My Paradoxical Life

A line from LB’s previous post sparked today’s post – love you, Scott, but let’s face it, you are an Auburn graduate.

Fact: I am an Auburn University graduate.
Fact: I am a University of Alabama football fan.

Heresy, I know! Most people who might be reading this probably know that this is a very strange set of circumstances. Most would assume that these 2 statements would be a “either/or” type scenario. They are like Michael Vick and pit bulls, they just do not mix. I am well aware of this and will try my best to explain how this situation came to fruition.

Everything was set into motion 60+yrs ago, when my dad was just a young boy himself and facemasks were unheard of. Neither my dad nor his family had the luxury of having gone to college. They all made a living by the sweat of their brow, working on the farm and in the cotton fields. This being the case, there were no ties when it came to school allegiances. However, my granddad loved football, it was one of his passions and being a true man of the south, he loved college football. He loved college football in general, but felt the need to adopt “his” team. A team he could direct all of his love and passion toward, a team he could follow from year to year, a team he could experience ups and downs with. (Back then, it was mainly just ups….but that was a LONG time ago.) Since he was born and raised in the wonderful state of Alabama, he became partial to the University of Alabama. (I am not sure how much he knew about the Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn before 1960))…..And so it began. This decision made by my grandad many years ago is what set forth the paradox that is my life today.

I grew up spending Saturdays watching the Tide with my Dad and brother. I remember going out to the backyard during halftime and pretending to be the likes of Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Lassick, and David Palmer. I was oblivious that football was only a part of these guys lives and they had classes, tests, and finals the rest of the week. The fact that they were in school never occurred to me. I didn’t know that each football team playing on Saturday represented a college or university. These guys were my heroes. As far as I was concerned, these guys lived on the football field. As early as I can remember, whoever donned those crimson jerseys were the object of my worship. This was true throughout my formative years.

Fast forward 20 years…by this time, I had received my discount knowledge from the local junior college* and was ready to make my decision about which major university I was going to attend. Yes, in case you were wondering, I had figured out that college football players were also students by this time. I had narrowed my choices down to a few colleges, leaving Auburn out of the mix altogether because, well, it was Auburn. I ended up moving to Athens, GA and planned on attending UGA. I took a year off and lived with a buddy there in an attempt to gain in state tuition. So, I lived in a house built in the 1800’s with 4-5 UGA football players, working full time at a sporting good store, living the good life, anxiously awaiting the end of my countdown so I could get back into school.

A year passed and it was time. I qualified for in state and had sent all my forms in to get accepted. On a whim, I decided to go to Auburn for the weekend and visit a couple of old buddies. That trip altered my life forever. Something happened Sunday morning, I know it sounds cheesy, but the only way I can explain it is “divine intervention”. Sitting in church that Sunday morning, the Lord spoke to me more clearly than I had ever heard him. I knew from that point on that I was supposed to be in Auburn, as much as it hurt. (I took comfort in knowing that God wouldn’t put more on me than I could handle.) I called my roommates to let them know about my new future plans, turns out my acceptance letter from UGA had come while I was away. Still, that was not enough to deter me. I drove back that Monday, packed up my stuff and headed to Auburn. As fate would have it, another friend from Guntersville had a 2 bedroom townhouse in Auburn with no roommate. I unpacked and settled in to my new home.

From the ease of finding a place to live, getting accepted in less than a week, making life long friends, to meeting my wife…too many things happened during my time at Auburn for me to ever doubt my “calling” there. Yet, I never turned from my roots and am still a product of my raising. I know to some, this may not justify attending one school and being a fan of the said schools bitter rival and I can understand that. My goal wasn’t to justify, more to inform. I know that it is probably crazy to some and some may just not understand, but, that is just the way it is. It is what it is and despite being 0 for the last 6 and even if it goes for 6 more, Roll Tide Roll!!

PS: I think if you go to sleep during the Iron Bowl (ehem…LB) and have to be told who won when you wake up 2 out of the 5 years I have known you, you should lose all smack talking privileges.