I've posted this before but my wife asked me last night if I remembered our first trip to Starkville. Here's how it went:
In the 1986 game with Mississippi State at Starkville, Van Tiffin had a chance to break the all time record for PAT in that game (and did so). We didnāt have tickets but found 4 easily enough before the game but they were in the upper deck in the middle of State fans. My children were 8 and 5 at that time.
It wasnāt long before Bama had the game under control and each time Bama scored we did like we do every time Bama scores; we jumped up, clapped our hands and enjoyed the moment. It wasn't arrogant "in your face" or anything like that but just enjoying the game. One guy who had a little too much liquid courage yelled, āthe next time you stand up, Iām gonna throw your ass over the side.ā The laughter from the other State fans only boosted his confidence and he made similar threats over the next several plays. If Patsy and the kids hadn't been with me, it would have been different, I could have handled it between me and him. But the family being there tempered my reaction but I was doing a slow burn all the while.
Patsy was ready to leave and grabbed hold of my arm and said "Wayne, we better go" but I wasn't ready to leave. I knew I wasnāt going to be able to sit there without standing again and about that time a security guard walked up on the concourse and stood there watching the game. I got up, walked down to him and told him my problem. He didnāt say a word but turned and disappeared into the concourse under the upper deck, leaving me standing there.
I went back to my seat and one of the State fans sitting with the guy who made the threats said, ā Youāre in our house, in our seats. If you donāt like it here, then go somewhere else. ā Several sitting around us laughed and echoed their agreement. Patsy was ready to do so, especially with the kids. But we stayed.
Not long afterward the security guard returned with 3 more guards. They asked the guy who had made the threats to come with them and when he refused, they grabbed him, handcuffed him and literally drug him down the steps. The security guard returned a little while later, came up to the row we were sitting and said loud enough for everyone to hear, āif you have any more problems, let me know. We want you and your family to enjoy the game.ā
All at once it was like we were at a family reunion. The people around us, who had previously laughed as the threats were made, turned into grandparents. Our kids were some of the best behaved they had ever seen etc, etc. They bought them candy, cokes, popcorn and all of sudden several apologies were coming our way. We had a really good time during that game and yes, we stood up several more times during the game.
As we were leaving, my son and I stopped by the restrooms and there were two Bama students ahead of us in line. They high-fived each other and said out loud," we came, we saw and we kicked their ass." My 8 year old son grinned real big, looked at me and said, " that's a pretty good saying, ain't it daddy?"
I replied, " yeah, but don't let momma hear you say it."
We stopped by the dressing room and got the kids picture made with Derrick Thomas, Van Tiffin and Kerry Goode. Good time, great memories.
Roll Tide!
In the 1986 game with Mississippi State at Starkville, Van Tiffin had a chance to break the all time record for PAT in that game (and did so). We didnāt have tickets but found 4 easily enough before the game but they were in the upper deck in the middle of State fans. My children were 8 and 5 at that time.
It wasnāt long before Bama had the game under control and each time Bama scored we did like we do every time Bama scores; we jumped up, clapped our hands and enjoyed the moment. It wasn't arrogant "in your face" or anything like that but just enjoying the game. One guy who had a little too much liquid courage yelled, āthe next time you stand up, Iām gonna throw your ass over the side.ā The laughter from the other State fans only boosted his confidence and he made similar threats over the next several plays. If Patsy and the kids hadn't been with me, it would have been different, I could have handled it between me and him. But the family being there tempered my reaction but I was doing a slow burn all the while.
Patsy was ready to leave and grabbed hold of my arm and said "Wayne, we better go" but I wasn't ready to leave. I knew I wasnāt going to be able to sit there without standing again and about that time a security guard walked up on the concourse and stood there watching the game. I got up, walked down to him and told him my problem. He didnāt say a word but turned and disappeared into the concourse under the upper deck, leaving me standing there.
I went back to my seat and one of the State fans sitting with the guy who made the threats said, ā Youāre in our house, in our seats. If you donāt like it here, then go somewhere else. ā Several sitting around us laughed and echoed their agreement. Patsy was ready to do so, especially with the kids. But we stayed.
Not long afterward the security guard returned with 3 more guards. They asked the guy who had made the threats to come with them and when he refused, they grabbed him, handcuffed him and literally drug him down the steps. The security guard returned a little while later, came up to the row we were sitting and said loud enough for everyone to hear, āif you have any more problems, let me know. We want you and your family to enjoy the game.ā
All at once it was like we were at a family reunion. The people around us, who had previously laughed as the threats were made, turned into grandparents. Our kids were some of the best behaved they had ever seen etc, etc. They bought them candy, cokes, popcorn and all of sudden several apologies were coming our way. We had a really good time during that game and yes, we stood up several more times during the game.
As we were leaving, my son and I stopped by the restrooms and there were two Bama students ahead of us in line. They high-fived each other and said out loud," we came, we saw and we kicked their ass." My 8 year old son grinned real big, looked at me and said, " that's a pretty good saying, ain't it daddy?"
I replied, " yeah, but don't let momma hear you say it."
We stopped by the dressing room and got the kids picture made with Derrick Thomas, Van Tiffin and Kerry Goode. Good time, great memories.
Roll Tide!
