Alabama Football: Alabama’s church of football
Alabama Football: Alabama’s church of football:They say football religion in Alabama, but it’s not in every house of worship. John Dees is the pastor of Crosspointe Church in Madison, Ala. He also played halfback for Auburn in the 1970′s.
“I never criticize other schools from the podium – it’s not me,” he said. But many pastors do. ”
San – Jose will experience the passion of football Alabama first-hand when it faces a number Crimson Tide today’s sellout crowd of 101,821 expected at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
This is the second largest crowd to attend games with San Jose State, for 104,892 Ohio eight years ago.
“You can go to the Alabama game, not sit all the time,” said former 49ers running back Glen Coffee, who played for the Crimson Tide. “It’s a different atmosphere, a different vibe. There’s a reason why they say that in Alabama, it’s worse to fumble the ball, than give up the child.”
A few fans in attendance today have their bodies covered in Alabama football theme tattoos.
Some of them will be wearing T-shirts adorned with the words: “We worship St. Nick”, a reference to coach Nick Saban.
And they all – except for a small contingent of SJSU fans – will have much more than an interest in perpetuating Crimson Tide.
“I would not say that this is the true definition of religion: People do not worship or pray to the football Alabama,” said Ken Gaddy, director of the Bear Bryant Museum, located a few blocks from the stadium. “But it’s an obsession.”
This obsession is rooted in the laws of supply and demand – there are no professional sports teams in Alabama, to share our faith, “Gaddy said – and it was almost a hundred years in the making.
Football in the South largely retrospective came to Alabama in 1926 Rose Bowl, beating Washington 20-19 to finish the season undefeated. (Big Ten was not involved in the bowl until the 1940′s.) Crimson Tide returned to Pasadena four times over the next 12 years, with each view of the greatest stage of the game increased interest in the sport throughout the region.
The second stage in the development of Alabama football began in 1958, when Bryant left Texas A and M, to return to his alma mater. Three years later, Bryant won the first of its six national championships Tuscaloosa.
Time could not be better for the state in dire need of entertainment.
“In an era of civil rights, there was not much positive in the southern part,” said Gaddy. Alabama football to fill the niche. It gave people something to feel good about. ”
Lifelong supporter of Alabama and author John Warren spent the season following people drive RV in each game Crimson Tide, crossing the South. He wrote about a few who missed the wedding of his daughter, because she had the audacity to schedule a day Alabama played Tennessee. They boasted that they had at least arrived in time for the reception.
“I think because I live here, that is not completely shock me,” said the pastor, Dees, who was familiar with the anecdote described in the book. “When couples call me to get married, I advise them to exercise caution when planning a wedding for some time.”
John found one fan who owned a collection of memorable Crimson Tide is estimated at $ 200000.
Another missed a game, although he was awaiting heart transplant and was not supposed to go more than two hours from Nashville hospital. Life, he says, is not worth living without football Alabama. (He received a transplant, but died from complications.)
The day before launch, can not be 500 RVs parked near Bryant-Denny Stadium – many decorated in the colors of the hilt of Alabama.
But even for those obsessive fans who do not wear their hearts on the wheels, the life of a lot of stops in the state of Alabama in college football on Saturdays. Mobile Register newspaper poll, St. John wrote, showed that 90 percent of people in the state call themselves fans of college football.
“Everyone plays football – women want to play football in Alabama, said Stanford freshman defender Darren Daniel, who from the city of Phoenix, Ala.” It feels like you must be a football player. ”
Obsessed as they may be, Alabama fans are not hostile against the team or the fans. The old Southern hospitality will be waiting for San Jose State travel party.
“People will be friendly,” said Gaddy. “If you need directions if you want mustard, there is always someone to help you.”
Of course, if you are fond of Auburn.
