Tide Pride, Deep and Wide!

September 4, 2009

I didn't grow up in a "House Divided" home. It was more like a "House Apathetic." My parents really didn't watch football, so as a by-product of that (mis)guidance, I didn't either. That explains how these pictures exist:

"What's that shirt say?"

"But, Lianne, how...what...?"

It says "I'm a Little Tiger from Auburn." And, yes, that's me.
Never speak of this again.

Even though my parents committed the cardinal sin, they still had positive images in the house for me to learn from.That's not to say they didn't do their part to confuse me. They owned the obligatory glass Bear Bryant Coke bottle that EVERYONE in the state owns. But they displayed it in a wooden Auburn shelf thing. It's a wonder I don't have split personalities.

Of course, once I got to elementary school I learned that one MUST pick who to root for. There is no gray area when it comes to Alabama and Auburn in this state. I decided that since the little boy I liked in kindergarten was an Alabama fan, that I must be one too.

And that's how it started.

A few (19) years after kindergarten, I bought a Daniel Moore picture for another boy I liked enough to marry. Emma was born 5 days before football season started in 2000. Really, I had some concerns as to what would happen if she waited until the middle of a game to make her appearance. One must have priorities.

(She's wearing Alabama booties here.)Emma soon learned of the wonder that is Crimson Tide football.

We began the brainwashing early on.

When Luke was born, he, too, was indoctrinated.

And they were so darn cute in their Bama outfits.

We took them to God's Country, Tuscaloosa, early and often.

We have a LOT of Bama stuff in our house. A LOT.

And outside our house...

Coming and going, we are rolling with the Tide.

We own the requisite picture of Tyrone Prothro making The Catch. We saw it in person. It was just as amazing as it looked on tv, if not more so.

I have curtains with elephants. Big Al would approve.

A little light coffee table read.

Gameday flag...

Pictures of Bear are required if you are a real fan...

...as is a football shrine of some sort, that MUST include the Alabama Coke bottles, if not a bust of Bear himself.

The kids have closets full of Alabama gear. Luke once went a whole week of kindergarten where he picked out an Alabama shirt to wear every day of that week.

My Brother-in-law, Joel, sometimes lets us go with him to the games. His seats are VERY high, as in top of the back of the stadium. It's like climbing Everest to get there, but we love it.Emma was proud to show off her Bama spirit just this morning.

Luke would wear this jersey 365 days a year if I'd let him...

...because it's not only Alabama, but Jay Barker autographed it.

Tide Pride runs deep. We are really looking forward to this football season!

Roll Tide!