Western Carolina was 0-0 for the season when we scheduled them. Regardless, we needed a 'cupcake' game to break up the grind of the schedule we have to endure in the SEC. Plus, it was cool to see Blake Sims run the zone read offense with some success.
Yes.
True. Thirty-two percent of that population is below the poverty level, and another percentage has to help support the infrastructure that is required to host an event as large as Alabama football games are. Restaurant workers, bartenders, Police, Department of Transportation workers, etc. all have to work during these events. Furthermore, not everyone that lives in Tuscaloosa is a 'Bama fan, or even a football fan (blasphemy, right?).
Though not as great as someone traveling from out of town, residents of Tuscaloosa incur ALL of these costs. In my own experience, by working Saturday instead of going to the game I was able to net ~$1200. Clearly I should have done my duty as an Alabama fan and gone to the game instead.
The point is, it's not like the [approximately] 100,000 people living in Tuscaloosa can all drop what they're doing to go to a football game.
I don't appreciate the implication that I'm being lazy by not attending the game simply because I live closer to the Stadium. And blanket statements about the residents of a city is no different than blanket statements about a fanbase.
The bottom line is that I hate seeing empty seats as much as anyone else does, and I don't like the impression that it may give recruits. But I also don't like the finger pointing and pervasive condescending attitude of fans that either a) live too far away to justify the trip but think others should feel obligated to step up in their absence, or b) have the means to go to all of the games and somehow don't understand that others can't justify the expense.
I live here. I'm as much of an Alabama fan as you'll find. I was able to go to one game this year (Michigan), and that was all I got. Every other gameday I am at work, and my case is NOT unique.