Its nothing personal; its just football.

I love football, every level of football. I can't remember a time in my life when watching football didn't encompass the majority of my fall weekends. Growing up, my parents would take my brother and me to the local high school's games every Friday night. Saturdays were spent watching college football, and NFL games claimed our attention on Sundays. Recently, high school football has taken a backseat to the other two, but football is still very much a part of my life.

One of my favorite things about football is the rivalries. And there isn't a better rivalry in all of college football than the one found here in the state of Alabama. There are very few more emotionally charged moments than the last seconds just before kickoff in the Iron Bowl. Half of the fans clad in their burnt orange and navy blue, the other half clad in their crimson and white and houndstooth, all holding their breath, their eyes focused on the 22 college kids lined up on the field. It gives me chills just to think about it. For most folks in this state, this is the pinnacle of the entire football season. And regrettably, for some, the pinnacle of life.

I've spent my falls cheering for Auburn and jeering the Tide. My parents are the ones responsible for starting that trend. My mom is an Auburn alum, my dad a lifelong fan. They tell me that a friend of my dad once told me to say "those" words to my mom when I was 4 years old. Not knowing any better, I walked proudly up to my mom, bore a huge smile, and said...'Roll Tide.' A dark cloud passed over her face and she threatened to wash my mouth out with soap. Now, I had not a clue as to what those words meant, but I saw immediately that anything having to do with them must be very, very bad. To this day, I don't believe I've ever said those words aloud again. A lot has happened in the past 30 years, I've grown up, graduated from Auburn, gotten married, had 3 children, but my feelings toward that other school pretty much remain the same.

If pushed to give a reason for my disdain, I suppose that I could list one or two that might have some validity, such as any success for them hurts our efforts in recruiting. But if I'm going to be completely honest, the reason I don't like Alabama is simply because I love Auburn. The one naturally follows the other. It's a phenomenon that is admittedly impossible to explain to the casual sports fan or even to the rabid sports fan that is unfamiliar with life down here. But for me, it just is what it is.

So, this past week has left a horrid taste in my mouth sportswise. (It'd be nice to be able to lessen the pain through enjoying my Redskins, but alas, they're horrible.) I've had to watch as the University of Alabama claimed their "13th" national title. Several of my friends who are Alabama fans couldn't understand why I wouldn't "cheer for the SEC" or "support my state." But for me, when I see the University of Alabama, I don't see a fellow conference member or a neighboring school, I only see a bitter rival. Call it insane fanaticism if you will.

Fortunately its only football.