Although I was born in Birmingham I have lived most of my life outside Alabama. I've lived in Tennessee, Florida, and Kentucky. Having two parents that are Alumni of Alabama, the Crimson Tide have been apart of my entire life. Living outside of Alabama has always made for a strange but welcome challenge of being an "exile." Although Alabama was on our TV sets every Saturday, as a small child I still didn't really understand the importance that Alabama football held in the lives of my parents and extended family. The moment that changed was at the 1992 National Championship game versus Miami. At the time our family lived in Tennessee and the Volunteer nation might be nice church going folk but when it comes to football they are as rotten as chunky milk. When our boys defeated Florida in the SEC championship game all I heard from the Vols were a chorus of how badly Miami was going destroy Bama. On Christmas day of that year my dad surprised us with four tickets to the Sugar bowl! This game was a stark contrast from the only other Bama games I had been to on homecoming. I knew this was an important game but this was the first time Alabama had played for the national championship in my lifetime and I didn't really understand its magnitude until our trip to New Orleans began. Whereas I was the only crimson clad kid in Knoxville it seemed, darting around the French Quarter high fiving Alabama fans from all over the nation was a thrill my 12 year old self had never experienced. I fed off the frenzied party crowd. The enthusiasm and excitement was palpable as the beignets and po'boys.
We all know how the game turned out. I lost my voice by the end of the first quarter and stood in complete awe as Alabama dismantled the arrogant and prideful Hurricanes. This was the moment that Alabama football became more than a team for me. I left Knoxville as an admirer of Alabama football, I left New Orleans as a crazed and obsessed junkie, like many on this board.
What is the moment Alabama football became more than a football team to you?
We all know how the game turned out. I lost my voice by the end of the first quarter and stood in complete awe as Alabama dismantled the arrogant and prideful Hurricanes. This was the moment that Alabama football became more than a team for me. I left Knoxville as an admirer of Alabama football, I left New Orleans as a crazed and obsessed junkie, like many on this board.
What is the moment Alabama football became more than a football team to you?
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