Grudging, but Genuine Admiration

First for the Disclaimers:

1. I am an Auburn graduate and ardent fan. So is my husband, and so are 2 of our children. Our first idyllic year of marriage was happily spent as students at Auburn.

2. I love sunsets because they are filled with so much orange and blue.

3. When our children were small, we taught them (against the valiant efforts of many fellow church members) that Santa Claus wouldn't come if they said, "R___ T___." They believed it.

4. My husband, who was very carefully trained by his daddy, was once quoted as saying (back during the Cold War, mind you): "If Alabama played Russia, I'd be for Russia."

5. I have many relatives who are Bama fans -- including a brother and a nephew with engineering degrees from UA and a cousin who is a former Crimsonette.

6. During a summer long ago, a college student named Les Fowler took piano lessons from me while he was on break from school. He was on the Bama football roster, but his room in the athletic dorm was decorated in orange and blue in deference to his parents, both Auburn pharmacists. Les went on to become Dr. Les Fowler, the orthopedic specialist who was on the sidelines of Bama games for many seasons.

7. Another former piano student was Tommy Barkley, now Dr. Tom Barkley, who was the drum major for the Million Dollar Band.

8. My beloved piano teacher at Samford, Dr. Betty Sue Shepherd, was a UA graduate, and in my opinion, there was no better person OR pianist in the world.

9. There are many people for whom I have utmost respect who are graduates of UA.

10. Still, if you ever hear the words "R___ T___" come out of my mouth, you will know I am unconscious or deathly ill. And, if I am given anything with a hounds tooth pattern, I can tell you up front that it WILL be re-gifted. :)

BUT -- and these are VERY BIG BUTS

The University of Alabama football team and coaches deserved that crystal football they won last night. Their defense shut out the #1 team in the nation, and their offense rolled up many, many yards.

I am very happy for UA's place kicker. He had to overcome some terrible humiliation from his performance on November 5th, and his smiles last night lit up the Superdome.

I am pleased for the people of Tuscaloosa who suffered such losses last spring. They deserve this time of joy.

I am proud for Carson Tinker and his parents, Carlton and Debbie. Carson was a young boy and his parents were much-admired and appreciated members of Central Baptist Church in Decatur during the years that Steve and I were there. They are quality people.

Alabama football players left no doubt in anyone's mind last night that they were this year's best college team. Congratulations, Bama.