here in N Alabama Sunday morning. I was a little surprised. I had quite the Sunday.
Of course, I wore an Ole Miss polo to church Sunday morning. I couldn't help but notice a severe decline in Alabama and Auburn wear being sported by my fellow worshipers. In a congregation with about 60 men, usually there are at least 10-15 wearing Bama gear and 5-10 wearing Auburn gear. I saw 1 Auburn and 2 Alabama. The Auburn fan was as upbeat as you could expect. The two Bama fans were giving the old head nod greeting to everyone. Well, everyone except me. I got the "look at the logo on the shirt and look away" treatment. I was surprised by the number of known Bama fans that came up and said something positive. There were very few of the "we gave it to you statements." I did find it humorous that our pastor gave me the conspiratorial, "Great game. So glad you beat them." as he was informing me he was a Tenn fan. Not once did I bring up the game. I did have conversations that others initiated at church. But I didn't bring it up.
My family and I went to Red Robin in Huntsville for lunch. There were MANY more looks of disgust. It was my turn to give the old head nod greeting every time someone looked at my shirt. I got a couple of head nod grins from people who weren't bama fans (a couple of them were wearing their Auburn gear), further solidifying the notion that if you don't love bama, you hate them.
The true test was to come this morning. While a little dreary outside, the sun still rose for the second day in a row. I live in a growing community where I can count on one hand the number of houses that don't have bama gear on full display. One seriously has an 8 foot banner in the front yard. Like several of the fathers, I walk my kids to the bus stop before heading to work in the morning. One guy drives his kids in the suped-up Roll Tide golf cart, but I digress. The men usually get together and talk football. I admit, I had to take a moment before we walked out the door to wipe the grin off my face and put on my, to borrow a popular term, "business-as-usual" look. I was a little earlier than normal, anticipating the awkwardness. We were the first ones there, so I positioned us on the corner where everyone congregates. Little did I know that my kids and I apparently had the plague. We had two women that came within 10 feet of us. One father stopped 50 yards short and sent his daughter on to the bus stop. He waited there until she got on the bus while looking at his phone. I'm sure the candy he was crushing was sensitive in nature, prompting him to keep it away from others. Bama golf-cart guy never showed. I think that says it all.
I expect they may inch closer as the days go by, but only time will tell. I can't wait for work today.....
Of course, I wore an Ole Miss polo to church Sunday morning. I couldn't help but notice a severe decline in Alabama and Auburn wear being sported by my fellow worshipers. In a congregation with about 60 men, usually there are at least 10-15 wearing Bama gear and 5-10 wearing Auburn gear. I saw 1 Auburn and 2 Alabama. The Auburn fan was as upbeat as you could expect. The two Bama fans were giving the old head nod greeting to everyone. Well, everyone except me. I got the "look at the logo on the shirt and look away" treatment. I was surprised by the number of known Bama fans that came up and said something positive. There were very few of the "we gave it to you statements." I did find it humorous that our pastor gave me the conspiratorial, "Great game. So glad you beat them." as he was informing me he was a Tenn fan. Not once did I bring up the game. I did have conversations that others initiated at church. But I didn't bring it up.
My family and I went to Red Robin in Huntsville for lunch. There were MANY more looks of disgust. It was my turn to give the old head nod greeting every time someone looked at my shirt. I got a couple of head nod grins from people who weren't bama fans (a couple of them were wearing their Auburn gear), further solidifying the notion that if you don't love bama, you hate them.
The true test was to come this morning. While a little dreary outside, the sun still rose for the second day in a row. I live in a growing community where I can count on one hand the number of houses that don't have bama gear on full display. One seriously has an 8 foot banner in the front yard. Like several of the fathers, I walk my kids to the bus stop before heading to work in the morning. One guy drives his kids in the suped-up Roll Tide golf cart, but I digress. The men usually get together and talk football. I admit, I had to take a moment before we walked out the door to wipe the grin off my face and put on my, to borrow a popular term, "business-as-usual" look. I was a little earlier than normal, anticipating the awkwardness. We were the first ones there, so I positioned us on the corner where everyone congregates. Little did I know that my kids and I apparently had the plague. We had two women that came within 10 feet of us. One father stopped 50 yards short and sent his daughter on to the bus stop. He waited there until she got on the bus while looking at his phone. I'm sure the candy he was crushing was sensitive in nature, prompting him to keep it away from others. Bama golf-cart guy never showed. I think that says it all.
I expect they may inch closer as the days go by, but only time will tell. I can't wait for work today.....
