLL TIDE!

You may say, “Big deal!” But I need to remind you that winning is like our birthright. As the Bear said, “I ain’t never been nothing but a winner.” And so, we are not used to losing. I certainly am not accustomed to hearing statements like those coming from the talking heads on ESPN this last week. The last decade (at least) has been torturous. I was standing in front of Gene Stallings when he announced his resignation. I was a student during most of Mike DuBose’s tenure. We lost a lot. I won’t go into the details regarding his indiscretions that caused quite a bit of trouble. Then, there was Franchione. Then, there was Price, who (thankfully) never even had the chance to coach a game. Then, Shula came along. We’ve gone a long time without the success and respect that we expect. (Good grief–Notre Dame still gets respect because of their tradition and they stink!)

I am excited about Saban coming as our head coach. I’m excited about the possibilities of winning and DOMINATING our conference. I’m downright giddy about denying Wing-Nut the other hand! (Translation: I am very happy about beating Auburn in 2007).

I don’t know why I care so much. I suppose if I had other pressing issues to deal with I wouldn’t think too much about Alabama football. But here I am. It’s in my blood or something. I was born into a family that loved Alabama football. My grandfather was on the field with Bear Bryant at every game. We have pictures of them together on the walls in my house. They took fishing trips together. My aunt and uncle are graduates of UA. As a girl, I was allowed to hold the championship rings that my grandfather was given for his role. My brother used to cry when we lost to Auburn. In the schools all over town, Bryant quotes are engraved and hung on the walls. I played volleyball and basketball in high school, and we recited one of his most famous quotes before and after every practice and game: “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride and never quit, you’ll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.”

My husband and I have some great memories from Bryant-Denny and Legion Field. I loved walking on that campus. I had to walk past the stadium everyday for 3.5 years to get to my classes. Naturally, our babies love Bama, too. Hannah was 18 months old when she started sitting on her Daddy’s lap for the games. Her first cheer was “Roll Tide.” Her second was, “Oh, man! Come on Bama!” They can all sing the fight song. We aren’t ready to teach them Rammer Jammer, though. I’ve gone on long enough. You get the idea.

I’m listening to Saban on the radio right now. He had the team formulate their goals.
1) Be a team.
2) Work everyday to dominate your opponent.
3) Everyone needs to be responsible for their own self-determination.
4) Positively affect the team.
5) Be a champion.

Saban said something like this: I want to be the coach of the team that makes other teams say, “I hate playing these guys!” Sounds good to me.

ROLL TIDE!!

*republished to correct a mistake