Falling in Love with Alabama Football

Valentine's Day is considered to be a day of love.

Some celebrated with a girlfriend or boyfriend, some celebrated with a husband or wife, and some, this author included, put a frozen pizza into the oven and watched television.

While we all celebrate this day of love in different ways, the celebration was the same just about a month ago when the Tide captured its 15th national championship. Through good times and bad, Alabama football is the crimson bond that keeps the Tide nation together.

When did you fall in "love" with Alabama football? That was a question I asked on Thursday.

For me, it was 2006, the season opener against Hawaii. I was a passive football fan at that time, probably still riding the coattails of the Miami Hurricanes and USC Trojans, but for some reason the moment is vivid as ever.  I remembered how that fall, the coach, Mike Shula was fired and Alabama went on a coaching search that eventually brought in Nick Saban.

I remember the moment John Parker Wilson flipped a pass into the outstretched hands of Matt Caddell against Arkansas.

I remember the opener against Clemson and the Blackout, but nothing was more special than Iron Bowl against Auburn.  Siran Stacy, dressed in a suit as the honorary captain, lept up and down to fire up the crowd before Sarah Evans (Barker) delivered a national anthem to this day I call the best I've witnessed. I remember standing on the sidelines in the waining moments as Rammer Jammer was loud enough to cause earthquakes, only made louder by a picturesque pass from Greg McElroy to Marquis Maze.

I remember the Rose Bowl and the struggles in the year after. I remember the pain of 6-3, and the triumph in the Dome near Bourbon Street.

I remember this past season. Texts of hopelessness spread among friends as it seemed impossible the Tide could topple LSU in Baton Rouge. Then with less than 90 seconds those messages were replaced with gripping hugs and stinging high fives when TJ Yeldon skated into the endzone.  I remember AJ to Amari and National Championship 15.

Covering Alabama football has been an incredible ride for me. However, your story is probably different.  Below is a clip of some of the stories heard on Thursday's edition of "The Game."

So when did you fall in love with Alabama football? Who were you with? What do you remember the most?  What is your story? Leave a comment and share your memories below.