Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White


Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Serving the campus of the University of Alabama since 1894

The Crimson White

Thank you, Alabama fans

Dear Alabama Students, Alumni, and Fans,

As a recent University of Notre Dame alumnus, I would like to thank all of you for being a great group of college football fans. From the moment I boarded my plane, I looked around to see houndstooth and crimson in a few seats. I was initially wary, expecting the Crimson Tide fans to be arrogant. I could understand pride for a great team and program, but arrogance I feared, for it would make my weekend a whole lot worse.

Yet it was not so. The Alabama fans saw my ND sweatshirt (flying from the North necessitated it) and they gave a smile and a nod. We all knew that we headed to the same place, to cheer for two great college football programs in the championship game. Once in the Miami area, my siblings and I discovered that there were quite a few Bama fans at our hotel. After talking to just a few, I found all of them to be awesome people.

They all were willing to talk, have fun and share stories of football teams. I asked a few about the elephant mascot and the houndstooth. They answered, sometimes with a smile, recounting traditions more recent, but just as unifying, as the traditions of Rudy and the Gipper.

Even during and after the game, all the fans I encountered were very respectful and civil. They were a few crimson wearers in the ND section. Once the game ended (and some before the 0:00 showed), they either moved to the Bama section or let the Irish fans exit before celebrating.

I thank you, the students and all the fans I met in Miami, whether it be on tours of the city, at the tailgates or at the hotel. Thank you for being a great example of courteous college football fans, to my fellow Irish fans and myself.

Thank you,

Bill Shields

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