I couldn’t watch. The anxiety and the tension were too
much. What would Saban decide to
do? Could we win it with this decision
or would we fight it out in overtime? I
headed to the guest room and literally plugged my ears with my fingers. Then I saw my mom’s face and knew the worst
had happened ….........
Bama lost. I began packing my things to head to my
in-laws. I was frustrated. I was mad.
And I was disappointed. I went
back into the living room to see my family all in disbelief except my
sister-in-law. She is an Auburn fan. She was in shock too and lucky for us she
didn’t gloat or throw the win in our face.
Stacy and I spent our ride over
to the in-laws discussing the game and the ride back to Birmingham the next day
talking about it. We decided we were not
going listen to the radio commentary or watch ESPN; we were going to move on
and remain the loyal, devoted Bama fans we have always been. And then I logged back on to Facebook. I read post after post – some positive, a lot
negative – and the frustration began to build all over again.
I didn’t want to spend my last
evening at home in a bad mood. I laced
up my tennis shoes, put a leash on Teddy and headed out for a jog to clear my
head. I was sure there was a lesson in
this frustration I had over the game. I
just had to find it. And with each pound
of the pavement, the lessons of the Iron Bowl came rushing to me.
1.
Be a gracious loser. This
is hard for me. I was competing at
Memory and Candyland as a child. I do a
victory dance when I win at Uno. Being
competitive is in my nature. But nobody
likes a sore loser. It shows lack of
character and I have to hold myself to a higher standard. So I sucked it up and sent the text to my
Auburn friends congratulating them. I
also gave my sister-in-law a hug and told her congratulations. I sent out the congratulatory Facebook post
to all the Auburn fans. Was it
easy? Absolutely not. It hurt.
But it was the right thing to do.
And how many times has our mama told us the right thing isn’t always the
easiest.
2.
Own your decisions. In
the post-game interview, Saban admitted the Iron Bowl loss was on him and his
team. He praised the team and his
coaches. And he shared the areas they didn’t come through. He didn’t make
excuses or look to shift blame. He took
responsibility. He held himself
accountable. He said he was proud of his
team but “ultimately the responsibility is mine.” That is the true sign of a
great leader.
3.
Strive for excellence not perfection. The
Bama fans, me included, have been expecting perfection. We always want a shut out or are disappointed
when we don’t score at least 40 points or get angry when a kid on the field
makes a mistake. The reality is no one
is perfect. And the drive for perfection
only leads to disappointment. Alabama
has won three National Championships in the last four years. And those wins didn’t come by being
perfect. There were off games, losses,
missed opportunities and bad play calling along the way. It has been the dedication to excellence that
has kept the University of Alabama football program on top.
4.
Support your team always. I was so
angry to hear of Bama fans sending death threats to our kicker, Foster. That kid needed the loyalty and support from Bama
fans more the night of the Iron Bowl then he ever has before. We can get disappointed and frustrated in a
player. I sure do. Just ask my family what happens with a sloppy
tackle when I’m around. But the truth is
I don’t sweat at practice every day. I
don’t have to get banged up and bruised on Saturday. These kids aren’t paid to play. They play for the love of the game, to build
a future and for their fans. And we
need to love them when they win and love them even more when they lose. They depend on us for support and
encouragement just like we depend on them for an entertaining game.
5.
Embrace the memories. You
often hear “oh it’s just a game.” But
not to me. It’s so much more. It’s about the memories we make each year
during the Iron Bowl – laughing with our family, everyone getting dressed up in
their Bama gear (dog included), enjoying boiled peanuts to snack on, and my
aunt doing her dance and cheer when Bama scores. Strive to create new traditions with your
friends and family that ensures it isn’t just a game. Let the Iron Bowl be more than a game but
rather an opportunity to share in memories that will last a lifetime.
So I’m taking my lessons (and
some humble pie) and moving on from this year’s Iron Bowl. I proudly sported my Big Al pillow,
houndstooth bag and Bama t-shirt through the airport on the Monday after the
game. And I look forward to watching my
Crimson Tide play in a bowl game.
Roll Tide Always!