In this series of college footballl traditions, PubClub.com looks at the University of Alabama.
A school with such a rich and successful history as Alabama has several traditions and cheers that are its own. These include:
• Nick Saban. A legendary coach who retired in 2023 after 17 seasons and six national championships at the school.
• Paul “Bear” Bryant. Another legendary football coach who won 232 games and six National Championships at the school. Even though he last coached in 1982 and passed away a few months later, he casts a huge shadow over the campus and football program.
• “Yeah Alabama,” The school’s fight song.
• Big Al. The team’s mascot. It’s an elephant and some may be confused as to why Alabama has an elephant when the school’s nickname is the Crimson Tide. Well, the school was originally the Red Elephants. But in 1925, a supposedly undermanned Bama team upset unbeaten Washington 25-0 in the Rose Bowl and the next day an LA Times sportswriter wrote “Washington was washed away by a powerful Crimson Tide.”
• The Million Dollar Band. Alabama is very proud of its band, and for good reason. It is so good – and has been for decades – that it earned its nickname back in the 50s when the football team was not so good. At halftime, one sportswriter turned to another and said, “Well, at least the band looks like a million dollars.”
• Roll Tide. The official cheer of Alabama athletics. Can be expanded to “Roll Tide Roll” in certain circumstances. It is always said, with shakers shaking, on Alabama kicksoffs (building up to the “Rooooooollll, TIDE (when the kicker hits the ball) Roll!” Most conversations in Tuscaloosa end with the words “Roll Tide.”
• RMFT. Er, refer to this article on the meaning of RMFT.
• Rammer Jammer Cheer. A long-time favorite, it’s “Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer, Give ’em Hell Alabama!” Some dogooders decided that because the cheer also includes, “Hey (name of opponent), we just be the hell out of you,” that it not politically correct to do it during games, so it’s only heard the final two minutes in Bryant-Denny after a win.
• Dixieland Delight Song. You’ll hear this on sorority TikTok videos, on fans’ accounts at games, at Alabama alumni bars and throughout a weekend in Tuscaloosa. The Alabama version of this song from the group named Alabama adds lyrics to song lines:
Spend my money. On beer!
Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight. Roll Tide!Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ All Night!A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night (nasty word, having to do with reproduction: Auburn! Fits my life And LSU!
oh, so right And Tennessee, too!
My Dixieland delight
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