When I came to The University of Alabama in fall 2010, my class had just broken the 30,000-student mark, Robert Witt was the UA president, and students knew what it was like to be supportive and loyal fans.
When the University has to bribe students with prizes if they stay the entire 60 minutes of a Crimson Tide football game, that’s when you know you have a problem.
What is that problem? Loyalty. Well, the lack thereof.
Let me introduce myself. I am Hannah Stephens, also known as the University’s sign girl. I’m that girl who has the red script “A” on her face every game as well as a collection of posters for each game. Being a senior, I wanted to end the season by sharing my passion and love for Alabama football with all of you. After reading this, I hope each and every one of you is filled with the same passion and love for Alabama football, a passion that will be obvious next fall in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
In fall 2010, Alabama had seven home games. Each and every game, students would line up outside hours before the game in order to secure their favorite seats. Students would come painted up. Cheers would be screamed hours before the gates opened, just to pump everyone up. And students stayed the entire 60 minutes – a feat that seems impossible to do today.
People always blame the students’ lack of loyalty these days on the fact that Alabama is so good and their schedule is so weak, but to me, that’s no excuse. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. We should be there to support our team every minute of the game, even when we know we’ll beat them by at least 20 points. The fact that we are so good should excite us to go to the games. We should feel so blessed to be witnessing a dynasty being made while we’re in college that we never want to miss a second of it.
Schools that have problems with student attendance usually have a losing record, not a winning one. I’m tired of every media outlet talking about the lack of support from the students. I’m tired of students leaving early just because they’re bored. And I’m embarrassed that Nick Saban himself called us out. Sure, there are many students who have stayed for the full 60 minutes every game, and I applaud you. But there are many who haven’t stayed, and that needs to change.
If you want the best coach in the nation to stay at Alabama for many more years, then you should start showing him and the team support and start staying for 60 minutes. It’s easier than it sounds, I promise. It all starts with a changed mindset. Think of every game as a process like Saban does. Each game has meaning and a purpose. Yes, even the little ones.
Fellow classmates: We’re witnessing history. When you’re old and gray and telling your grandchildren about AJ McCarron, Nick Saban and the dynasty this team has made, you’ll also want to be telling the truth when you said you were there to witness it. Every second of it.
Hannah Stephens is a senior majoring in telecommunication and film.
