T-town

I know that you have all heard about the tornado in Tuscaloosa and other parts of the southeast. My sister lives in Tuscaloosa, so this has felt incredibly close to home. Thankfully, my sister is ok, as well as her friends. Some of her friends had damage to their homes/stuff, but all of AnneTaylor's stuff is ok.

This week's Sports Illustrated cover is all about "What the Tornado Took" from Tuscaloosa. It focuses on the athlete's response to the tornado. It's heart wrenching. You can read the full article by clicking on the picture.
The NFL draft was the day after the tornado hit, and it was cool to see quite a few Alabama players get drafted! Even cooler was that those guys were still talking/tweeting about how they were going to help in Tuscaloosa.

You need to read the article. It's really well written, and it will certainly make you feel connected to the real story in T-town.

devotion

Went to my cousin's wedding this weekend. Wedding started at 430. Alabama game kicked off at 330. (he's from NorthCarolina- he doesn't get it) MAJOR problem.

I love my cousin.
But.
I love Alabama.
So, my family and I watched it on iPhones. CBSsports.com has a GREAT app that you can watch the live feed from your phone. We killed two batteries, and drained about half of the 3rd.


now, THAT is devotion.

mom's bday

My mom's bday was actually a week ago, but we didn't get to celebrate as an entire family until Saturday night.

We took our Christmas card picture (better late than never, right?)- and it's SO great. We all have on "Gameday" gear. Roll Tide and Merry Christmas. :)
Then we went to dinner at Vincent's.

One problem.

Dinner at 7.

Heisman at 8.

Hmmmmmm. Dilemma.

My brother proposed that we all leave our phones at home so that when we came back, we could all watch the Heisman show together. So we did.

Of course, we didn't take into consideration the fact that the TVs in the bar would be on ESPN.

But, never fear.

My brother, sister, and I all sat with our backs to the televisions. My mom and dad had to sit at the end where they couldn't see the screens. My s-i-l and nephew were the only ones who could see the screen- and neither one of them care.

So, we made it through dinner without seeing anything.
Came home and watch it whole show as a family.

Then cried again.

I am SO excited for Mark Ingram! And for running backs. And for Alabama!
I love my family for making the Heisman trophy presentation part of my mom's bday party. And for making Alabama a part of our Christmas card. Love it.

RTR

smelling the roses

For the first time in my adult life, The University of Alabama Crimson Tide has gone 13-0 and won the SEC Championship. I cried during the whole 4th quarter- just overwhelmed by the emotions of it all.
Mark Ingram is a stud. One of the 5 finalists for The Heisman. Love him.
Greg McElroy had the game of his life. Well, at least of this season. He was perfect. Amazing.
Oh, Alabama fans- so witty.

Monday at school. I did wear an Alabama shirt. This picture is ridic. It's in blackandwhite because I looked ROUGH. The B&W helped some.


"Remember the Rose Bowl- we'll win then"

Gene Stallings

This is one my favorite pictures of my sister and I- sitting on the Bryant bench in Tuscaloosa with the Gene Stallings quote above our heads. The quote is so true- and funny- about Alabama fans.

Stallings coached at Alabama under Bryant during the 70s, then came back in 1990 and proceeded to lead us to a National Championship in 1992- in a HUGE upset over Miami. (He's got the ball! He took the ball away from him!)
And Stallings would have been welcome to stay much longer than he did, but chose to retire in after the 1996 season (and a bowl win over Michigan to end his career at Alabama).


But Coach Stallings left The Capstone.
To focus on "Another Season"- John Mark Stallings. John Mark is Coach Stallings's special needs son. He was born with Down Syndrome and battled congenital heart disease as he aged. Coach Stallings left coaching to focus on life with his son.
John Mark was one of those kids that was almost more famous than his famous daddy because everything that John Mark did was influential on his influential father.


John Mark passed away this past year at the age of 46. It made headlines in the state of Alabama and was on the cover of the UofAlabama campus newspaper, The Crimson and White. The story of John Mark's life was even made news here in Georgia. "Another Season" was written by Coach Stallings and Sally Cook- it's such a great story.

Alabama fans love Bryant, but I'm pretty sure most of us love Coach Stallings and John Mark too.

not to be an etsy stalker... but...

I love this.
From My Flip Flopz. They make all kinds of wooden signs. Precious.

random sports stuff.

I hate Charlie Weiss. And Notre Dame. ugh. times a million. Seriously? Take your loss like a man. Don't blame officials. Take it. Own it. I already hate you. So complaining about a loss like you're a spoiled brat isn't gonna help your case. Tool.

I'm no Michigan fan. But Forcier did look like a stud on Saturday. And they beat Notre Dame. So that'll earn you points in my book. I don't care if it's the University of Hell- I like you if you beat Notre Dame.

Love these "What We Learned" Articles- always so entertaining. Especially this truth- "Alabama has options on offense". PTL. It's about time. And. This bit of wisdom to knock the Kiffin fans down a notch- "Now we know. Western Kentucky was just that bad." Ha. Love it.

This makes me so sad. I can't even imagine the Atlanta Braves without Bobby Cox. He's been their manager for as long as I can remember. It may be time for him to retire, but it makes me so sad.

Look What I Made!

I love Alabama. I love decor that supports this love. I've never seen one of these, so I decided I would be cute and make one. I like it. I'd make another if you'd want to buy it. May even consider making them for other schools. But only if you ask really nicely. After all, Alabama did win Saturday :)
(by the way. some of you need some assistance. RTR..... Roll Tide Roll..... Just in case.....)


One of the admins at my school defended her doctoral dissertation a few weeks ago- this is the gift I made for her. Just painted on a piece of wood. My first attempt in hand painting something. Kind of impressed with myself. Just sayin.

my GLORIOUS weekend

FRIDAY NIGHT!!!
Britney Spears at Phillips!
Box seats- AMAZING.
She was SO SO SO good.

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Saturday.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK FOR REAL.
ALABAMA.
Rough start to the day- but fought hard- and earned that win!
It's gonna be an awesome season!!!
McElroy!
Maze!
INGRAM!!!! SEC player of the week!!
Touchdown!!!
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Sunday Night.
NAVA.
Favorite restaurant in Atlanta.
Sonoma Jack Cheese Fritters?
Scallops and Grits?
Key Lime Pie?
Don't freaking mind if I do.
And I love the girls I went with- they make it even better :)

but I WANT them

From www.bamastuff.com
AH-dorable!
Also available on The Strip in Tuscaloosa :)

RTR!
Only 23 days until football season!!!

Football.

I know it's not football season. But, I'm dying here.
Alabama's Spring Game was this past weekend- if you aren't familiar with the concept, it's the intra-squad game at the end of spring practice. It's a game against ourselves- Crimson vs. White. Every team has this game-- but in the last few years, they've become these huge deals. It's open seating at the stadium. Alabama broke a NCAA record for spring game attendance (92,000) a few years ago when Saban held his first spring game. It was full capacity. For a scrimmage. Ridiculous. There were 70,000+ people there this year- 2nd most in the NCAA.

My friend was making fun of me for planning my day around the game.
I told him that it was just working as a placebo. I KNOW it's not the real thing. But, it's close enough to fake me out for now.

Been chilling on rivals.com while my kids have been testing this week.
Found some great stuff. Love it times a million.
You want some interesting reading? Click away.
Most of it isn't about Alabama. It's just random stuff around Southern football- not even all SEC. But, reading pleasure for sure!

• Southern Miss- Oops times a million.
• In shocking news, Auburn is a bunch of pansies.
• LSU. Way to spin this. Will this be your excuse when you don't sell out for UL Lafayette? It won't? You'll sell out? Hmmmmm. Discriminating taste, my foot.
• Ole Miss. May want to add "reading" as a football requirement. Just sayin....

Roll Tide!

The SEC as Tom Hanks Movies

From Rebelations- used to write The Dead Guy's SEC Site. Now devoted to Ole Miss sports- but he's interesting, so I still read his stuff.
This is priceless.
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So I'm a few New Belgium Mighty Arrows into the Final Four games Saturday night and start thumbing through the guide during a commercial break when I stumbled across three Tom Hanks movies on at the same time. While the beer certainly didn't live up the standards set by its Fat Tire brethren, it did help inspire this ridiculous post.

So, here they are, without further ado, all 12 SEC football teams as Tom Hanks movies. Got better suggestions? Leave ‘em in the comments.

Alabama: Turner & Hooch
Detective Scott Turner is a straight laced, no frills kind of detective. Nick Saban is a no-nonsense, no frills kind of coach – never a hair out of place in his feathery bangs. Between his owner dying and pairing up with Turner, Hooch was a mess. He drooled everywhere, tore things up, and basically a lost cause. Between the Bear dying and before hiring Saban, Alabama was much the same way. Sure they would do well every now and then, but they had to cheat to do it. They bought a national title in the early 90s, then suffered through several ignominious years before hiring Saban.

Want More? Sure you do!
Keep reading here.

My friend told me that I needed to update my blog. I do. I have been crazy busy. Out of control. All good. But busy for sure!!

Here's where I've been....

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Went to Walking Wisely at Sharptop in Jasper- UH-mazing. This is me w/ some of my girls before the first night of worship. Such an amazing weekend-- I'm gonna miss my girls SO much next year!!

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Voddie Baucham came to my church for a 2 day conference. To say he wrecked me is a VAST understatement. And my BFF Adam came into town for the conference. Double win. Epic. If you've never heard Voddie, you are SO lacking. He is a thinking man's speaker. Absolutely challenged, pushed, and encouraged by hearing him speak.

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Went to Tuscaloosa for Alpha Phi initiation (so, I'm actually greek. Weird.) AnneTaylor and I made mom take a million pictures of us around the stadium. We're precious. We know.

We had to climb the wall to jump up here with these two fellas. Worth it? I think so.

My favorite pic. Cute of us. Over the greatest name in Alabama football history.

With THE Coach.

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More to come soon. End of the 9 weeks is upon us. I'll have more time soon!!

Nico Johnson

AJ McCarron

Tana Patrick

DJ Fluker

National Signing Day was a slight success.

I mean, maybe Alabama was 1st place again.

I'm just saying.

Keep your eyes open, ladies and gentleman.

Roll Tide Roll.

Prestige Rankings

Have you been following ESPN's Prestige Rankings-- very interesting.... Check it out!

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3842161

Top 5 comes out tomorrow.... but #6 is already here, so you should be good!

6. Alabama Crimson Tide
Total points: 1,534
Positives: Alabama has won seven national titles, tying with Oklahoma and USC for the second-most by any program. Three of those five titles came in a five-year span in the '60s. The Tide had another big run with three in a seven-year span in the '70s. It's no wonder that Alabama was the second-best program in the '70s, trailing USC in the decade by a single point. Bama has the most bowl appearances (52) and bowl wins (28) of any program.

Negatives: Alabama was not its usual dominate self in the '80s, finishing 15th in that decade. But the thing holding the Tide back in the overall standings is the BCS era (since 1998), in which they rank 28th. They have had three losing seasons this decade, the most in a decade since the 1950s (1954-57). They haven't won a major bowl game since 1992 and haven't had a first-round draft pick since 2000.

Through the decades: Through 1958: 12th | 1968: 3rd | 1978: 4th | 1988: 2nd | 1998: 3rd

Did you know? Despite all its tradition, Alabama has never had a Heisman winner.

PFB

I love the blog Prayers For Blowouts-- you SO need to check it out. It's all about the disconnect between loving sports and being a Christian.
Always entertaining!
AND.
you can be a member.
I love being a member. of anything really. but I got a cool picture with PFB.
You know you want to.

cause I hate Auburn. and all other orange teams.

Spread Hate Pic comes from Roll Bama Roll
SI Cover comes from Gump For Heisman See the others- HILARIOUS.

RTR, baby!!

Hey Dawgs!

We just beat the hell outta you!

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer

Give 'em hell, Alabama!

I'm just telling you what he said.

You remember UGA's "BlackOut" against Auburn last year?Well, they're doing it again.

"The seniors asked if we could 'black out' the game," Coach Mark Richt said tonight. "We're going to ask our fans to go ahead and black out the stadium again. And our players will be wearing the black jerseys. I thought it was an outstanding success as far as the fans buying in to the requests of the seniors last year. I would think (fans) would get excited about the blackout. You wouldn't think it was big a deal, but it was."

This is Saban at the press conference on Monday evening. (Sorry for the crap pic- I had to steal it from a video stream.)

"Well, this is the only shirt I could find when I woke up this morning," Saban said, laughing, before growing serious. "Those kinds of things only means something if you let it. Like those old Notre Dame teams that wore green jerseys and that means you're not supposed to beat them. Or Joe Theismann talks to them Friday night, you're not supposed to win that game. If all that does mean something to you, I guess it's a problem. But they have good football players, that's what we're concerned about, not how they dress."

Looking forward to a good game Saturday! Roll Tide, Roll!