In the very early morning of Sunday, November 4, just hours after the Tide took on their latest victory at Louisiana's Death Valley, in a neighboring bar, two self-proclaimed LSU fans beat up diehard Alabama fan Robert Bowers. He died two days later.
When a good old-fashion rivalry turns into a bloodbath, we know it's time for things to change.
It isn't an everyday occurrence that people die from being a fan of a specific team — in this case, college football. Growing up as the daughter of a full-fledged Ohio State Buckeye in University of Michigan Wolverine territory, I lived the notorious University of Michigan versus the Ohio State University football rivalry. I grew up hearing, "Michigan fans hate Buckeyes one day out of the year, but Buckeyes hate Michigan 365 days out of the year." It was all good fun. My dad and our neighbors would pull pranks and jokes on each other.
However, it never turned bloody.
Now living in Tuscaloosa, in the center of the Crimson Tide, I see things differently. It is easy to say the Tide is the best team in the nation, and I go to games and see those diehard fans dressed in their best crimson and houndstooth. There in the crowd screaming and yelling, I have found myself slowly turning into one of those diehard fans. When I see Instagram stories from people I knew from back home holding signs saying "We want Bama," I now reply saying "No, you don't want that kind of pain." I see the rivalry between all the schools the Tide plays. They all want to beat the champs, but it's mostly in good fun.
Living outside of Alabama, I have heard a lot of people's opinions about the Tide. Some I laugh at, some I call out, but it is all in good fun. What's wrong with people having pride in a school? In a team? The man who lost his life was a fan, just like the ones who took his life. The only difference was the color of their shirts. While there may have been other factors that led to the fight, other than whose team won, you need to ask yourself at what point is the line drawn?
No rivalry is worth someone's life.
Watching games on ESPN or at Bryant-Denny, you see some unsportsmanlike conduct from both sides. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, LSU, we've all done it. Everyone's heated, especially on the field. Being a fan in the stadium, you aren't hearing what is going on down on the field. That's a whole different story. They have coaches who keep them in line, they have league consequences for breaking the rules, and breaking these rules can end careers. They represent more than themselves, they represent the schools they play for.
When fans fight other fans, it's the same way. You are representing the school or team you love. Why would you make it look bad?
This may sound biased because most Saturdays I wear crimson in Bryant-Denny, but I am proud to be apart of the Crimson Tide. During most tailgates here in Tuscaloosa, I don't see Tide fans picking fights with others just because the color of their jersey is different. I might not see everything, but what I do see is people having fun without getting violent.
Robert Bowers life was taken away too soon. Nothing excuses the behavior that led to the death of another human being.
Whatever led up to the fight was not worth it. There is nothing wrong being proud of your school or alma mater, but rep those colors proudly, and don't hurt others in the process just because you don't like that they beat your team or called your team out. Live life and have that good ole fashion rivalry. It is what makes sports fun, isn't it?
