TUSCALOOSA, Ala. â Six hours early is late if youâre on Alabama football time.
Itâs not even accurate to call Saturdays game day in Tuscaloosa.
Itâs a day of worship in the land where football is king and the Crimson Tide players are gods.
CSU fans were visitors to the church on Saturday as the Rams played at No. 1 Alabama and lost 41-23 in front of an announced sellout of 101, 821 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
âThe people are here early and theyâre here for a long time. Thereâs no thought of âthatâs too early to show up,ââ said Robert Sudar, a Colorado State University fan enjoying a tailgate on the Alabama quad outside Bryant-Denny Stadium. âFor 15 weeks a year, thatâs totally what the mentality is.â
The big-time football atmosphere is unlike anything that has ever been, or likely ever will be, at CSU.
The scenes before the game were even more impressive than what happened inside the stadium. Roughly 90,000 people live in Tuscaloosa, but that number was likely close to double on Saturday. Throughout the sea of Crimson Tide fans were small pockets of green, Rams fans walking slightly slack-jawed at the setting.
People are spread everywhere throughout campus, with deluxe tailgates with shade and televisions stacked up every few feet. The Greek life is ever-present, with fraternity brothers dressed in slacks, jackets and crimson ties. Sorority sisters all wear sundresses. Forget formal, Saturdays are the time to show off.
The sweltering heat and humidity had CSU fans sweating buckets, but southern hospitality was everywhere to add comfort for the visitors.
âThey say âwelcome to Alabama, thanks for coming, do you need a beer?ââ said Sudar.
The Alabama fans werenât threatened by the looming contest (sorry, CSU), so the atmosphere outside was fun, loose and welcoming.
Rams fans handed out New Belgiumâs Old Aggie beers to Alabama fans. In exchange, the Roll Tide faithful shared Yellowhammer, a mixed drink favorite of the locals.
For CSU fans (more than 1,300 were in attendance) the game was important, but a glimpse of a world with such a different view on football was the biggest draw.
The âWalk of Champions,â Alabamaâs version of Ram Walk, was lined with thousands and thousands of fans welcoming Nick Saban and the team into the stadium.
Smattered in the crowd were green shirts and Ram logos of fans soaking up the atmosphere, and maybe even partaking in the singing of âSweet Home Alabamaâ after the team entered Bryant-Denny.
The Alabama Crimson Tide does a "Walk of Champions" before each home game, similar to CSU's Ram Walk but on a bigger scale. Kevin Lytle, Kelly Lyell
Then inside the stadium? Wow. The noise level is extreme.
There is no NFL in Alabama. There are no pro sports to turn to.
âFootball is the thing,â said Mike Flick, outside his tailgate with a CSU flag hanging. âThis is their culture, this is what they do.â
For Alabama fans, Saturday was another game day. Just another shoulder-shrug opponent.
But to CSU fans, it felt bigger than the Super Bowl.
This is what a football school looks like.
Itâs not even accurate to call Saturdays game day in Tuscaloosa.
Itâs a day of worship in the land where football is king and the Crimson Tide players are gods.
CSU fans were visitors to the church on Saturday as the Rams played at No. 1 Alabama and lost 41-23 in front of an announced sellout of 101, 821 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
âThe people are here early and theyâre here for a long time. Thereâs no thought of âthatâs too early to show up,ââ said Robert Sudar, a Colorado State University fan enjoying a tailgate on the Alabama quad outside Bryant-Denny Stadium. âFor 15 weeks a year, thatâs totally what the mentality is.â
The big-time football atmosphere is unlike anything that has ever been, or likely ever will be, at CSU.
The scenes before the game were even more impressive than what happened inside the stadium. Roughly 90,000 people live in Tuscaloosa, but that number was likely close to double on Saturday. Throughout the sea of Crimson Tide fans were small pockets of green, Rams fans walking slightly slack-jawed at the setting.
People are spread everywhere throughout campus, with deluxe tailgates with shade and televisions stacked up every few feet. The Greek life is ever-present, with fraternity brothers dressed in slacks, jackets and crimson ties. Sorority sisters all wear sundresses. Forget formal, Saturdays are the time to show off.
The sweltering heat and humidity had CSU fans sweating buckets, but southern hospitality was everywhere to add comfort for the visitors.
âThey say âwelcome to Alabama, thanks for coming, do you need a beer?ââ said Sudar.
The Alabama fans werenât threatened by the looming contest (sorry, CSU), so the atmosphere outside was fun, loose and welcoming.
Rams fans handed out New Belgiumâs Old Aggie beers to Alabama fans. In exchange, the Roll Tide faithful shared Yellowhammer, a mixed drink favorite of the locals.
For CSU fans (more than 1,300 were in attendance) the game was important, but a glimpse of a world with such a different view on football was the biggest draw.
The âWalk of Champions,â Alabamaâs version of Ram Walk, was lined with thousands and thousands of fans welcoming Nick Saban and the team into the stadium.
Smattered in the crowd were green shirts and Ram logos of fans soaking up the atmosphere, and maybe even partaking in the singing of âSweet Home Alabamaâ after the team entered Bryant-Denny.
The Alabama Crimson Tide does a "Walk of Champions" before each home game, similar to CSU's Ram Walk but on a bigger scale. Kevin Lytle, Kelly Lyell
Then inside the stadium? Wow. The noise level is extreme.
There is no NFL in Alabama. There are no pro sports to turn to.
âFootball is the thing,â said Mike Flick, outside his tailgate with a CSU flag hanging. âThis is their culture, this is what they do.â
For Alabama fans, Saturday was another game day. Just another shoulder-shrug opponent.
But to CSU fans, it felt bigger than the Super Bowl.
This is what a football school looks like.
