ROLL TIDE

Last night I watched the Roll Tide / War Eagle documentary.  I drove to my boyfriends house to watch it, and I was a few minutes late.  I must have gotten three text messages asking where I was and informing me that I was missing the "best documentary ever".  I have to admit, it was definitely a great documentary, in my opinion.  I enjoyed hearing all the details and facts about the rivalry, it really has gotten me even more excited for when we play Auburn in a few weeks.  There was talk about the championships, Ingram's heisman, Scam Newton's heisman (and all of his controversies), and of course, the poisoning of the Toomer trees.  The documentary touched upon each event that has altered the rivalry.  The part that gave me chills was when they mentioned the tornado.  As everyone knows, and has experienced, the tornado is a huge topic that is sensitive and hits close to each and every person in the Tuscaloosa community.  The documentary talked about how for a moment the rivalry was the last thing that mattered.  Auburn students and fans and various members from the community came down to Tuscaloosa almost immediately.  There were interviews where Auburn fans were saying how they just hoped the best for Tuscaloosa and were sorry for the tragedy.  For a moment, there was not Bama vs. Auburn, just Alabamians.  Then the documentary cut to a recording of an Alabama fan and an Auburn fan bickering and yelling at each other... the rivalry had not gone anywhere.  What I took from this documentary is that although there has been trivial things as well as important things that have altered the Alabama/Auburn rivalry, great rivalries are what add even more intensity and excitement to sports, and while there is humanity even in that rivalry, it is never going to change.