Typically, when I travel, I wear a cap with a distinct “A” on it denoting the University of Alabama. I have had numerous expressions of “Roll Tide” directed my way because of the cap. Recently, my wife and I were on vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and went over to Teton Village to ride the tram to the top of the mountain. The weather turned a bit dicey as the wind picked up and it began to rain. Due to the change in the weather, we decided that the tram was no longer an option, so we ducked into a small café and bar. Settling in at the bar, we noticed that there was one other couple and upon seeing my cap, the lady let out a “Roll Tide”. As we talked, we learned that they were from Fairhope, Alabama. We spent some time visiting with our new-found Tide supporters. On this same trip we were leaving the Rocky Mountain west and flying back to Birmingham. As we were going through security at the Denver airport, the TSA person asked where we were going and commented about the cap. Similarly, on the plane a young lady made note of the university that I, obviously, supported.
A couple of years ago, my wife and I spent a week driving through the State of Oregon—a state that neither of us had visited. One evening we were driving through a small coastal town looking for a place to have dinner. We stopped at a restaurant that was on the shore but could not get a reservation. As we left the restaurant, I heard “Roll Tide” which was spoken by a fellow I knew who had recently retired from the university where he had been a Professor of Statistics in the business school. We chatted for some time and left to find another place to have dinner.
Last year we were on a cruise through the Caribbean and going through the ship’s gift shop when we heard, “Roll Tide”. We recognized that the person making the statement was a businesswoman from Tuscaloosa. There would not have been any sense of recognition if it were not for the cap. I also recall on another cruise to Alaska; a fellow began talking with me about the upcoming football season. This discussion would not have occurred if I was not wearing the cap. He was from Missouri and the University of Missouri had recently become a member of Southeastern Conference; therefore, he wanted to discuss their chances in the new conference.
I have come to realize that the cap fosters these exchanges and they would not occur if there was no cap. The term “Roll Tide” is a unique greeting that is spoken in a variety of contexts within the state of Alabama as well as throughout the world. It replaces a “hello” as a greeting and there is never any mystery about what is being referred to when the phrase is used. I will continue to wear the cap as I travel, and I am certain that there will be other situations that generate a “Roll Tide”.