I watched Alabama win the Iron Bowl last night. It was not fun, it was not joyful, it was not a good time. And I’m an Alabama fan.
Starting about five years ago I began devoting my allegiance to the Crimson Tide. Five years ago is when I started dating my wife, and she graduated from there. She converted me quickly, both to her and Alabama football.
Other teams think they have the most devoted fans, the best coach and most electric atmosphere at home games. But Alabama fans KNOW they possess these things.
It’s kind of like the way we believe in our Apple products. It’s not even a question. Doubt doesn’t even enter my mind. I even feel a slight wave of pity when I see others fumbling with their Android devices. Do I just need so speak up and let them know that Apple exists? Did no one tell them along the way?
I’ve been to a few Alabama games. 100,000 people in the stadium and another 100,000 outside. It’s real. And it’s wild.
I grew up in Minnesota. We don’t have this there. But I guess no one else does either.
Not only is football a way of life in Alabama, being a football fan is a way of life. People talk about these college kid gladiators it ALL THE TIME. Weddings, parties, vacations, having babies, are all scheduled around the Tide.
Especially the Iron Bowl. I bet there’s no baby in the state of Alabama born on the Iron Bowl.
Year after year the fans keep coming back. No question. We are smitten with seeing the next play. Because for all the insane highlight-reel footage Alabama can put together, we think maybe, just maybe the NEXT play will take our breath away, beat the odds, give us hope for our own lives.
And don’t we want the same thing from our music?
That last sentence could be re-worded like this: For all the insanely great playlists we can put together, we think maybe, just maybe the next new song will take our breath away, beat the odds, give us hope for our own lives.
That’s why we don’t give up. That’s why we keep coming back. That’s why we devote ourselves to this silliness.
Saban Out.
