Well the first game of the 2011 season is in the books for the Alabama Crimson Tide. This game was intended to help determine the starting quarterback and it looked like AJ McCarron (last year's back-up) performed better than Phillip Sims (talented redshirt frosh). Bama won big 48-7 which surprised me a little in that I didn't think CNS would score so many points on his old team (KS is his alma mater).
On the personal side, my oldest DS is a freshman this fall at UA and a member of the Million Dollar Band (MDB). He's very talented on any low brass instrument (tuba, trombone, baritone, euphonium, etc.) but marches playing baritone. He's excited that he'll get to go on the band overnight trip to Gainesville this fall.
Also the new season has brought on another game of cat-and-mouse when it comes to tailgating. The University has restricted on-campus parking to the point where it is difficult to get close enough to the center of campus to set up a tent, table, chairs, maybe a tv and dish. Every year they have tightened the screws a little more. The big commuter lots on the edge of campus charge for parking (UA pockets the money) now $25 per car. So the mouse part for me and all other good tailgaters is to find a parking spot. Some place close enough to park and pull my stuff on a dolly to our traditional spot.
In another twist, the place we traditionally had tailgated for the last 7-8 years had signs up stating NO TAILGATING by order of the Dean of Arts & Sciences (we are near his buildings). Bummer. So we had to set up in a new spot.
So for pix, here is my son ready to go in his MDB uniform:
Here is our tailgate setup in the new location. I left the dish and tv at home Saturday since our game was so early (11:20 a.m. central kick-off) and I got there at 6:00 a.m. to set up. But the spot has a good clear line of sight to the Directv satellite for future games.
Here's the MDB on the field before the game starts. They did a nice pre-game ceremony to thank first responders from the April 27 tornado that devestated Tuscaloosa. You might be able to see the houndstooth ribbon on the 25-yard line.
Next home game is in two weeks.
Testtubes, good win for the Tigers versus Oregon.
Roll Tide!
Bama ED