Forty Years, Forty Memories (Part Five)

Good morning, Tide Nation, it’s game day! Season openers have been quite kind to the Crimson Tide over the past 129 years. During this span, Alabama is 103-21-3 in openers (with no teams being fielded in 1898 and 1943). Our home record is a sparkling 73-11-2. The road record for openers is 18-10-1, while the […]

Forty Years, Forty Memories (Part Four)

Thus far in my blog reflecting on 40 memories in my 40 years at the University of Alabama, I’ve covered early 1982 (the year I was hired in the UA Alumni Office) through the Tide’s 1992 football national championship. Today, I start with a rather strange event that everyone still talks about today, especially around […]

Forty Years, Forty Memories (Part Three)

Two blogs in, and I’ve only covered 11 “memories” over a five-year span (1982-1986). I guess I’d better get movin’, so here goes. #12 – From the Alumni Office to the Athletic Department In my case, change was good, altering my life in ways of which I could’ve only dreamed. In a rather bizarre chain […]

Forty Years, Forty Memories (Part Two)

In Part One of my “Forty Years, Forty Memories” blog, which is available on my www.tommyfordrealestate.com website, I took a journey through 1982, which was my first year working for UA’s National Alumni Association. I reminisced about hauling the 16-millimeter “Nothin’ But A Winner” film around to alumni chapter meetings, traveling with Coach Paul “Bear” […]

Forty Years, Forty Memories (Part One)

Recently I “celebrated,” if you will, my 40-year anniversary of being hired at the University of Alabama. To me, there’s just something special about the number 40. Because it’s used 146 times in Scripture? Perhaps. Because it’s the number of years most folks work before reaching the magic Social Security “retirement age” of 62? Maybe. […]

The 2020 Crimson Tide: A Story of Greatness

By Tommy Ford What is your favorite Crimson Tide national championship team? The 1961 squad (Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first natty), which gave up only 25 points the entire season? The 1973 team, when the run-oriented wishbone offense sprouted wings and set many school passing records? The undefeated 1979 team, which closed for Coach Bryant […]

“A Vision for Mac” helps propel Mac Jones to a National Championship

In early 2018, just a few weeks following the Tua-to-DeVonta 2nd & 26 heroics in the Crimson Tide’s stunning national title victory over Georgia, Gordon Jones – father of Alabama quarterback Mac Jones – penned a prophetic note to his son, who was then Alabama’s third-string quarterback. One may ask: What’s so unusual about a […]

From “P.O.T.T” to “TIDE PRIDE” (Part Three)

Whereas the first two parts of “From P.O.T.T. to TIDE PRIDE” covered the creation of TIDE PRIDE in 1987-88 and the program’s kickoff for the 1988 season, this final part will cover, oh, the next 32 years. So, in the wise words of Briscoe Darling, “Just jump in where you can and hang on.” TIDE […]

From “P.O.T.T.” to “TIDE PRIDE” (Part Two)

From “P.O.T.T.” to “TIDE PRIDE” (Part Two) (Click on this link for Part One of “From P.O.T.T. to TIDE PRIDE”: https://tommyfordrealestate.com/trails-of-traditions/from-p-o-t-t-to-tide-pride-part-one/) Usually, when you see a lawyer rummaging through your filing cabinets, you get nervous. Real nervous. In this case, though, UA System attorney Robert Potts’ presence was not only requested, but welcomed with open […]