|
|
In Loving Memory OUR SON
Justin Hornsby 07/01/1990 - 03/17/2017 #JustinLivesOn
Sure miss watching Games with these Two Jamie
Hornsby - Doris Veazey
ROLL TIDE
17 National Championships –
I have been fortunate enough to witness the last 8 in person. Funny thing is, in Alabama, seldom do you pick your “Team”. It is usually
handed down generation to generation. You are either a Bama fan, or a fan of the team on the plains.
 My greatest memories of the Crimson Tide are numerous. From my late Father and I listening
to John Forney and Doug Layton paint the picture of each play via the radio in our living room, to watching the 92 National
Championship Game live in NOLA with my late Mother. Or the 2012 National Championship with our late son, Justin Hornsby.
Seeing the last 5 National Title Games live with my wife Michele (as a fan) I have lived the dream. And I must
say the latest National Championship in Atlanta rivals that 92 game from the standpoint of excitement and awe.
You hear players say “I dreamed of playing at Bama” – well as a fan, growing up in the tiny town
of Goodwater Alabama, I dreamed of seeing Bama play in person. That dream came true as I saw my first Bama
game in 1977, at the age of 18. Of course Bama rolled to a 55-6 victory over the Cardinals of Louisville
in a game that is forever etched in my memory. Back in those days, memorabilia wasn’t available like it is now, and I became a collector of “unique”
Bama stuff. Good luck stuff – and the passion of collecting Alabama Memorabilia began to rival
the passion of being a fan. Whether it was a statue of an Elephant or a Bama Football player, and I begin
to collect unique things as the years passed. My collection of unique Memorabilia has continued
to grow, and turned into my collection of Tide Rides. Each year for the past 8 years, one or more of the
Tide Rides, have been part of the annual Bama Homecoming in Tuscaloosa. That too has been a great experience as a fan,
to see the faces of other fans enjoy the parade. I developed this space to
share those with you as a collector or as a Bama fan, I hope you enjoy. Each
week during football season, I update this site (Blog-Scroll Down) and share my thoughts and my predictions about the upcoming
game.
To the left, you can click on the links for portions of my collection and the Tide Rides.
I would like to invite
you to check out what the folks at Reese's have done. The official candy of NCAA football, contacted me with interest
in doing a story about "TIDE RIDES" and the fan who would have such a collection. Yours truly obliged, and
it was a good decision. The crew spent a few hours with Michele and me and were the nicest people. The entire
crew was fantastic, but special thanks to Joey, Sarah and Marty. You are welcome back anytime !!! There is a link at
the bottom for you to enjoy the segment..entitled, "BAMA'S BIGGEST FAN" ....yeah, I know..... keep
the comments about the title to yourselves...
Latest Addition to Tide Rides !!!!!
.
|
|
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Week 5/ Game 4 Bama VS OLE MISS Ok ok ok ok .....I am supposing that by virtue of the fact that I didn't even post to my own blog for Col
State, it may be a bit of an indication of how serious I took the game. Obviously I wasn't the only one. The Tide played
like they were in a FUNK - yes they won by 25 and yes they are 3 and 0 and yes....yes... a thousand times yes... Bama beat
Col State... 31 to 6. And I like many other spoiled Bama fans, didn't take this game as serious as I should. I
admit after having this blog, during the season, I have never "OMITTED" a week. Honestly I did write my pick
and my intended blog for the week, but simply never uploaded the file. After all they say fans take everything more
serious than the players, so if I forgot, apparently (judging by the way they played) the players didn't have CSU in their
sights either. Coach Saban is again preaching the importance of the process, and the importance of not becoming complacent.
Again, me and the other congregation are saing "he isn't talking to me". Today,
as I reflect on CSU, and the past Bama teams, I am more than concerned. How can my concerns be extinguished? For
starters..how about a first down when its 3rd and more than 3? Bama is not doing so well in that category. How
about converting more than 2 out of 10 against an obviously out-manned opponent? That would be a great start. I
think this group has become a bit complacent, I think the fans (yours truly included) are equally complacent. Now that
I have gotten my confession out of the way, OLE MISS. Ole Miss, is a much improved team. They
are coming into this game with a gang of youngsters who are gamers. Hugh Freeze has done an excellent job of recruiting and
the skill positions have guys can get open and make you miss in space. They will come at Bama with a wide open Offense,
and tempo comparable to TAMU. Now before you jump up and down, I have no notion that OM will be as good, but will resemble
that offense. Bama will have to be ready, or they may find themselves catching up the the speed of the game..... like
TAMU. Bama had a few players after last week, who tried to get the attention of the other guys with a bit of a pep talk.
A bit of a come to Nick, type talk. Did it do any good? My suspicion is, it helped... and also a big help
will be Bama will have for the most part, all of its parts in the right places this week, after having several out with nicks
and bruises. Bama is a 17 Point Favorite at home. My
pick: I think the fans will really make a difference in the SEC opener at BDS. I think the Tide
O and D will be a group who have a renewed vision and will show more enthusiasm against the Rebs/Bears. I don't expect
them to cover, but I look for Bama to win going away. BAMA 42 - Ole Miss 31. Roll Tide
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Game of the Centruy Part IIWow, this century is all but past a dozen years old and Alabama vs TAMU is being dubbed at "The
Game of the Century" - well, if memory serves, Bama vs LSU for the National Championship a couple of years back was "Game
of the Century".... but I must admit, I LOVE BEING A FAN OF A TEAM WHO IS INVOLVED IN "GAMES OF THE CENTURY"
I hope that trend continues. What makes this game so important? Well in my opinion, several things. 1- Johnny Manziel 2- Bama trying for its 3rd NC in a row. 3-
TAMU defeated Bama last year - in what was to be it's only loss 4- Nick Saban 5- Key SEC matchup --- Nothing new huh? You are right,
and the thing that really makes this "The Game of the Century" TAMU has a chance to win. Think about that.
That in and of itself is "what" makes this game "special." Otherwise it's just a game. Va Tech - Bama disposed of Va Tech, by virtue of the big play and on Special Teams. My knowledge of football
is limited, but as an avid fan, how many times have you seen a team score early and have a let down? It happens. Is
that what happened to Bama against Va Tech? Perhaps a little. Did Bama O line execute well? No. Will they? That
remains to be seen. We all know the holes left to be filled by those who are now in the NFL. And we all know Bama has
a new O line coach... time for worries? Perhaps more like, time for the fans to be a bit more forgiving and have confidence
in a team who has won 3 of the last 4 national championships...time for the fans to have faith in a defense who is and has
been, far and away the best in the nation in holding other teams at bay scoring. Time for fans to refuse to "panic".
Coach Stallings is fond of saying "the pressure is in the winning" - and I know I speak for many Bama fans who say,
I LOVE THIS PRESSURE. As for TAMU this Saturday @ KYLE Feild.. I look for the O line to
struggle at times, but I look for the defense to play with consistancy and the Offense to eventually flex its muscles against
an over powered TAMU defense. Bama 35 TAMU 24
|
|
|
