When You Lose in the Ironbowl

Auburn merchandise
 

In Alabama the stores are empty on the Saturday afternoon after Thanksgiving. That's when one of the biggest games is played here in the South--The Iron Bowl--between Alabama and Auburn. Locally owned stores close about noon. Lesser chains have the game blaring. Only a few women and small children are out and about, even in WM. All day long, whole families are decked out in the colors and emblems of their school. Even on Sunday the families pour into the store proudly announcing their choice by their colors. No other games in this town are celebrated like this game of rivals.

All this Auburn merchandise was just dumped in three carts in the front of Walmart by early Sunday morning when I went to get a paper. Auburn lost. Alabama merchandise was still on the shelves. How insulting for us Auburn fans. However, nothing can withstand Christmas. Today, most of the Alabama merchandise was in carts up front, too. This all looked like inexpensive Christmas gifts for Auburn fans. My children and I are Auburn fans. However, I never want anything football.

My son is the diehard Auburn fan. I just support him. The girls are fans to a lesser degree. Yes, I shopped in these carts for my child and two of my grandchildren. I used my Walmart $10 gift cards.

A little story:
When my son was about ten, daughters 8 and 3, niece 8, I and my two sisters went to the Mid-South Fair. We went to the rodeo almost every year. The Fair had a new stadium or concert hall where the rodeo was held. We sat up near the announcer, where we ordered tickets.

Every year the announcer says, "Let's here it from Mississippi!" Mississippians screamed and yelled, standing, waving and jumping. He goes through the whole of the mid-South states. My children, my two sisters, and a niece were all yelling right beside the announcer, "What about Alabama?" We did this after every state he announced.

Finally, the announcer yelled, "Let's here it from Alabama!" We yelled with the rest. Then, I told my son to yell, "War Eagle." He did as the stadium went silent, and his voice carried all over the stadium and a murmur arose from the crowd. From across the way, a man yelled, responding, "Roll Tide" We were quite thrilled with the response.

About five years later, I met a man who was from Memphis or something. At any rate, we started talking about Memphis, my hometown. The rodeo came up. He went every year. I told him we did too for a long time and started talking about us yelling for them to call our state, Alabama. He said he was there that year when those people were calling for Alabama, and he yelled "Roll Tide" when someone yelled "War Eagle." I was astounded I met the man who responded to my son.

I am sure all states have their strong rivalries.

Okay, it is just a family story. Would like to hear the one about Bear Bryant?

Your turn
Is football merchandise ever on your shopping list? Can you get it reduced by 75%.