Stress of an Alabama Basketball Fan

The problem of being an Alabama basketball fan, as opposed to being an Alabama football fan, is glaring and simple and painful.

Alabama football has a long, successful tradition. 21 SEC titles, 12 National titles, more bowl appearances and wins than anyone else, Wallace Wade, Paul "Bear" Bryant (who won more national titles than any other coach). Even when our program has down years (see my college career), we can remember and build upon our success.

Alabama basketball, however, doesn't have that same tradition. Current coach Mark Gottfried is trying to build that, which is pretty difficult to do in a state of football crazed lunatics.

As a program, we definitely seem to have some upward momentum. This marks our 5th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, which I believe is only the second time we've ever done that. We even did it with 3 freshman, 7 total players, and our star player Chuck Davis hurt.

But if there is a complaint, it is this. Alabama basketball is a big tease. Every year, it seems, we are good, but not good enough. We get into the tournament, and get out quickly. (Except one year, we did make it to the Elite Eight.)

This better-than-average-ness makes Alabama BBall hard to ignore, but the lack of greatness makes it hard to love. Especially when we know that sooner or later, UA football will be back winning the SEC and humiliating rivals.

So please, Jermario, Jean, Alonzo and co. do well in the tournament. At least make it to UCLA and play them well. I want to be proud to be an Alabama basketball fan. I want you guys to get as much love as the football team. (Especially since my encounters with you guys has been much more positive than most of my encounters with the footballers.)