The Roll Tide Pardon

Starting at the Nashville airport on Thursday morning at 4 am, we began seeing Alabama fans on their way to the game. Of course, everyone was decked out in their crimson attire so it was easy to recognize the fans. Every time we passed someone in crimson either EJ or the passerby would say, "Roll Tide" to which the other would reply, "Roll Tide". I understand that for Alabama fans this phrase brings about a certain pride and excitement but for a Tennessee fan I was indifferent even on this special occasion. I know people thought I was a snotty little toot for not replying with my own "Roll Tide" but if they only knew the whole story I think they would have appreciated the fact that I was wearing crimson at all.

Anyway, as we continued on our journey we had a connecting flight in Cincinnati where we met up with more Alabama fans and this is where I started noticing the power of the phrase "Roll Tide". As you may know, maneuvering on a plane can be a little difficult at times. On my way to the bathroom, I accidentally brushed the arm of another passenger...I, like most normal people said, "Oh I'm sorry." To which he replied, "Roll Tide". It was at this point that I began thinking to myself...something just doesn't make sense with that little phrase.

We continued on through LAX and shuttled to our hotel where we were greeted by a multitude of Alabama fans all saying...that's right, you guessed it..."Roll Tide". EJ asked me if I was going to reach the point where I could reply with a hearty " Roll Tide" and I said I don't think so but I will cheer for them when I get to the game.

We continued to the game and since there were 50,000 Alabama fans all in a mile radius the "Roll Tide" subsided somewhat. Once we got in the stadium it was like mass chaos trying to get to your tunnel and as you can imagine there was a lot of brushing up against people and you would inevitably hear something like, "Sorry dude. Roll Tide!" With the reply of "That's alright. Roll Tide!" Well as you can also imagine there were a handful of idiots running against the flow of traffic. One particular idiot nearly ran me over, looked at my shirt, then said "Roll Tide!!" If we weren't being herded the other way, I would have grabbed him by the shirt and asked for a real apology. Now again, let me say I understand the sense of pride that comes with that phrase and I also understand how I would have been easily mistaken for a Bama fan on that particular day...I mean, that is, if you didn't see my orange bracelet that said LIVE ORANGE, but I do not understand why Alabama fans think that little phrase is the pardon for all sin.

I'm interested to see just how far that little phrase will take you and you can be sure that if I am ever at fault in a fender bender with an Alabama fan, I will try the pardon for everything and holler out a hearty Roll Tide.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry