When and why did you become a Crimson Tide fan?

[4Q Basket Case]

Born in Guntersville, but my parents moved to Tuscaloosa when I was 3 months old.

Both parents were graduates of UA. Well....my mother was. My father, shall we say, exhausted his eligibility, as determined by his parents.

First game at 5, when Joe Namath was still a running QB. My parents had a game-watching party for the Orange Bowl after the 1964 season. When Tommy Nobis was ruled as having stopped Namath at the goal line, I acquired a whole new vocabulary.

Spent childhood and high school years in Tuscaloosa. Went to the old Tuscaloosa High School, since demolished. Central High School is now on that site.

Went to UA myself, during Bryant's second heyday.

Short answer to the OP's question: Born and raised that way.

 

[Bama75&80]

With my dad I also watched Namath score in that Orange Bowl. Aunt graduated from Bama around that time. I enrolled in ‘71 and three Championships /two degrees later headed off in the world but always bleed 🩸 crimson. Roll Tide

 

[22Musso22]

My reason:

The Alabama Wishbone was Irresistible!

 

[Ledsteplin]

At 9, all I heard my Dad talk about was Pat Trammell and the #1 Crimson Tide. I got interested and started listening to the games on the radio. Games on TV were few and far between. I got to attend a few games in T-Town, and never looked back. It's been Bama and Roll Tide ever since.

 

[Toddrn]

Both of my parents were born and raised in Cherokee County, Alabama. They moved to Georgia when they got married. Growing up we rooted for Bama and hated Auburn. Raised my son the same way.

 

[Tide&True]

I grew up in Huntsville and my Dad is the reason I’m such a big fan. It was back when we only had three major TV networks to watch games. My favorite player was Johnny Musso. I really miss the early days…life seemed so simple then. Roll Tide!!!

 

[Tideflyer]

Dad was invited to try out at Auburn out of Fairhope High, not sure if it was `39, `40, `or `41 just before Pearl Harbor. During that period he also went to Pennsylvania to work in a CCC lumber camp, so I can`t remember exactly what happened when. Anyway, he felt he didn`t get a fair shake at the try outs ( have no idea about that, LOL ), but that was the beginning of our family being Alabama fans. Attended my first Alabama game in 1958, I believe, in Mobile. Alabama played Tulane several years in a row in Mobile during Coach Bryant`s earlier years. Have very fond memories as a kid on Fall afternoons, smell of burning leaves, listening to games on the radio with John Forney.
Later on (60s and 70`s) got an undergraduate and graduate degree at the University before being commissioned in the Army out of ROTC. Ironically enough, got a second Master`s from Tulane many years later.

 

[BamaFossil]

Two of my Mom's brothers (Conecuh Co.) worked their way through UA during the 1920's & 30's. My Mom was able to attend UA 1 year in the '30's. Married my Dad (no college) and moved to Monroeville to start a business. Both were Bama fans so I naturally became a Bama fan. Relatives in New Orleans so parents took my sister and me to our first college game - the 1961 Sugar Bowl. Bama vs. Arkansas. Bama won, but Lance Alworth gave Bama fits. Turns out Lance was the nephew of our pastor, and one day Lance came to visit his uncle in my town (Monroeville). Lance was a pro then, and it was a thrill for this boy to meet him. Not sure why any of that is relevant but I had fun typing it as the memories came to me.

 

[Aussie BamaFan]

Jesse Williams simple as that .

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I started at Alabama in 1959 which was Coach Bryant's second season. I was an Auburn fan up to that point just because my sister went to Auburn. I used to be one of the first fans in the student section of home game and seeing the players work out and Alabama grew in me that first year.

I see some similarities. I started in 1957. True, my dad was a fervent Bama fan and also both older brothers. But my vocational tests showed equal aptitude in science and math as in the humanities. My BIL, some 11-12 years older, had gone to AU and went on to have an illustrious career - Director of KSFC, and whom I was at least as close to as my brothers, tried to influence me towards AU. Who knows? I might have been a better engineer than lawyer. In the end, UA won out and I'm very glad and will be the rest of my life...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Dad was invited to try out at Auburn out of Fairhope High, not sure if it was `39, `40, `or `41 just before Pearl Harbor. During that period he also went to Pennsylvania to work in a CCC lumber camp, so I can`t remember exactly what happened when. Anyway, he felt he didn`t get a fair shake at the try outs ( have no idea about that, LOL ), but that was the beginning of our family being Alabama fans. Attended my first Alabama game in 1958, I believe, in Mobile. Alabama played Tulane several years in a row in Mobile during Coach Bryant`s earlier years. Have very fond memories as a kid on Fall afternoons, smell of burning leaves, listening to games on the radio with John Forney.
Later on (60s and 70`s) got an undergraduate and graduate degree at the University before being commissioned in the Army out of ROTC. Ironically enough, got a second Master`s from Tulane many years later.

Interesting! My father didn't finish was today HS (then "normal school" - he was born in 1895). Nevertheless, he was playing semi-pro baseball, 6'1', muscular, when that was "big," and good at it. He was recruited by Coach Crisp. The rules were much laxer back then. He was a widower with a toddler. They offered to enter him into Tuscaloosa HS, to finish his diploma, and also take care of his child. In the end, he turned them down, but he became a lifelong Bama fan. In fact, the last words he spoke to my mother in February, 1958 were "Alabama is going to be all right. Coach Bryant is coming back"...

 

[JDCrimson]

It was born in me.

 

[paulpatt48]

I was born in Florence, Al. Family moved to middle Tn shortly after I was born. I was raised by my grandparents and my “dad” was a die hard BAMA fan. Just runs in the family. On another note, my wife and I went to high school with Phatumus Phillip. She actually graduated with him. Her family were die hard UCheat fans and all but her remain so. She saw the light after we were married. Kids and grandchildren are all BAMA fans. Roll Tide!!!!

 

[uafan4life]

I don't remember becoming a fan of the Crimson Tide...

 

[AWRTR]

My dad went to UA and we lived in Tuscaloosa for a couple of years when I was a kid. It was just engrained in me from before I could remember to pull for the Tide. I don't know anything else. My dad took me to games, and now that he's retired I take him. I went to Jacksonville State. They gave me a better financial aid package. I would have loved to have gone to UA myself, but just couldn't see going into debt when I could go to JSU for almost free. Left JSU with only $3,000 in student loan debt. I liked going to JSU sporting events, and I went quite a lot, but I always loved Bama more.

 

[Perrett4Bama]

Birth....brainwashed by my dad and granddaddy! 1st grade was 1976. Those are my first Bama Football memories. Listened to lots and lots of games on the radio. Some of my fondest memories.

 

[Krymsonman]

Born in Mobile 66 years ago. Came out a BAMA fan. Been that way ever since!

 

[CrimsonTheory]

Eli Gold.

My brother, father and I listen to that voice on the radio every Saturday.

 

[Lifer]

We have some interesting stories in this thread. Bama fans come from all walks of life but they all appreciate excellence. Roll Tide!

 

[BearFoot]

From the moment I was conceived…

…and by the grace of God