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Alabama fans pack the lobby at SEC Media Days

Posted: 12:32 PM Jul 19, 2012
Reporter: Cody Coil

Alabama fans pack the lobby at SEC Media Days

HOOVER, Ala. -- Texas Aggie fans usually don't take back seat to anybody when it comes to supporting their team, but they're going to have to step their game up at SEC Media Days to compete with the backers of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

We've heard for days that the fan support of the Alabama Crimson Tide is off the charts, and today we got the chance to see it first hand.

Alabama fans lined up five deep in the lobby, and, as crazy as they may sound, they have their reasons why.

"Well it's a great opportunity to catch a good look at your coach," said Alabama fan Frankie Davidson. "Usually you're just used to seeing them on TV or wherever may have you, but to see them right there, right in person it's like, whoa, alright, there he is."

Autograph seekers have a field day, but those signatures aren't always easy to come by. Sometimes you have to settle for a picture, even it's with a member of the media.

Alabama fan Guy Myers said, "I've got about four or five different pictures with different sports reporters and players and coaches. I just shook (Georgia head coach) Mark Richt's hand. He was not happy about the Isaiah Crowell (the recently dismissed Georgia running back) comment I made but, oh well, he'll get over it."

Alabama radio legend Paul Finebaum chimed in on the event. "Some people criticize, 'Why do you let fans in? Why do you do this?' but I think it just shows the passion for the SEC and I think that translates and is disseminated whether it's in Texas or around the country."

These fans are standing in a hotel lobby on a Thursday morning, so you can bet vacation days are getting burned up fast.

Davidson said, "This is Alabama. 100 percent. I wrote down on my calendar, I'm the assistant produce manager at Publix, I wrote on my calendar going to media days and he was like, 'Okay, I'm letting you off.'"

"I've got school at 12:30 but I might be late, though, I might be late. No big deal, though. No big deal," added Myers.

While it's mostly Alabama fans, supporters of other SEC squads sneak in as well, like Florida fan Jeff Moorer, who came a day after his team met the media.

"I met Mark Richt last year and took a picture. It was a funny picture with Mark Richt because we was standing side by side he waited 'til just the right time to snap the picture and he put his hand over the Gator part of my shirt."