Editor's note: This is the second part of a two-day series about Trip Captain's journey to Alabama.  To read Part 1, click here.

As he headed back toward the Quad, Cap tuned the radio to 960 AM, where he picked up Paul Finebaum, local talk-show antagonist, and chuckled at Finebaum’s reflections of tomorrow’s game. "It’ll either be great or bad for local merchants," Finebaum declared, "If Alabama loses, many of them may have to close their doors."

Back on the Quad it was dark and tailgaters were in full swing. The marching band, the Million Dollar Band, was set up on the stage on the front of the Gorgas Library, and promptly at 7:00 p.m., they belted out "Yea Alabama.” Cap joined diehards in the crowd surrounding him, singing the closing lines, ... "Go, roll to victory, hit your stride, you’re Dixie’s football pride, Crimson Tide."

The Alabama marching band was named the Million Dollar Band in 1896. That band was known for its fund-raising prowess. After a 33-7 loss to Georgia Tech, a reporter asked an alum, the former football manager, "You don’t have much of a team; what do you have at Alabama?" The alum, Camp Pickens, replied, "A Million Dollar Band."

The rally took off with the band, chants led by the cheerleaders, and hit its peak when Kenny "Snake" Stabler, a former Tide great, took the microphone. He challenged fans to be loud tomorrow, and he predicted victory in terms the Tide diehards know and understand.

The rally concluded with the "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer" chant and Cap joined the throng headed down University to the strip, where the Block Party was just heating up.

University Blvd. was closed for several blocks, and Campus Drive - running north off University - was also closed. A large bandstand was set up, a band blasting away, with rock tunes. They were good, versatile.

Campus Ave. was soon full, and people were dancin’ in the streets, as Big Al, Bama's costumed Elephant mascot, cruised through on the back of a golf cart.

The party reached a crescendo when the band struck up a Crimson Tide rendition of “Sweet Home Alabama.”  The chorus is familiar to rock fans all over but this version had a distinct college football feel.

Cap felt great, but he was weary. It had been a long day. As he started back up University to the Quad, the party raged into the night.

In his room, back at the Hampton, Cap caught a weather report for tomorrow: Partly cloudy, breezy, highs in the mid-60s, 20% chance of rain. Rain gear? No way.

He relaxed, while ringing in his ears.... "Go, roll to victory, Hit your stride! You’re Dixie’s football pride, Crimson Tide..." as he faded to sleep.

Then, all of a sudden, the wake-up call - a friendly computer voice, and he was up - it was gameday in T-Town.

Gameday
Trip Captain’s gameday attire was Bama - new crimson cap with white A on the crown; crimson shirt with the Alabama "A" in the middle, framed by "Crimson Tide,” – basic but something was lacking.  He felt uneasy – then he completed the inventory: game ticket, fold-up schedule of match-ups and game times across the nation, line-ups, binoculars, camera, cash. Check.

He stepped out under cloudy skies and a light wind, chilly. He wasn’t sure whether his short sleeve shirt would be enough - but kickoff wasn’t until 2:30. Hmmm….

Cap was concerned about parking as he drove to the lot across the street from the Ferguson Student Center, but it was early, and he found a space. As he climbed the stairs to the food court on the second level, the wind was biting, and he decided to take a

Sweet Home Alabama continued on next page...(click here)

Part 1

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