(Top) Cullman attorney Tom Drake, former Speaker of the House, pro wrestler and Alabama assistant football coach under Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant, shows off some of his Tide memorabilia, including a football and ring. Current Cullman County Bama Chapter president Mike Howell and former CCBC president Jill Gudger Howell run into a few famous Alabama representatives, coach Nick Saban (middle) and Jay Barker (bottom).

Although they must have been understandably upset about the outcome of the Iron Bowl, Bama players and fans have nothing to be ashamed of for the season they played and the titles they have brought home the last few years. They have energized the whole state of Alabama with a sense of renewed pride in our Southern heritage.

Cullman Mayor Max Townson is one of the area’s biggest Alabama fans and says without hesitation he is still hurting over the Iron Bowl score. “But I’d have to say that I’ve never seen a team come from where Auburn was last year to being in the championship game this year,” he said this week.

“Alabama had many opportunities to win that Iron Bowl game, but you can’t win everything, and sometimes Alabama fans get spoiled to winning,” he laughed.

He has great respect for coach Nick Saban and says he is looking forward to the Sugar Bowl. “Alabama and Oklahoma folks have a great respect for each other and the two head coaches, Saban and Stoops, have a great admiration and friendship with each other,” he said. “Some teams have come to fisticuffs over ballgames, and that’s not how we play the game here in Alabama!” said Mayor Townsend. “Yes, I’m looking forward to the Sugar Bowl and wish Auburn well in Pasadena!”

Cullman businessman, Barry McGriff, admits the Iron Bowl was painful for him but says he is behind Auburn to bring home the trophy and keep it in the state. “I’ve very proud of coach Saban for what he’s done this year,” McGriff said. “Of course, when you have built up such high expectations, it hurts when they lose, but I do wish Auburn well in the championship game.”

“I was there when Cam Newton beat us a few years ago, and I was at Tulane and have watched all the games this year. I’m really excited about what my friend, Finis St. John, is doing in Tuscaloosa, and I’m behind them all the way!”

McGriff says he has family on both sides of the fence. That must make for some interesting family get-togethers during football season!  

The Cullman County Bama Chapter (CCBC) is currently helping to promote and organize a statewide bus trip to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. They invite anyone interested in the day-trip information for individual, family or group tickets for the official Sugar Bowl “Tailgatin’ with the Tide” event hosted by the UA Alumni Association in New Orleans to join the caravan. Interested parties are encouraged to contact CCBC president Mike Howell at 256-348-9590. “Since we are now close to kickoff, those interested are encouraged to leave a detailed voice message with complete follow-up contact information,” Howell stressed.

The CCBC is one of the largest alumni associations in the nation. As such, they were pleased to be asked and to help coordinate (in conjunction with the Tuscaloosa Alumni Chapter) the Fashion Show/ Luncheon Scholarship Fundraiser in honor and celebration of coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s 100th birthday. “Over 200 guests statewide attended the event held at the Tuscaloosa (Sheraton) Capstone Inn during football season,” Howell said.

His wife, Jill Gudger Howell, former president of the CCBC, is famous for having Crimson running through her veins. She grew up in a household of Bama fans until her brother enrolled at Auburn University and broke the tradition. “Growing up watching coach Bryant with my Dad on Saturdays and knowing that coach Dye had his connection to UA through the Bear’s ‘Coaching Tree’, I learned at an early age to both appreciate and respect true competitors and competitive environments.”

Jill got philosophical for a moment, “I guess there are as many differing opinions on this year’s title match, next year’s much-anticipated inaugural playoff system being implemented and projections for next season already in play as there are fans on both sides.

“One thing, though, that I think that we can all agree on in this part of the football world here in Cullman County, is that we are all proud of Cullman native, and my CHS Bearcat classmate, coach Matt Scott on the great job that he has obviously done in getting Birmingham-area great and now Heisman winner ‘famous’ Jameis Winston, prepared to play on even bigger stages once he left coach Scott’s team at Hueytown High School. That’s a Cullman County connection to this year’s big game that we can all be proud to cheer!”

Gloria Williams feels the same way about having the trophy stay in the state. “I’m an Alabama fan all the way,” Williams said, “But I think that Auburn has had a great run this year, and they deserve to win the championship, although I wish it was Alabama,” she laughed.

Williams was at Smith Lake for the Iron Bowl and says that she could hear people yelling and screaming from every direction in the dark of night during the last nail-biting minutes of the game. “It came as a shock,” she said. “But someone has to lose, and it was Auburn’s time to win. I have to say that it was probably one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen!”

Cullman’s Mike Eckenrod totally agrees with the Tide’s AJ McCarron, who recently announced he will be rooting for the Auburn Tigers in the championship game this week.

Eckenrod, who graduated in 1974, was a member of Alabama’s ’73 title team. He played for the legendary Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and still adheres to the sense of pride, dogged determination and tough-as-nails work ethic he learned while playing for one of the most famous figures in football history.

“He taught us the principals of loyalty and being true to yourself,” Eckenrod recalled. “He didn’t just teach football, he talked to his players about life and struggles and how you have to get back up and carry on. He was a great man, and one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. He was a big influence on my life — a great mentor.”

Eckenrod says he remembers coming off the field after Bama’s loss in the ’73 Sugar Bowl and was reminded of the feeling after the Iron Bowl defeat. “It was tough in ’73, and I’m sure it was tough on those guys a couple of weeks ago.”  

“I feel like Bama should have won that game,” he said. “It was surreal to watch that last play and leave the stadium when you thought Bama had it won.”

Eckenrod cautions that football is not an exact science. “There’s some luck involved,” he said. “Coach Bryant always told us that there are four or five plays in every game that will make the difference between winning and losing.”

All in all, Eckenrod will be happy for Auburn if they win the title because it will keep the honor in the state. “And just think about that,” he said in a near whisper. “That would mean that the state of Alabama has kept the national championship for three straight years, and no state has ever done that before.”

“My goodness,” he said in awe. “Nick Saban had us on the brink of the third championship in a row. I hope he stays around for another seven or eight more years because over the long haul, I think he will go down in history as a bigger presence in the coaching world than anyone ever has.”

“And I think that in another three or four years houndstooth will be replaced with straw hats and bandanas,” laughed Mike’s wife, Lisa Eckenrod.

“Aargh! I hate to think of the unexpected outcome of this year’s Iron Bowl. I’m Crimson Tide through and through,” says Sister Lynn McKinzie, OSB, at Sacred Heart. “Nevertheless, you have to admire what coach Malzahn and his team have accomplished this  year.”

She will be watching the Sugar Bowl on TV at the convent and expects the Crimson Tide will dominate the Sooners of Oklahoma, “At least I hope so!”

“And, yes, I’ll be pulling for the Auburn Tigers on Jan. 6,” she added. “I’ll be happy for our state to again capture the national championship!”

Charlsa Taul Perdew, a Bama fan from Eva, wasn’t quite so loving when it came to her team’s heated rival. She said her reaction to the Iron Bowl was just like Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s — “It just seemed surreal and sickening.

“AU was clearly meant to be in the national championship game. Their incredible good fortune and sheer luck reminded me of several very “lucky” breaks that Bama had along the way. For example, the “Rocky Block,” blocked field goal in 2009 against UT and the dominoes falling just the right way in 2011 and ’12, with top seeds losing and Bama advancing.”

“I will not be upset if AU wins because I don’t think FSU has really been challenged all year,” Perdew said skeptically. “But, I cannot see myself actively pulling for either FSU or AU.”

Perdew is making plans for a get together with other Bama fans for the Sugar Bowl. “We are having some friends over to watch the game. NOLA is not one of my favorite venues, so we are staying home. I have collected several sugar bowls and have been scouring the area for Sugar Babies and Daddies to fill them with,” she said. “Seems they are no longer being stocked by local vendors. What a shame!”

Perdew is the author of the blog “Southern Girls Guide to College Football.”

Cullman attorney and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tom Drake will be at the Sugar Bowl sporting his familiar red Alabama cap. He wouldn’t miss it for the world. “I’ll be going down with some of the alumni on a package trip,” he said. “At $75 round trip, you can’t beat that!”

Drake, his late wife, Christine, and three of their four children graduated from the University of Alabama. Drake was an assistant football coach and wrestling coach under the late Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant and says that although Nick Saban is a great coach, “There will never be another coach on God’s green earth who can compare with Bear Bryant!”

Drake says he watched both teams closely all season and he could see how Auburn improved, and he will be cheering them on in the championship game from his recliner at home.

“I secured a lot of funding for both colleges during my tenure in the House of Representatives and I am loyal to both, unless they are playing one another. Then I’m a Bama fan all the way!”

He is looking forward to the championship game because of the historic aspect that an Auburn victory will bring to the state. “That means that Alabama will virtually control the SEC,” he said. “If an Alabama-based team wins this game, it will mean that an Alabama team has held the title for five straight years!”