I have long thought that college sports is actually a religion for a lot of people. Now, I have been known to enjoy college sports myself, but I have been in environments (like Rupp Arena) where the fans seemed to be participating in a religious celebration full of ritual, passion, and dripping with significance. People live and die for their teams with a zeal that is often unmatched. Now a company has stepped forward to combine the two primary religions of the South, cultural Christianity and college sports. Well maybe I'm too harsh...
Just to be clear: No this is not satire. Sadly, its real.
5 comments:
It was just a matter of time before this verse on t-shirts. I grew up on some sort-of joke about "bamah" being the high place. Never did I think it would actually turn into a marketing tool for the University of Alabama.
Indeed, Alabama football IS a matter of religion in Alabama. Just check Sunday morning's attendence when they lose . . .
Well, football and evangelical religion have always been mixed in the south. How interesting (and disturbing).
I recommend you read Charles Reagan's Wilson's intriguing essay on how Alabamans canonized (almost literally) Bear Bryant upon his death. Wilson delves deep into this very phenomena. Bear's funeral was practically a statewide revival service. The essay is found in Wilson's book "Judgment and Grace in Dixie: Southern Faiths from Faulkner to Elvis."
this is where i must interject a loud "war eagle!" and apologize for my alabama brethren. they know not what they do.
You know that this trend would begin with the University of Alabama. Every bad thing begins with them.
You would be surprised how many University of Alabama polo shirts I preach to every Sunday. I think that they are conisdered to be dress clothes down here.
For an even better grasp on what we are dealing with, please visit the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Xgp5vtZAk&search=ramp%20lady
Man, I can't stand Bammer...thank goodness 1/2 the people in the state of Alabama have common sense and teeth in their mouth (war eagle!).
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