The April 27th tornado outbreak brought devastation to many areas of Alabama. One of the hardest hit areas was Tuscaloosa, which is the home of the University of Alabama. While many may think that connecting killer tornadoes to the upcoming Crimson Tide football season is insane, disrespectful even, hear me out.
Alabama is a football state. Like it or not, men, women, and children eat, live, and breathe football here. It is talked about on the radio year round, dominates the sports page even when not in season, and football discussions at the local hardware can be heard at any given time. Yes, we are obsessed, and most of us are proud of that fact.
Football here is an event. It gives us a chance to get together with our family and friends. We eat good food, maybe drink a few beers, and just enjoy spending three or four hours each Saturday in the fall with like minded individuals. We raise our children to love football so that they too can enjoy these pleasures in life.
Football season in Alabama is something we look forward to, and with the recent tornado destruction, we need this more than ever. The upcoming Crimson Tide football season will give those that have suffered greatly the chance to take a break from the clearing and rebuilding process, and lose themselves in the games. For just a few hours each week, tornado survivors will be able to forget their problems, and enjoy something we all dearly love here.
Will the tornadoes have any impact on the performance of the team? It is hard to say, but it would not be a stretch to say that the team will want to win more than ever, because a win will provide a happy ending to each Saturday.
Win or lose, the upcoming 2011 football season will be a welcomed distraction from the unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in Tuscaloosa, and elsewhere within the state. September cannot get here fast enough, and in the meantime, we will be not so patiently waiting.
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