Embrace your surroundings.

"At some places, they play football. At Alabama, we live it." 

This slogan is plastered all around T-Town, showing the town's pride and support for their local team. Storefronts are lined with Crimson Tide merchandise. Local restaurants are filled with old men sipping coffee and discussing the previous weekend’s game. Every passing car has an Alabama sticker or personalized license plate. T-Town really is a mecca of college football. No, this isn't going to be a blog entry entirely devoted to the glory of Alabama Football. And no, I'm not a traitor (once a Husker, always a Husker). And no, this isn't meant to be an Alabama vs. Nebraska comparison. But my first SEC football experience needs to be documented and this is where I’m gonna do it.

Let’s just be straight up from the get go. Holy smokes, folks, these Alabamans can tailgate. Essentially, they turn the activity of tailgating into an art form. The area known as "The Quad" is a huge park-like square in the middle of campus, lined with tent after tent of avid fans eagerly awaiting the start of the game. The diehards converge on “The Quad” early in the morning, claiming the spot they've reserved and setting up camp for the day. Huge tvs, grills, and mini-kitchens span the grassy area, making a mini-maze for spectators to maneuver through. Although Nebraska has great tailgating, space is limited so spectators must disperse around various areas surrounding campus. But here, it all culminates in the heart of campus, further intensifying the experience. 

Nebraska friends: imagine the tailgating under the 10^th street bridge, multiply it by 50, consolidate everyone into one area and you have a taste of Alabama tailgating. Word.

Besides outrageous tailgating, Alabama (and some other SEC schools) are known for their game day apparel. I'm not talking an occasional dress or tie here and there. No, this is an all out fashion show. Perfectly assembled girls show off their crimson and houndstooth ensembles, many of which were bought months in advance for the season. Heels are the footwear of choice. Practical? No. But since when is practicality a consideration in fashion. Guys wear sport coats and ties, despite the thermometer bursting temperatures. The south embraces its high society culture, and it becomes very evident at the social event known as a football game.

Knowing this fashion information, I decided to live the part and dress up for my first football gig. I didn’t go all out, but felt I should partake in proper game day etiquette. One black dress and crimson-ish belt later, I was ready to converge on The Quad and live the tailgate experience. Volleyball was actually in town for the weekend, meaning I could sneak away after our match and catch the football game vs. San Jose State. Note: volleyball and football are essentially on opposite home/away schedules this season. Cramp my style? I think so. I guess Mal Moore (our Athletic Director ) didn’t consult me when scheduling.

Laura, my closest friend down here, is a GA with rowing and my ticket connection. And no, I didn't befriend her for her tickets, although I wouldn't put it past many folks down here to do that. Laura and I trekked to The Quad with Steven, a friend I met through the Athletic Department, and my football experience was officially underway! After a good amount of people watching, socializing, and Roll Tide chants, we headed to the stadium among the 101,000 other fans anxiously awaiting the first game of the season.

After passing through the gates, we eagerly approached the big, bright opening ahead of us leading to the field. Nothing could’ve prepared me for seeing a stadium of that magnitude. Nebraska’s holds around 85,000 and I thought THAT was a monstrosity! I entered into the stands of Bryant Denny and was instantly overcome with football greatness. The stands were lined with crimson clad fans, eagerly flailing their shakers (NOT pom poms) back and forth. The Million Dollar Band took the field and it was time for their version of the Tunnel Walk. While the video screens in Bryant Denny don’t quite measure up to the jumbotron at ol Memorial Stadium, I watched the screen behind us to see Coach Saban lead the boys onto the field. After the tunnel walk video, the Tide took the field and began the beatdown of San Jose State. Alabama racked up the scoreboard and put on an amazing athletic performance. But it wasn’t the game that I’ll remember most. It was the experience: the people, the passion, the pride. It felt like I was back in the stands of Memorial Stadium, surrounded with people that truly love the sport and the team. Just like back home, football isn’t just a game. It’s life.

As stated earlier, no, I haven’t turned in my Nebraska red for Alabama crimson. I’m supporting both teams now for different reasons. One, my alma matter and the other, my current school and employer. While each school offers a different experience, I’ve come to find a similarity between the two. Each has an undying passion for the game of football. Each has an ardent group of fans that would do anything for that team (Example: naming their child Crimson Ann White). And each has a reason to be very proud of their class act programs, which are doused in tradition.

While I love Nebraska and reference it often in conversation, I’m embracing my new surroundings and finding comfort in the similarities I’ve found between here and home. It’s strange how something as simple as a passionate football fan base can make me feel like I never left. Thank you, Alabama, for helping me find my home away from home. And oh yeah, ROLL TIDE!

Hold on tight.

Who'd a thunk it? Me. In Alabama. Working. Grad School-ing. Transplanted and plopped into an unknown life. Type A personality aside, the idea of the transition was overwhelmingly exciting.

The months leading up to the move were filled with more anticipation than I can describe. I did every cliche move in the book (Kate can attest to that and now knows more about Alabama than she ever wanted to know). I bought the book "100 Things a Crimson Tide Fan Must Know Before They Die." I put the Alabama Fight Song as my ringtone. I made crimson and white cupcakes, complete with the Alabama "A" for the National Championship game. I did my research so I wouldn't be "the girl who didn't know who Bear Bryant was" (Nebraska friends: Tom Osbourne is Nebraska's version of Bear Bryant). To say I was excited may be the understatement of the century.

The days leading up to the big move painted a different picture: apprehension. Am I really doing this? Am I really uprooting from all I've ever known and starting over in a place I've only visited for a mere 36 hours? The butterflies took ahold of me and for the first time, I felt fear.

A new campus. A new job. A new crowd. A new beginning.

Kelly, my best friend since kindergarten, joined me on the journey to Bama. We packed up the Breeze, with barely enough extra room to squeeze ourselves in, and set off for the land of big hair, Confederate flags, BBQ, and Sperrys.

We took off from Lincoln, after a much needed last night out with some lifelong friends which fittingly ended at The Rail and The Bar. Saying goodbye to the Shewolves and crew was even harder than imagined. After the hugs and tears ended, I walked away knowing there was no turning back. Ready or not, a new life awaited me.

After a 2 day, 16 hour journey, we finally rolled into Tuscaloosa. The South greeted us with tree lined highways, point-and-laugh billboards, and a sense of hospitality. Trying to take it all in required one big, deep breath. Okay, maybe two.

Our first meal in T-Town combined almost every stereotype I had leading up to the move. We stumbled upon a place called Bama BBQ and boy did it scream "Roll Tide Roll." The walls were plastered with pictures of Alabama football, Bear Bryant, and other memorabilia. Heck, they even had an Alabama wallpaper border surrounding the whole restaurant. It felt so small town and homey, despite being nestled into a city of almost 100,000 people. The atmosphere? Fabulous. The food? Delicious. Our first Alabama dining experience was a great success.

After a day of unpacking and soaking up rays at the outdoor rec center pool (Yes, you heard me correctly, an outdoor pool complete with lazy river and a waterslide) it was time to send Kelly on her way back to South Dakota. She'd been an incredible travel buddy, and once again, another goodbye snuck up on me and I had to separate myself from the last bit of familiarity I still had.

Driving away from the Birmingham airport, a strange sense of calm rushed over me. I was really doing this. I was about to start working for one of the most powerful and recognized Athletic Departments in the nation and get a graduate degree in the process. Pretty baller gig I'd say.

While the first few months were tough, as with any major life transition, the steps taken have helped me tenfold. There's something to be said about the gut check I went through and what it taught me. Going from a place with many friends and familiar places to a complete unknown took more gusto than I expected. A few "I miss home and my friends" tears trickled down my face at times, but the pieces are all falling together and I couldn't be more excited about what's to come! It's going to be a wild ride and I'm holding on tight.