Whether you do the Gator "Chomp" or bleed crimson, you probably already know what's at stake in this year's Southeastern Conference championship game. The Florida and Alabama football teams have battled five previous times in their conference title quest, but "This will be the biggest game that the SEC Championship has ever had," says CBS analyst Gary Danielson. "Both teams have a chance to play their way into the National championship game."
Head Coach Nick Saban has turned the Crimson Tide in his second year at the Alabama helm, much like Urban Meyer did when he brought his "spread offense" - and the 2006-07 BCS crown - to the Gators. "It's the defensive master vs. the offensive master, old school vs. new school," Danielson says.
Even the quarterbacks are a study of contrasts. Danielson believes the Tide's John Parker Wilson, "is now just learning to handle the pressure of being the Alabama quarterback," while Tim Tebow, his Heisman Trophy-winning counterpart at Florida, "has got the spotlight on him and he loves it. His teammates relish his ability to lead."
For me, the YouTube phenomenon is still new. It is a real treat when someone sends me a link to an interesting or amusing YouTube video because I never know what to expect and sometimes the results are delightful.
Take the song "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. It started out as a song on their album, then became a rock classic hit, then it started showing up on anything to do with Alabama including a dance scene in the film "Forrest Gump". It even became the title of a romantic comedy film with Reese Witherspoon and Patrick Dempsey.
And now, we have it performed live by the Finnish rock band called The Leningrad Cowboys, with vocal and musical accompaniment by the Red Army Choir. Notice that the song is performed in English! - you can't make this stuff up.
If you have a worthy YouTube nominee, send us the link and we'll credit you on the luggage website for discovering it. Just remember to visit BamaLuggage.com and our College Travel Gear blog to see what interesting things we've located for your and other schools.
In 1964, Joe Namath set aside his books at the University of Alabama to begin his legendary career with the New York Jets. Though Broadway Joe became an international superstar, his lack of a degree always bothered him. "It was a hole in my being." he said, "an empty spot." So he enrolled in a 30-hour program in interdisciplinary studies at his alma mater.
Last December, along with 900 other students, Namath graduated in robe and mortarboard in ceremonies at the campus in Tuscaloosa. "It was fun but it was hard." the 64-year old Namath said of his studies. "I had a very difficult time getting myself to sit down."
The Elephant's association with Alabama dates back to the 1930 football season when the Crimson Tide was led by Coach Wallace Wade. There are two stories about how Alabama became associated with the elephant.
Officially, following the 1930 game versus Ole Miss, Atlanta Journal sports writer Everett Strupper wrote:
"At the end of the quarter, the earth started to tremble, there was a distant rumble that continued to grow. Some excited fan in the stands bellowed, 'Hold your horses, the elephants are coming,' and out stamped this Alabama varsity. It was the first time that I had seen it and the size of the entire eleven nearly knocked me cold, men that I had seen play last year looking like they had nearly doubled in size."
Sports writers continued to refer to Alabama as the "Red Elephants" afterwards, referring to their crimson jerseys. The 1930 team shut out eight of ten opponents, allowing a total of only 13 points all season. The "Red Elephants" rolled up 217 points that season, including a 24-0 victory over Washington State in the Rose Bowl.
Another account attributes the Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk Company for the elephant association. Alabama used the Birmingham Trunk Company's luggage to travel to the 1930 Rose Bowl. The luggage company's trademark was a red elephant standing on a trunk. When the football team arrived in Pasadena , the reporters greeting them associated their large size with the elephants on their luggage.
Despite these early associations of the elephant to the University of Alabama, the university did not officially accept the elephant as university mascot until 1979.
Since our company is all about the Swiss Army Luggage and business gear we heartily endorse the latter version of this small-but-important piece of collegiate sports history. Roll Tide!
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Whether you do the Gator "Chomp" or bleed crimson, you probably already know what's at stake in this year's Southeastern Conference championship game. The Florida and Alabama football teams have battled five previous times in their conference title quest, but "This will be the biggest game that the SEC Championship has ever had," says CBS analyst Gary Danielson. "Both teams have a chance to play their way into the National championship game."
In 1897 the Original Swiss Army Knife was created in the small village of Ibach, Switzerland. Since that time Victorinox® has become well-known in more than 100 countries for precision, quality, functionality and versatility. This century old heritage has been extended to our travel gear, which reflects the ingenious design and outstanding durability Victorinox® has come to stand for over the years.
