Alabama's Corey Reamer and Baron Huber Trade Old Dreams for New Dreams

Two young men, each with a dream that didn't come true. Neither boy ever expected to play in crimson uniforms, and only one ever expected to play in an Iron Bowl.

One wanted to don the orange of the Tennessee Volunteers and run the the "T" in Neyland Stadium; the other, to sing the "War Eagle" fight song after an Iron Bowl win.

However, fate and luck won out, and those childhood dreams are now long forgotten.

Instead, the boys ended up as friends, roommates, and teammates in crimson, together helping rebuild Alabama's football program into a championship contender.

Corey Reamer comes from a family of Auburn Tigers, and his parents were less than thrilled when Auburn didn't seem as excited to have him as Mike Shula (Alabama) did. In the end, despite his boyhood loyalty to Auburn, Reamer came to Alabama.

Reamer was a special team machine who had made a high school career out of blocking punts and kicks. He also had a reputation for some bone-jarring tackles.

The other young man couldn't be much more meshed in the Vol tradition. He grew up in the shadow of Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, but out of high school, Phillip Fulmer (Tenessee) wasn't sure what he could do and passed on him.

Most schools weren't sure what to do with Huber either. Many thought defensive lineman, but Shula saw a bruiser who might be a better fullback.

Now together at Alabama, the enthusiasm and intensity they put into every play is evident.

Both players have won individual awards at Alabama. After 2009 spring practice, Reamer won the Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award, and Huber won the Derrick Thomas Community Service Award. In addition, Reamer has been a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection.

Both are enthusiastically praised by their coach Nick Saban for the way they affect other players on the team with their energy and zest.

About Huber, Saban said, in terms that let you know how much he loves the guy, “Some people play five plays and complain they didn’t play 10, but this guy is happy to give everything on every play he gets, and you have to love how his enthusiasm motivates and affects the other players.”

Baron was named a team captain for this year’s Tennessee game, and it was an honor he certainly earned.

“This is a guy who looked like he was going to just be a good special teams player, but he’s worked so hard to put himself in the position he’s in now,” Saban said of Reamer.

“He’s got great instincts and puts himself in the right position to make plays.”

Reamer teased that he’s so used to being yelled at by Saban that recently when he did something really great in practice and Saban complimented him on it, he felt awkward and so did Nick, so they both had a laugh about it.

Both Reamer and Huber fit well into the team, which runs like a well-oiled machine, and it would be hard to imagine the Tide doing so well without them.

Huber plays on all the special teams and is also a fullback and tight end when needed. You'll always see No. 40 in on all of the 3rd-and-short type plays as he pancakes opposing linemen.

Reamer has the versatility to go wherever he's needed. He's practiced at every linebacker spot and has proven to be invaluable to the Tide this year after Dont'a Hightower went out with a season-ending injury.

Even with one of Alabama's best starters out, players like Reamer have helped to elevate the play to the point where the Tide's is the No. 1 defense in college football.

Both are known for their almost devilish hits on opposing players and their enthusiasm both before and after the play.

Alabama says goodbye to both these men this season, and they will go down in crimson lore not just for their statistical contributions, but also for their love of the game and the passion they brought to the team.

It's good for Alabama that these men did not get to live out their childhood dreams because they are helping Alabama fans realize a much bigger dream that may just come true in Pasadena, Calif., this January.

And not only will the Bama Nation think these are better dreams, both men will agree that it's a better dream than any they had imagined as children.