Back to the BCS

There is a Red Tide predicted in Miami tonight as it's back

 to the Bowl Championship college football game for the University of Alabama.

 Can the defending national champions beat the No. 1 Fightin' Irish of Notre Dame?

Bama lost the championship to the Irish by a point 40 years ago. 

As you can tell, Bama merchandise, both handmade and commercial,

 has been hot this year, and this is just a sample from a recent 

Selma arts and crafts sale. From little girls' pinafores to houndstooth hats,

 T-shirts and keychains, fans are declaring their allegiance in high fashion!

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs

Beware of Gators!

Beware of gators!

Not only have alligators taken up residence along the Alabama River, but Gators from Florida are streaming into our state today by car, truck, bus and van. I saw vehicles on U.S. Highway 80  yesterday, and they were flying Florida Gator pennants and likely headed for Tuscaloosa. The No. 7 Florida Gators college football team plays the No. 1 University of Alabama Crimson Tide in a Southeastern Conference matchup tonight at 7 pm CST.

Photograph courtesy of guest photographer Randy Smith (who's been observing and taking pictures of alligators on the river since he got his first boat in the 1970s).  

Tide Pride

If anyone ever doubted the pride that Alabama football fans are feeling these days, here's proof! The Crimson Tide flag ranks just beneath the American flag in a yard just a couple of miles down the road.

I bet there are more local vehicles decorated with Crimson Tide pennants right now than there are yards decorated for Christmas... and those who drive red or white cars and trucks are really FANatic with the Bama theme. I've seen Bama tags and magnetic signs on doors and hoods and trunks and windows!

All that pride has led to TODAY when the Tide meets its most cunning foe yet...the swarming and swarthy Florida Gators (No. 2 in one poll) for the Southeastern Conference championship. But it's even bigger than that! The winner will probably vie for a berth in the Bowl Championship Series national title game in January.

NOW, while Alabama is ranked No. 1 in all national polls, doubting prognosticators who study the stats even in their sleep give the nod to Florida. BUT, the underdog Tide has proved it's worth its saltwater time after time and pulled with a mighty undertow to victory through 12 regular season games.

SO, how can anyone in Bama Country believe the naysayers and so easily dismiss the relentless Bear Bryant-like defense and game-control techniques reinvented by the Sabanation? Those Gators may come plundering with their jaws wide open, but a Tidal Wave is on the way!

Update: Much to my surprise, the pundits were right this time. Many predicted that Florida would beat Bama by 10 points, and while the Tide led at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Gators came back with two touchdowns and won 31-20. But, the Tide is back with a 12-1 record and is probably headed for the post-season Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Yea, Alabama!

Yea, Alabama!
The Crimson Tide is back. After six long years, the University of Alabama football team finally defeated the Auburn Tigers. It was a 36-0 wipeout in Tuscaloosa that should keep undefeated UA ranked No. 1 in the nation.

Meanwhile, there's been no economic downturn in Bama Country! Everywhere I go, Bama merchandise is selling better than ever. Fans have brought out their flags, their Bear Bryant hats, car pennants and magnetic signs. Of course, Bama clothing is a hot item too!

Here are the lyrics to the Alabama fight song. It's a bit outdated since the Rose Bowl used to be the national championship game, but the Bowl Championship Series changed that. Stay tuned...for the Southeastern Conference Championship against Florida in Atlanta!

"Yea, Alabama!"

Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you;
Hit your stride!
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave!
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame!
For 'Bama's pluck and grit
Have writ her name in crimson flame!
Fight on, fight on, fight on, men!
Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then!
Go, roll to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide!

The Iron Bowl

This is Iron Bowl Day in Alabama when the Auburn University Tigers meet the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in the annual college football rivalry. The winner claims "braggin' rights" for the next year, and Auburn has claimed 'em for the past five years. Selma is a traditional stronghold for Auburn fans since the late Coach Ralph "Shug" Jordan was a Selma native. The town also has agricultural roots, and AU was founded as a land-grant institution. Alabama has the law school. Both of our state's major universities are about 90 minute drives from Selma.
So which school do I think will win the game tonight?

Well, I predict that A.......... is gonna beat A............!

Oh, the game is known as "the Iron Bowl" because for years it was played on "neutral turf" in Birmingham where a statue of Vulcan stands and where the iron and steel industry caused the town to grow like magic, hence "the Magic City."