Okay, since I didn't have much to do at work the past hour or so, I worked on the following. I was going to wait until Friday night to post it, but I wanted to post it now to see the response. It might be choppy in some places, but I hope you all enjoy. I used the original text of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as a guideline:
'Twas the night before Kickoff, when all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, not even the band;
The tailgate tents were placed on the Quad with care,
In hopes that the season soon would be there;
The fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of touchdowns danced in their heads.
And the die-hards with their programs tucked in their laps,
Had just settled down for a pre-game nap.
When out on the Quad, there arose such a clatter,
The fans sprang from their RV's to see what was the matter.
Away to the door, I flew like the Flash,
Tore open the blinds, and undid the latch.
The moon in the sky of the newly started season
Gave the luster of a year that sure will be pleasin';
When, what to my blurry eyes caught a glance,
But a crimson RV pulled by 8 giant elephants!
With a vibrant driver, such a great ruler,
I knew in a moment it must be Coach Shula!
Faster than a cornerback, his elephants they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
Now Darby!, Now Prothro! Now Jon Parker and Andre,
On Wallace!, on Juwan!, on Simeon and D.J.!;
"To the top of the SEC, to the top of the polls!
"Now finish them! Finish them! Finish them all!"
As players before them won with ease,
When they meet an opponent, so will these;
So up to the stadium the elephants went,
With a little offense and a crushing defense:
And then in an instance, I heard some strange beats;
The stomping and clawing of football cleats!
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down University, Coach Shula marched with a sound
He was dressed for battle, ready to fight
As his clothes were covered in the Crimson and White!
A stack of plays were carried in his hand,
And he look'd like a King, ready to rule his land.
His eyes - how they were focused, they were almost scary
His cheeks, his nose, but hey watch it ladies, he's married.
His mouth started barking plays like mad,
And some would say that he reminded them of his dad;
The headset was on, snug and tight
Coach Shula was entrenched, he was ready for the fight.
He had a stern face, a leader's image
That was with him from the team's very first scrimmage;
He was lean and mean, a coach for our team
And I laughed when I thought it all a dream;
A wink of the eye and a nod of the head,
Soon he told me this season was nothing to dread.
He didn't speak, he went straight to work,
All to prove the doubters wrong, those ignorant jerks.
And laying his finger on the gameplan,
And giving a nod, down the field the players ran.
He sprung to his feet, to his team he gave praise,
And away they all flew, like a giant Crimson haze:
But I heard Coach say as they went out of sight,
The season for all is here, and Alabama owns this night!
'Twas the night before Kickoff, when all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, not even the band;
The tailgate tents were placed on the Quad with care,
In hopes that the season soon would be there;
The fans were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of touchdowns danced in their heads.
And the die-hards with their programs tucked in their laps,
Had just settled down for a pre-game nap.
When out on the Quad, there arose such a clatter,
The fans sprang from their RV's to see what was the matter.
Away to the door, I flew like the Flash,
Tore open the blinds, and undid the latch.
The moon in the sky of the newly started season
Gave the luster of a year that sure will be pleasin';
When, what to my blurry eyes caught a glance,
But a crimson RV pulled by 8 giant elephants!
With a vibrant driver, such a great ruler,
I knew in a moment it must be Coach Shula!
Faster than a cornerback, his elephants they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
Now Darby!, Now Prothro! Now Jon Parker and Andre,
On Wallace!, on Juwan!, on Simeon and D.J.!;
"To the top of the SEC, to the top of the polls!
"Now finish them! Finish them! Finish them all!"
As players before them won with ease,
When they meet an opponent, so will these;
So up to the stadium the elephants went,
With a little offense and a crushing defense:
And then in an instance, I heard some strange beats;
The stomping and clawing of football cleats!
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
Down University, Coach Shula marched with a sound
He was dressed for battle, ready to fight
As his clothes were covered in the Crimson and White!
A stack of plays were carried in his hand,
And he look'd like a King, ready to rule his land.
His eyes - how they were focused, they were almost scary
His cheeks, his nose, but hey watch it ladies, he's married.
His mouth started barking plays like mad,
And some would say that he reminded them of his dad;
The headset was on, snug and tight
Coach Shula was entrenched, he was ready for the fight.
He had a stern face, a leader's image
That was with him from the team's very first scrimmage;
He was lean and mean, a coach for our team
And I laughed when I thought it all a dream;
A wink of the eye and a nod of the head,
Soon he told me this season was nothing to dread.
He didn't speak, he went straight to work,
All to prove the doubters wrong, those ignorant jerks.
And laying his finger on the gameplan,
And giving a nod, down the field the players ran.
He sprung to his feet, to his team he gave praise,
And away they all flew, like a giant Crimson haze:
But I heard Coach say as they went out of sight,
The season for all is here, and Alabama owns this night!
