Southern Pride and The Curse...

We couldn't have been more proud to call Alabama our home last Thursday night when the Alabama Crimson Tide beat the Texas Longhorns to become the National College Football Champions. There is a lot I could write about the game, the month leading up to it, our love for the team...Ingram, Richardson, Jones, Saban's Gatorade bath, Colt McCoy's heart-breaking - game ending injury, Gilbert's nothing-to-be-ashamed-of performance, and on and on...

But here is what the game means to us, and here's a story about a strange coincidence, curse, whatever you want to call it that will forever have us watching Alabama Football alone - no friends, just us, the seven of us.

Last season the only two games Alabama lost were the SEC Championship game against Florida and the Sugar Bowl against Utah. It didn't take us long to figure out that those were the only two games that we watched with other people. Some of Trent's buddies came over for the FL game and we had an all out party for the Sugar Bowl.

This season, we casually agreed that we would try to watch the games as a family by ourselves to see how that worked for us. Interestingly enough, the only game we didn't actually watch in our own home was the Tennessee game. We followed it on Ricky's phone while we toured IKEA and Cabela's with Ricky's mom who was visiting from AL. That game was a nail-biter ending in a blocked field goal giving the Tide another win. Thankfully.

So we stuck to our loner selves the rest of the season and our team went undefeated. Leading up the the National Championship game, it became kindof a joke as we declined invitations to watch the game elsewhere and requests for big football parties.

The night of the big game, we ate dinner prior to kick-off so the missionaries could eat and still make it to their appointments on time. They were still finishing their meal as the game started. Alabama didn't come out very strong and we were worried that we were about to see a repeat of last year's Sugar Bowl. About 15 minutes into it the Elders left and Alabama started playing better.
Earlier in the day, we made plans for our friends Kymber and Josh to come "hang out" with us when Josh got home from work because really they are more like family than company. So Josh called sometime during the 2nd quarter to tell us he was on his way home and I texted him at halftime to let him know that Bama was up by 18 so we were excited for them to come watch the second half with us. Meanwhile, Annie called me from Alabama to ask me who was at our house at the beginning of the game. I told her the missionaries were here, but they were gone now so no worries. I didn't tell her that K&J were on their way over. Sorry, Annie. I really thought this talk of a curse was ridiculous. Please forgive me. I love you.

Here are K&J on New Year's Eve...
Anywhoo...the 2nd half started and Gilbert must have gotten some talkin' to in the locker room from Colt because he came out ready to play while Bama seemed to think they had already won the game. K, J, and their little Porter rang the doorbell about the time that Texas scored the first of 2 touchdowns. Annie called me back to see who was at the house and I told her nobody!!!! Again, I apologize. I love you.

Josh said after the first Texas touchdown that if they score again, they were leaving. Texas scores, K&J leave. At this point, Texas is only trailing by 3!!! points. OK- this is no lie. The SECOND they stepped off the porch, Ricky started yelling. Now Ricky NEVER yells. He basically watched the whole game standing up with his arms folded. (As you can see in the pictures.)
It seems that with no friends over to curse our team, the Tide was pulling ahead once again. Gilbert had been sacked causing a fumble and Alabama recovered the ball inside the Texas 5-yard line.
With about a minute left on the clock we heard the missionaries letting themselves in the front door. Trent and Riley ran to the door and asked them to wait outside until the game was over. Alabama went on to win the game 37-21. Yes, that is an Alabama Snuggie on the floor. Don't be jealous.

Here is a sign that Brant made early in December to announce the game...

And here are some pictures I took of Gavin this morning. I couldn't decide which one to use so you get both...