THE STORIED RIDE OF THE CRIMSON TIDE: PROLOGUE

To whatever degree Alabama fans are arrogant, or are free of arrogance, this never plays any part in how well the Tide plays, wherever they may be playing.  But more of us choosing not to be arrogant can begin the return back to our past history of being courteous to our guests, and as the role model for other SEC schools to follow.

Since Alabama’s 1979 National Championship, counting the 9 games forfeited in the 1993 season and playing under the severe NCAA sanctions that followed, Alabama still had ten seasons with 10 wins, which includes the 1992 National Championship.

Following the greatest winning percentage the Crimson Tide has ever experienced while under the Bear, for Tide fans, these 30 years have been a long wait to return back to the elite of college football.  But let’s just try to be thankful for the resilience we have always had and for the record of the past 30 years.  How many universities would not consider this record quite an accomplishment?

Most Southerners just naturally talk to most anyone, expressing whatever they may be feeling.  While the same kind of feelings may be felt in other conferences, they are less likely to openly express them.  I would like to be made aware of just one good reason for our being arrogant and obnoxious to our guests about anything, before the game starts, and after it is over.. 

Yes, this was a long prologue.  But I wanted everyone who has never spent enough time in the South, to realize the reasons behind the resentment the old South held.  Even in our more recent past, many of us became very angry when the polls denied SEC schools a national championship, for as SECS fans saw it, it was only because we were Southern.

But whatever negative feelings anyone may have about Alabama and the SEC, I hope that what I have composed above, and will be completing just before the season begins, will help those outside the South better understand the events that brought about what many consider as our being the most arrogant and obnoxious conference in the nation.

As I finish composing the storied tradition of the Crimson Tide, as I tried to do above, I will do my best to stay only with what actually happened and what was said, with no personal feelings of mine thrown in.

I hope that many of you may be able to begin not seeing the vast majority of the fans of the SEC as arrogant and obnoxious. I also hope that the many of us who are part of the SEC, who are not obnoxious and arrogant, will begin thinking of ways we can play a part in toning down the behavior of those who, out of their insecurities, choose to be this way.

Before the SEC Championship game is played, instead of asking people to vote on which SEC school they consider the most arrogant and obnoxious (LSU, FLA and AL were in almost a dead heat for this “Honor” last year), I’ll ask which ones are the most welcoming.  For all of you involved with the SEC, I hope this is an incentive to become more welcoming to your guests.

Next Week: Chapter One - The Beginnings of American Football

While I will read every reply, since I'll be composing a new serial each week, right up to the start of the season, and depending on how many replies I may get, I doubt I will have the time to reply to everyone.  After the season starts, I will have more time to reply, especially to those of any college who are interested in seeing their quests are made to feel welcome.

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