Twas the night before the Championship
By Linda Manhart Tisdale (Tami’s cousin)
Twas the night of the championship and all through AL
The fans were all stirring and anxious as hell
The banners were hung from the railing with care
In hopes that a victory soon would be theirs
The fans were all nestled all snug in their seats
While visions of Longhorns soon to be beat
Big Al in his jersey and the team in their cleats
Had just settled down to look at play sheets
When out on the field there arose such a clatter
They sprang from end zone to see hear all the chatter
Away down the sidelines they flew in a flash
Preparing themselves for this national clash
The sunshine made the rose bowl glow
And gave a glimmer of hope to the masses below
When what to our wandering eyes did appear
But our glorious team and the fans they all cheer
With a clipboard and headset so shiny and slick
We knew in a moment it must be Coach Nick
More rapid than charging elephants they gained
And Saban whistled and shouted and called them by name
Now McElroy! Now Smelley!
Hey Arenas and Cody!
Go Upchurch and Woodall!
Kick Tiffin and Shelley!
From Pasadena, California we call the teams home
Now dash away, dash away to the end zone
As the snap count ends the football does fly
They meet with blockers and run right on by
So off to the end zone their routes they flew
With a touchdown for six and extra point too!
A few plays later, the ball got a boot
The cheering and shouting sure made quit a hoot
Ingram tucked the ball and turned quickly around
Then down the field he ran with abound
He was dressed in red on his helmet and white on his shirt
His clothes were all tarnished with grass stains and dirt
A gang of defenders were flung from his back
And he looked like a gymnast running sideways and back
His legs how they bounded his skills made them wary
He jumped and ran so fast it was scary
The defense had rushers drawn up like a bow
And his path was clear up to the front row
The rubber mouth guard he held tight in his teeth
And Texas orange encircled his head like a wreath
He had broad shoulders and a fierce little grin
He ran to the goalpost so that his team would win
The kickoff was straight a high bounding ball
And Coach Saban shouted in spite of it all
A gleam in his eye and a nod of his head
Soon let us know we had nothing to dread
They spoke not a word, but went straight to their work
And pummeled opponents, then Nick gave a smirk
And laying his clipboard down by his feet
Then shedding a tear for the team’s latest feat
He sprang to his feet, as the ref blew his whistle
Sweet Home Alabama they went like a missile
And I heard him exclaim as they flew out of sight
“A bowl ring for all and for all a good night!”
