Alabama fans no longer with us who looked forward to this day?

[Tidelines]

My step father, James Sasser. He loved for Bama to beat Auburn. Took me to my first game.

 

[Tideflyer]

My father, Hubert Mannich, who took me to my first Alabama game in 1958 in Mobile vs. Tulane. Most of dad`s friends were Auburn fans! Beating Auburn was extra sweet!

 

[CBag4Bama]

My dad Phillip Bagwell. He worked with a bunch of Auburn grads and would call in sick on Monday if we lost to them just so he wouldn't have to face them.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

My father, Doyle Howard..................Born and raised in Bama and was a Bama fan through the dark ages before Bryant, and loved them no matter what. I would always get a call after Bama beat AU and he would yell "Roll Tide"! Got to take him to the 49-0 beatdown a few years ago

 

[keith024]

My Uncle Frankie. He passed away in 2019. He loved Alabama football and Coach Saban. Love and miss you

 

[southernoutlaw]

My father, Hubert Mannich, who took me to my first Alabama game in 1958 in Mobile vs. Tulane. Most of dad`s friends were Auburn fans! Beating Auburn was extra sweet!

I was 7 years old, and my father took me to the same game. Also my first Bama game. I would like to add my younger brother Tommy Luker. He passed away on Nov.18, 2022. One of the most dedicated Bama fans I have ever known.

 

[CB4]

My late uncle. He passed in 2011. Buster was a Bama guy until the day died and despised all things orange. He even has a beautiful “script Bama A” on his headstone.

The irony was that his son (who just recently passed) played freshman and junior varsity football at Auburn in the 1960’s, has multiple degrees from Auburn and was adjunct teaching faculty there.

 

[bamagradinATL]

My late father passed away on December 3, 2003. He loved Alabama football. Sadly he didn’t get to see Coach Saban come to Alabama and right the ship.

 

[TexasBama]

My dad had a heart attack during the 1984 game. I think I get my inability to enjoy the Auburn game from him.

ETA - my dad passed in spring of 1996, so his last Iron bowl we listened to on the radio (we were on probation in 1995, no TV)

 

[ReturnToGlory]

Don Phillips...he was married to my father's first cousin and was a professor in the business school at UA. Passed away 2008. I always looked forward to a visit from them when I was growing up so we could talk Alabama football. I went with Don to the Legion Field games as a freshman and one of those was the 1988 Iron Bowl. Was a loss but good memories. I can never say thank you to him enough for getting Coach Bryant to sign a book for me just a little over a month before Coach died.

 

[TDBama78]

My uncle by marriage was Bill "Swamp" Sanders . I don't think anybody enjoyed beating Aubren more than him.

 

[UAinAthens]

My father, Keith Burns, passed last May. First Iron Bowl I've watched in 42 years without him.

 

[We_are_Bama]

My father passed away very unexpectedly on the morning of Monday September 11, 2017. Just two weeks into the 2017 football season. So he missed the national title of that year. His final Bama game was the Fresno State game in week 2 of that season. He was 73 so he had been a Bama fan since well before Bryant. He said to watch two guys named Devonta Smith and Najee Harris, because they were on the cusp of something special. He never got to see them fully materialize. Now, everyone on the team is someone my dad never saw play. He was aware of Tua, but only to the extent that he was, at the time, the backup to Hurts. I hate that he missed guys like Mac Jones, Jaylen Waddle, Metchie, Williams, and Bryce Young. The last loss to auburn he had to endure was the 2013 game. His last 3 Iron Bowls (2014-2016) were all wins

 

[alabama mike1]

Outstanding tributes everyone!

 

[Islander]

My father passed away very unexpectedly on the morning of Monday September 11, 2017. Just two weeks into the 2017 football season. So he missed the national title of that year. His final Bama game was the Fresno State game in week 2 of that season. He was 73 so he had been a Bama fan since well before Bryant. He said to watch two guys named Devonta Smith and Najee Harris, because they were on the cusp of something special. He never got to see them fully materialize. Now, everyone on the team is someone my dad never saw play. He was aware of Tua, but only to the extent that he was, at the time, the backup to Hurts. I hate that he missed guys like Mac Jones, Jaylen Waddle, Metchie, Williams, and Bryce Young. The last loss to auburn he had to endure was the 2013 game. His last 3 Iron Bowls (2014-2016) were all wins

He didn’t miss them, just watching on a bigger screen!

 

[crimsonaudio]

Great thread, thanks for sharing y'all!

 

[crimsonseal12]

My Grandfather, My Dad, and My Uncle. All three Loved watching the Tide, and Got my love from them.
As a Side note, My Grandfather worked at AU as a painter for 25 years. He painted Coach Jordan's office every year, and wore a Alabama Tee shirt under his Painters blouse. Always left a few button open so CRSJ could see it. Loved that Man.

 

[jcabama]

My Aunt Ann (age 80 at passing 18 months ago) was a rabid Bama (and Nick) fan. One of the two pics in her bedroom when she passed was an autographed 8x10 of Nick that was one of her more prized possessions (she didn't have many). She would often remark of what a handsome "feller" he was. She and I always talked at least once or twice every week during the season, usually on Sunday to debrief the previous day's game and then on Thursday or Friday when she would usually begin to feel nervous about the upcoming game and want me to calm her down! She and her daughter, my cousin, would often text back and forth with me during the game and always if it was close she'd want to know what I thought we'd do in the second half to get on track. She knew and loved the players and when watching the game would either praise or encourage them by their first name. She followed them loosely in the Pros, especially her most favorites (D. Henry, Minkah, Tua, Mac, and a few others) and even wanted to get a recruiting report before signing day from me though I confessed to her I didn't follow it that closely other than the ranking of the class. She would watch a game with enthusiasm and in close ones, she'd be exhausted by the time the game was over as she'd twist and strain to help the defense make a tackle or the ball carrier/receiver make a play--us south Alabama folks call it using body english! The last Iron Bowl we actually got to watch together was a sad one. She and my cousin came to our house (about a three-hour drive) for the 2010 IB and needless to say things were going well for a long while. Of course, when Cam finished us off, she was in near tears and I know the ride home was probably a quiet one that evening. Was glad that her last season to watch was Bama's best ever (at least in her eyes and mine). I have in my closet her Bama fleece blanket that she slept under every winter night. It's there to remind me of her every time I open the closet door. Since I lost both my mom and dad nearly 30 years ago, she was my "other mom" and my favorite fellow Bama fan. Football Saturdays haven't been quite the same the last two seasons since she went to meet her next favorite Bama coach. As she always said when we hung up the phone, Roll Tide!

 

[FitToBeTide]

My Dad was a WW2 vet, Pennsylvania-born cranky Yankee, but moved to south Alabama where he became a big Coach Bryant fan. Watched many a game with him on the telly and a few at Legion Field and BD. He passed away in 2000, missing the Saban years, which he would have loved.

 

[bamaga]

My Dad, some of you know him from the old forums, (BOL, BamaMag, TI), Most knew him as BamaRed or BR . He always enjoyed a victory over the CowCollege. I miss tailgating with him at the old Presbyterian church by the stadium(no longer there) .