As a child growing up with season tickets to Alabama football games, I remember looking across the field and seeing the student section. It was completely full, no matter what time the kickoff was. I remember thinking, "wow, I can't wait to be over there myself." As my time to become a student got closer and closer, the more excited I became. I couldn't wait to cheer on the Crimson Tide with all of my friends, with a new shaker every game, singing "Dixieland Delight"; you know, the works.

My senior year, right before I came to the Capstone, Dixieland Delight was banned for an understandable reason. It broke my heart nonetheless, but I was still super excited to almost be a part of the student section.

I'm two seasons in, and it's not what I remember and it hasn't lived up to my expectations. The student section is almost never completely full, most people that do come to the games usually leave early, there's no "Dixieland Delight," and the crowd seems disconnected from the game. As people leave the games earlier and earlier, "4th quarter songs" such as Mr. Brightside or Friends in Low Places are getting played earlier and earlier.

There haven't been many plane flyovers, exciting game ball deliveries, or night games. There aren't shakers on every seat for big games anymore either. The Bryant-Denny I grew up with and remember isn't the Bryant-Denny that currently exists. Please don't get me wrong, I will always think that Bryant-Denny is the happiest place on earth. We are witnessing history in the making, and I don't feel as though students really appreciate the Saban Era as they should. We are going to be talking to our kids about Nick Saban the same way our parents and grandparents talk to us about Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Football season brings out the best and the worst of me. My language is more colorful, my outfits are all out, and I lose my voice most weekends. I was raised that you play for four and stay for four. To those of you that leave to get to the bars, I promise that they will be there when the clock hits 0:00. The coaches, players, cheerleaders, and band members practice and perform hard week in and week out. I think to truly embrace the Saban era, Bryant-Denny Stadium and the student section needs to go back a few years.