I must confess, I migrated from my lowly faculty/staff seat at the top of the North endzone to the President's Box for this game ( who would pass that up, right???). Couple that with not wearing my lucky boxers, and I will share responsibility for the L. Shame on me.

Roll Tide.

Damn you Mark!

I was in the band when I went to Notre Dame (laugh all you want, but I did get into the football games for free).

Each week, the band would produce a newsletter consisting of student-written articles and stories. That way, you had something to read between 8 AM practice and 2:30 kickoff. (Basically, it was a blog printed on multi-colored paper.) Well, for some reason, whenever I contributed to the newsletter, the Irish lost. Granted, I was there during the end of Bob Davie's tenure, but it still was an eerie coincidence. In fact, the only time ND did win on a day that I wrote for the newsletter was when ND's Glenn Earl had to block a last second Air Force field goal to force overtime. And Air Force was terrible that year! (To this day, we refer to that as the "Glenn Earl Hand of God Game.")

So, flash forward to my senior year, Ty Willingham's "Return to Glory" season. We're cruising along at 8-0 after a big win at Florida State. Everybody seemed to like my writing, so they begged me to write for the upcoming Boston College game. "C'mon, there's no way we can lose this one!" So, on the bus ride home from FSU, I crafted a masterpiece.

Well, as we all recall, that BC game was the start of Ty Willingham's downfall at ND. For two weeks, I seriously had to keep telling myself that I wasn't the sole reason ND's national championship hopes were now ruined. (Oh, and did I mention that my lucky shirt was in the wash that day, too?)

My family came up for the first time on a game weekend since I've been at the university. I knew they weren't going to the game, but their mere presence was a battle I would fight for 3 days. I knew that the odds had then been stacked against me. But something happened on Friday afternoon that caused us to lose. I went bowling over at Leland Lanes to relax a bit and get away from campus to loosen the tension that was building ever so rapidly. On Fridays at 1-5 pm at Leland, they have a colored pin special where you can win free games, money, and t-shirts if you strike on a certain pin combination. I was on and struck on almost everything that popped up for 18 games. Yes, I had a lot of tension; normally I bowl 12-15 games. I ended up paying with free games first and had $14 owed after using them. I had won 27 Susan B. Anthony dollars and paid the remaining with them, leaving me $13 net. I couldn't believe that I netted $13. I realized we were going for the 13th national championship after 13 years. At that moment I knew we had it in the bag. I got back to my apartment on campus, and pulled the coins from my pocket and decided I was going to keep one of them and give the rest to my mom. I counted them up, and low and behold, there were only 12. I sat them down and quickly ran out to the car to get the one that had certainly slipped out of my pocket. I never found it. So, I replaced it with another one I had laying around. I put it in a pocket in my wallet and told myself that it was not going to make a difference. But I knew fate had dealt its hand. I tried to get it out of my mind as soon as I could. And on Saturday, I did everything I could do for the team. I wore the same shirt I had worn to the Florida and Tennessee games, the only games prior to LSU that I was extremely worried about. And obviously it worked on those days. I screamed and yelled at the top of my lungs on any down our defense was on the field. A day after the game, I took the coin out of my wallet and put it back beside my bed on the nightstand where I had gotten it from. I never found the real one I lost, and now it doesn't matter.

Hey Warren,

I must confess. It was my fault. I mistakenly wore the Crimson hat with the script "A" that obviously cost us the game last year against LSWho. This oversite on my part is most likely the cause of our 2nd down let down. I should have worn the white one. It's 15-0 (it says so inside the label). Don't worry, the white one will be on Saturday.

BTW, did you receive my email?

RTR
Parker

James that is wonderfully insane. You made me feel better. Now I think it's your fault.

Well im glad to know that I'm not the ONLY reason we lost this weekend! i know it's crazy to be really superstitious (sp?) and i only seem to be that way during football season, but i just cant help but find myself trying to have the exact same routine every game day! ok....so when i don't get to go to tuscaloosa this is what i do! i always listen to pre-game with eli and kenny while wearing my #12 jersey and the same white shorts! During the game i sit in the same spot on the same couch EVERYTIME......and i have this crimson and white scarf thing and crazy as it sounds....i make my dog wear it! I mean it seems to be working right? So i'm not sure if its MY fault oooor my dogs fault that we lost. i lost track of my dog during the game and when i found him in the kitchen! the scarf was GONE and the game was over!!!! what was i thinking? AAAAH! Sorry guys!!

I screwed it up. I was so nervous, I actually smoked during the game, and I never smoke. There you go, then. Cigarettes -- bad for your health, bad for the Tide.

Twas my fault also. I watched the first half with my new wife because I had to put in some work in the office and was late in getting to my buddy's house. At the half I decided to go over to the buddy's house and we all know what happened next. I had repressed the ramifications of this decision until reading the post. Sorry!!!

Roll Tide, Fuck Auburn

I told you to come sit with us when you called, but NO! You had to stay there. It is your fault or was it the lack of the shroud during the OT..Hmmmmm

I think you can all relax because this loss was the result of some tricky reverse curse executed by a friend of mine. He is an LSU alum (Tiger Band no less)and we have had a continuing bet the last few years that the loser had to buy the winner a bottle of his favorite whisky. Obviously I have had to buy most of the whisky lately. Immediately before I left for Tuscaloosa Friday afternoon he asked me what brand I wanted if we won. Apparently after I left he went to the liquor store and purchased my choice in anticipation of an Alabama victory. This guy is your typical LSU fan in that he believes they are the best team on the planet, so this move was totally out of character. I believe that this reverse fooled the football gods and sunk the Tide.

In fall of 2001, I was starting my senior year at UT (Texas, not Tennessee). At the time, I had been dating a gorgeous girl (Who we'll call 'Erin') for about two years - and was seriously considering proposing. To where I had considered rings, and everything. The only thing 'wrong' with her was that she was not particularly interested in football, or in the watching of football - but she never said anything when I would get up at 7 AM on gameday to tailgate, and basically gave up on ever seeing me on saturday, so it wasn't really an issue.

Until we played Oklahoma.

See, she decided that, in my final year, I needed to see the Red River Shootout *live*, so for my birthday, she got me tickets. I immediately called my best friend to go.

As anyone who has had a girlfriend get them tickets might know, this was, evidently, the "wrong" move. She expected that I would take her. Despite her disinterest in football.

Now - I knew better. I knew that the football Gods smile upon the diehard who knows better than to sully a holy pilgrimege with such banality as "love." Imagine if a devout Muslim partook in the Hajj with his girlfriend. Insanity. But there was no explaining this to her without her considering me to be utterly out of my mind. So I relented.

14-3, Okla-freaking-homa.

Fine, whatever, they were ranked #3 at the time - but 3 points? THREE? We came in averaging (admittedly, against meager competition) 45 points per game! Deep down, I knew that it was my fault, and repented by sacrificing up large segments of my liver to the powers that be. And with six straight wins by a margin of, like, twenty-five points I felt that I had been forgiven.

Then came the Big-12 Championship game. At this point, Erin and I were deciding on post-graduation plans. Where we were going to live, and all that - and to celebrate the end of the semester, a group of friends were going to go to a 6th street bar and watch another humiliation of Colorado. I felt this was probably safe - after all, she wouldn't *really* be watching the game and it's not like we'd be THERE, and we had beat the Buffaloes by 35 points when we had last played them. So what could possibly go wrong?

Everything. Everything could go wrong. 39-37. Two points. Once we failed to recover the onside kick, I knew that something had to be done. But I still managed to rationalize it. Now - I don't know HOW I did this, and since most of the braincells that would have that information stored were drowned shortly thereafter, I may never.

Then came the bowl game against Washington. Now, Washington blew. They were like, 8-4 in the CRAPac-10. Going to be a walkover. She watched while she filled out the last of her law school apps. I was about to have a coronary as UW held a 36-20 lead going into the 4th quarter.

I couldn't take it any more.

I immediately told her she had to leave the room. She asked why, and I politely screamed something to the effect of, "You're an evil, estrogen fueled jinx-machine. Why do you hate me? WHY?"

She left, and 27 4th quarter points later, we pulled it out. The 'coincidence' was too much. It was clear what had to be done.

We broke up by Valentine's day. Needless to say, the engagement never happened. But with Texas at 10-0 and ranked #2, I think it all worked out for the better.

I swear agaisnt all that is holy that I have forgotten my ratty stuffed Albert three times this eason: 'Bama, LSU, and this past weekend. Superstition has occupied my thoughts all week, and lo and behold, here it is on your blog. It is clear that I will never be able to phase looking like a nine-year-old out of my gameday tradition. I have to carry a freaking toy around; my team depends on me. Dang.

I'm a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and a proud Bama fan. I'm part of a special unit that travels all over the country providing special security at high profile events. I've been at this job for years and have never missed a deployment for any reason. When Hurricane Katrina hit, we were called upon to help the people of the affected areas. It was not the type of job that we as a unit were trained to perform, but we had the basic skills in search in rescue that were needed. We shifted gears and went into rescue and recovery mode. While in Mississippi, I had to hear the first Bama game of the year on Sirius sattelite radio. Of course, Bama won 26-7. I was married on July 26, so that score held special meaning, and I took that as a sign. Throughout the season, I did what I had to do when called upon. Traveling to Texas, New York and Virginia. I might have missed some games in lieu of work, but while I was on the water I always kept a radio tuned to the local sports station to get a live update.

My wife and I moved into a smaller place last week. There was so much to do, and it had to be done immediately. My officer in charge understood what was going on and found someone to fill my spot for the upcoming deployment. My team went without me and I stayed behind to move.

Saturday, I had rare opportunity to watch the game from the comfort of my own home. Bama lost in overtime.

I feel that this loss was all my fault. I let my team down. The season got off to a good start while I was on deployment with my team. I should have waited to move. I selfishly took time out for myself to "do what I needed to do" and let my team deploy without me for the first time ever. Alabama lost that game against LSU because I was selfish. My wife was glad to have me home, but not in the kind of mood I was in after the game (being from Texas, she couldn't understand the passion we Alabamians have for our football). Blank. Silent. Emotionless. Like a robot. I had to make up for what I had done. A win over Auburn would make everything in Tuscaloosa right again.

On Sunday, at a local church, there was a veteran's day ceremony. There was a military color guard. When asked if I would participate, I saw an opportunity to do something (though not quite as significant as a deployment) selfless. I participated. I stayed for the sermon as well.

It's all I could do for now, but I hope it's enough to redeem me. I don't want to continue to be punished anymore. From now on, I won't let EITHER of my teams down, no matter what.

I humbly apologize for letting everyone down and swear I'll make my wife move our stuff herself next time! Damn that Karma.......

I think we can all agree that Greg is in the lead for the free t-shirt. I can see some of these other folks getting some free RJYH oval bumper stickers too, but Greg has us all beat.

Even if it really IS our fault...

I agree with Warren. I had a discussion with a few friends recently about people we've dated in the past. My friend Dave, who absolutely despises the Yankees, came to this conclusion:

"If she likes the Yankees, but she's otherwise good, it'll work out. Only disliking football is the true test."

Whiskey will get you into trouble every time!
After a few drinks Friday night before the game, I called Borden Burr(owner of
All Seasoons Travel in B'ham)and left the following on his message machine:
"I know you will be getting up a trip to Pasadena. Please save two seats for the Chews-you know,'Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then'"
Talk about a jinx! Mea culpa.

We were going to post something, but Greg...you're a national hero, dammit. Give the man his shirt, Warren.

I was going to keep this dark secret to myself but now I know the burden is not all mine, so here goes. For the first 9 games I had my "Marbowl" as the centerpiece on my breakfast table. This is a big nice Alabama bowl from Parisian, the store. Thanksgiving was coming so I got out my Thanksgiving centerpiece and moved the bowl to a side table. We lost to LSU. I thought about the bowl but said that's just silly, so I left it where it was. Now I see that without meaning to I put my Thanksgiving decorations ahead of my team and the thought is almost too much to bear. Well, when we were down 21-0 Sat. I thought about the bowl, jumped up and swept aside the Thanksgiving stuff and put the bowl back in the center of the table. We immediately, I mean immediately, started doing great! We made a touchdown! I thought, we will win!! But it was too little too late. I can't begin to say how sorry I am. My friends Mar2 and Mar3 (our names all begin with Mar) have these Marbowls too; why oh why didn't I tell them we should all have them in the centers of our tables?? It will take me a long time to get over this but you can know where my Marbowl will be from now on.
Mar1