🏈 What is your routine after losing?

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

For me, same as it is after winning. Watch other games and try and enjoy the day. Sure, at times after losses, my overall mood may not be as happy, but I certainly don’t wear the losses on my sleeve either. No other fan base this century or last (or my lifetime) can really compare to the highs and successes Bama has had. We are extraordinarily blessed to be UA fans. True 1%’ers. Yes, the bar is set high and should be. To lower it would be an insult to the history of the program. But I think fans, without realizing it, keep trying to raise it instead. Which IMO is unfair to the program, especially after is extremely evolution period that we’ve just witnessed the last 4-5 years.

All that to say, at Alabama, even post-Saban, IMO we have a top 5 football coach AND and top 5 basketball coach. We are in a really good spot even while the landscape changes under our feet. It’s a new era with more parity. But in the end, Bama is going to be standing with the winners more often than not.

I'll say this too on wins and losses... not all are created equal. Beating the Vols, LSU, UGA, auburn... etc. obviously bring a higher degree of enjoyment and satisfaction. I've said before I don't partake in the cigar thing, at the game or at home, but a win over the Vols and their shit fans brings me a lot of positive self-gratification (2 cents to Saban). Wins over teams like Arkansas, Kentucky, South Carolina... also fun, but to a lesser degree. I don't appreciate them any less, it just hits different. On losses... yes, losing a rivalry game (or a national title game) is a bummer, especially if the loss impacts Bama's postseason. Seeing LSU fans sing Neck in Bryant-Denny, seeing Vols fans talk shit after the game, seeing auburn fans roll Toomer's and troll us with Rammer Jammer, seeing UGA fans act like they are the gods of football, etc. All of those things are annoying as hell. All get my blood pressure up to an extent. But, in sports, college sports specifically... isn't that the way it's supposed to be? It's what makes rivalries great... the hate between teams and fanbases? I want those other schools to experience zero enjoyment in terms of athletics. I assume they wish the same on me. But at the end of the day, when the Vols ended the streak, the Kick 6, Orgeron dancing in Bryant-Denny, or UGA beating Bama for the national title.... I just file it away, and compatmatlize it. I'm not going to allow any of it to ruin my day, much less my holidays. And I guess it's probably easier to do that knowing that overall, Bama has owned their rivals and college football in general. Just those 4 teams (and I'm including UGA a rival here) Bama is 217-130-7.

 

[rick4bama]

Ha. I wish my little one cared about it that much...

While I was stationed in Germany, April was teaching our daughter about Jesus walking on water, and he was the only one who could do that. Right as she was teaching her, Nicole told no Bear Bryant can walk on water. April told her only Jesus can do that. Nicole grabbed her mother's hand and took her to her bedroom. I have gotten her a bumper sticker showing Coach Bryant walking on water. That not the one she had because as I said it was a bumper sticker. ADDED (Daughter was 5 at the time.)

 

[mando]

I'm saying out of one corner of my mouth I move on and out of the other corner I mention a game from '99. I clearly haven't moved on.

Can you mention a game from the past and still move on? It is just a data point and experience that you do not want to see repeated....

And I guess it's probably easier to do that knowing that overall, Bama has owned their rivals and college football in general. Just those 4 teams (and I'm including UGA a rival here) Bama is 217-130-7.

Yep you can count on one hand the number of teams that have a winning record against Bama.... Any day that we wake up a Bama fan is better than any other fan base.

 

[UAgrad93]

Back in my early years of coaching, mid 90’s, I took every loss personal. I’d replay decisions in my head, bitch and moan for hours. Funny thing @TerryP , my wife and I were in the end zone in Miami for that missed PAT in the ‘00 Orange Bowl and my perspective changed like flipping a switch. My wife expected an explosion but instead she got me shrugging my shoulders and a reflection back to a game in Gainesville earlier that year when we won on a missed PAT.
Now, I try to watch some other games, enjoy the rest of the day like @Brandon Van de Graaff said. Now, during the games, I still pace back and forth and sling a word or three at the screen.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Now, I try to watch some other games, enjoy the rest of the day like @Brandon Van de Graaff said. Now, during the games, I still pace back and forth and sling a word or three at the screen.

I’ll pace sometimes when I’m watching outside on the patio. We also have a Bama themed tiffany lamp in the living room that I’ll turn on if the game is tight in the 2nd half. I don’t know why. Damn thing didn’t help last night. LOL

 

[TerryP]

Back in my early years of coaching, mid 90’s, I took every loss personal. I’d replay decisions in my head, bitch and moan for hours. Funny thing @TerryP , my wife and I were in the end zone in Miami for that missed PAT in the ‘00 Orange Bowl and my perspective changed like flipping a switch. My wife expected an explosion but instead she got me shrugging my shoulders and a reflection back to a game in Gainesville earlier that year when we won on a missed PAT.
Now, I try to watch some other games, enjoy the rest of the day like @Brandon Van de Graaff said. Now, during the games, I still pace back and forth and sling a word or three at the screen.

Which end? Coming at you or looking behind the kick?

 

[50+yeartidefan]

My best friend for 70 years came down and watched the game with me yesterday. On that last sack of the final drive i jumped and drew a circle on the tv around our right guard and right tackle and I said they have us outnumbered again.

Then the sack

He said sit down and shut F up.

I said I rest my case your honor.

Like i said a bit ago...."wow. Our olinemen sure are big ....and have slow feet n hands to make for it"

 

[252BAMA]

End zone seats in Miami when they missed the kick to lose to Michigan. We're back to '99 again...that year changed A LOT with me.

I'm sure you have seen the commercial where everyone at the bar is saying, "Go for Two!". Never was it more appropriate than that night. DumBose has the ball on the three yard line, down 1 point with the best running back in America in Shaun Alexander. Win the damn game right then and there! Even with a made extra point, the next time he has the ball it is going to be on the 25 yard line and down 7 points because Tom Brady is going through his defense like the proverbial hot knife cutting butter.

Bama had the wrong D...B....... as HC. Fisher DeBerry would have won the game. He never kicked an extra point at Air Force. Always went for two. And he never had a back anywhere near as good as Shaun Alexander.

 

[64Tide]

At one time, losses really bothered me. One of the worst losses to me was in 86, Bobby Humphrey losing ball at goal line vs LSU. We lose 14-10, cost us the SEC Championship, as I remember. Took awhile to process, but decided that I couldn’t give the games that much of my mind/time. Now I am more thankful that I have lived/enjoyed the 2 greatest coaches in Coach Bryant and Coach Saban. We are truly 1%ers.

 

[Secondand26]

At one time, losses really bothered me. One of the worst losses to me was in 86, Bobby Humphrey losing ball at goal line vs LSU. We lose 14-10, cost us the SEC Championship, as I remember. Took awhile to process, but decided that I couldn’t give the games that much of my mind/time. Now I am more thankful that I have lived/enjoyed the 2 greatest coaches in Coach Bryant and Coach Saban. We are truly 1%ers.

Was that a night game at Legion Field?

 

[64Tide]

Was that a night game at Legion Field?

Yes it was.

 

[Secondand26]

Yes it was.

I thought so. I was there. Saw a helluva fight between 2 men & a woman outside the stadium after the game!

 

[UAgrad93]

Which end? Coming at you or looking behind the kick?

Looking behind the kick! As soon as it left his foot, I knew he had missed.

 

[EasyTider]

Bar crawl

 

[TerryP]

Looking behind the kick! As soon as it left his foot, I knew he had missed.

Welp. That means we had the same view. Our seats were in that end zone as well.

Was there something funky going on with the weather in Florida that year? Or, do I have trips down there confused. I've got this image in my mind of traffic being backed up, badly, on I-95 headed north. It may have just been another storm that season.

 

[rick4bama]

One thing I don't do. Watch any You Tube about how Bama should have and didn't play the game. I can get all that from here.

 

[UAgrad93]

Welp. That means we had the same view. Our seats were in that end zone as well.

Was there something funky going on with the weather in Florida that year? Or, do I have trips down there confused. I've got this image in my mind of traffic being backed up, badly, on I-95 headed north. It may have just been another storm that season.

I can’t really remember much about that trip to be honest, outside of the missed kick. I do remember Samuels not playing and Ellington filling in for him and struggling. Want to say some guy name Brady was QB for Meatchicken that game

 

[TerryP]

I can’t really remember much about that trip to be honest, outside of the missed kick. I do remember Samuels not playing and Ellington filling in for him and struggling. Want to say some guy name Brady was QB for Meatchicken that game

I was sitting maybe 20 rows up? Maybe a few less, or more. No obstructed view. Facing the field, the goal post was a bit to my left. I don't know...a dozen seats, maybe? I wasn't too far from the tunnel on that side.

I remember pulling in to the parking lot and thinking, "this shit is boring." But I can't remember what I did as the alternative of strolling through tailgates.

I remember more about the trip down there than anything...hit several different towns and places along the coast.

 

[Davestwin]

When I was a much younger man, a Bama loss would ruin my weekend and in some cares the following week as well. Coach Bryant had a string of bowl game defeats that made me pout for days. The ND losses were especially difficult. The 1980’s brought reality into this rabid Tide fan’s mind. The 1990’s brought back hope but it was short lived. The NCCA BS penalties just about turned me into an NFL fan but that too was short lived as the Falcons stunk out loud. Anyway, Saban came along and spoiled me good. His departure brought me back to reality again. The losses the past two seasons have not been a shock because I knew I couldn’t expect any coach who followed the GOAT to be a NC winner. If it happens great … if not, I won’t lose any sleep over it. Of course, the NIL and the transfer portal had already dampened my love for the college game. So I really don’t get too invested in Bama’s wins or losses. Those who know me well actually like watching games with me now as much as they hated to in the 70’s, 80’s 90’s …., I’m much more sedate now. Reality does that to me. OK … there is one game that can still ruin my weekend and I imagine I’m not alone in absolutely hate losing to cow patty u.

 

[Bamaclam]

More Bourbon.