The natives are not pleased...

Wishing this week, especially Saturday, that I was in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham...or anywhere a bit nearer the Alabama state line.

If I haven't mentioned it, I live in North Augusta...which is in South Carolina, and I work in Augusta...which is (of course) in Georgia. There are three primary pieces to the local fan base pie...Georgia, Carolina (Gamecocks), and then Clemson. I should include GA Tech as well...I just don't see as much of them; I'm sure I would if I were a little further west.

(I think it's funny that since living here, when introduced to others...I'm introduced as a Alabama fan. As in....this is Amanda, she's a Bama fan. There is always a little SEC posturing; admittedly, I'm right there with them...ready to bleed crimson if required to do so.)

I've been to plenty of away games (read: hostile territory)- dressed in a crimson uniform from head to toe, no less. I know what it's like to be where you are not welcome. In the last couple of days...I've had a few flashbacks. I actually walked around to the front of Sipsey (my car) yesterday....to be sure my BAMA plate was still in tact. If the plate was present (and it was), I was convinced there would at least be holes...bored from eyes that had hurled streams of Bulldog fury (there were not).

I realize I'm not the only one. To name a few... Chris and Tiff are in Newnan...closer to ATL, but about the same difference from Athens...so I imagine their experiences to be similar. Elisa & Tyler...live in an alternate universe that I won't even begin to compare mine to (Knoxville); I quiver just thinking about it. Kristin is in Delaware...where I get the idea they almost think it's "cute" that she's so into the whole "Bama thing". ...And then poor Cameron... Cameron leaves a message on my cell Saturday night, and I quote..."Amanda....Cameron. I want to share in the Roll Tide-ed-ness, but I'm on an island. ...In Idaho." It was pitiful, I tell you, just pitiful. This is not to slight or disrespect those brave and persevering Crimson souls who share air and state resources with our in-state rivals, the Auburn Kittens. I know that too, is a trying plight. Matt ("Tallassee" to most of you) actually chose to (as he put it) sleep with the enemy (he married an Auburn grad). His wording. Also his life choice (;. Leah, bless her for choosing the lesser of the two schools, is a sweetheart just the same; we all have our faults :).

I do have one coworker who let me have a little fun at his expense... Beyond the pictures below, and a Bama shaker quietly left in Allison's mailbox after the game, I've been a relatively subdued Bama fan the last couple of days...here in this somewhat hostile Georgia Jungle. Grinning, but quiet. I will happily wear my crimson to work this Friday (as I do each pre-game Friday)... Sipsey will continue to wear her BAMA plate, and my front yard...it's BAMA flag. I'll write with my houndstooth pencil...and my voicemail greeting will close with..."Roll Tide" as it always does. I'll enjoy our # 2 ranking this week... Hope that we play well against Kentucky this weekend, and that we can keep this strong season going...it's been awesome so far. Then too, if we don't...none of that will change (shirt, license plate, flag, pencil, greeting, etc...), because none of it's new :). ROLL TIDE, ROLL!!!

My coworker...

The sign I made for him to hold with the tombstone...