Can someone explain to me how the saying, "Roll Tide", came to be?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
1

<p>Roll Tide is said an awful lot on here, and I’d love to know the history of the expression and also what it means. Also, how did the Crimson Tide come to be? And for the matter, how did the elephant become UA’s mascot?</p>

2

<p>This link from the Rolltide.com site may help…</p>

<p>[ALABAMA</a> CRIMSON TIDE - University of Alabama Official Athletic Site - Traditions](<a href=“http://www.rolltide.com/trads/elephant.html]ALABAMA”>http://www.rolltide.com/trads/elephant.html)</p>

3

<p>Roll tide! ^^ that’ll answer your question, but I had to put a little UA love here.</p>

4

<p>No, sorry , it didn’t help. A bit of lore here about elephants, but nothing about “roll tide.”</p>

5

<p>“Roll Tide” might’ve come from Grantland Rice, who wrote something along the lines of “in rolled the Crimson Tide.” The name Crimson Tide came about in a game against Auburn in muddy conditions, when the players’ uniforms were stained with red clay. Sportswriters referred to them as a Crimson Tide. They didn’t have a nickname before that.</p>

6

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<p>[Paul</a> W.Bryant Museum](<a href=“http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/direction.cfm?dir=traditions1]Paul”>http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/direction.cfm?dir=traditions1)</p>

7

<p>and regarding the mascot:</p>

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<p>[Paul</a> W.Bryant Museum](<a href=“http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/direction.cfm?dir=oele]Paul”>http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/direction.cfm?dir=oele)</p>

8

<p>I think Bama has the best logo in college sports…classy looking. A nice scripted A with a ring around it with Crimson Tide written. </p>

<p>When I watch ESPNU and they often will have school logos passing behind the sportscasters and Bama’s just looks the best. Some school’s logos are outright tacky.</p>

<p>And, I love the number 13 on the helmets…hopefully soon to be 14. :)</p>

9

<p>the Origin of Roll Tide?</p>

<p>“Yea Alabama”</p>

<p>Following Alabama’s 1926 Rose Bowl victory over Washington, a contest was held by The Rammer-Jammer, a student newspaper, for the composition of a fight song. Several entries were submitted to a panel overseen by the Music Department, and the winning entry, “Yea Alabama”, was adopted. The composer, Ethelred Lundy (Epp) Sykes, was a student in the School of Engineering, and also editor of The Rammer-Jammer at the time, as well as playing piano in a jazz ensemble, The Capstone Five. He won the University’s Pan-Hellenic Cup in 1926 for overall achievement, both academically, athletically, and in student affairs. The song achieved considerable popularity during the 20s and 30s. Sykes went on to become a Brigadier General in the U.S Air Force, and donated the copyright and future royalties to the University in 1947. The opening of the song is heard during pre-game right after the “Bammy Bound cheer”. The Million Dollar Band plays only the chorus at football games such as after touchdowns and field goals.</p>

<p>A Dixieland jazz version of the song appeared on the 1950 Percy Faith album Football Songs (later re-releasd as Touchdown!) and was played extensively across the state in the 1960s and 1970s as the music bed of radio commercials for sporting goods stores. It was also used as the theme music for The Bear Bryant Show.</p>

<p>The last words of the song, “Roll Tide!” are generally cheered by fans during Alabama sporting events.</p>

<p>The 1930 team posted an overall 10-0 record. It shut out eight opponents and allowed only 13 points all season while scoring 217. The “Red Elephants” rolled over Washington State 24-0 in the Rose Bowl and were declared National Champions. </p>

<p>Yea Alabama</p>

<p>Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man’s behind you,
Hit your stride.
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave.
And if a man starts to weaken,
That’s a shame!
For Bama’s pluck and grit have
Writ her name in Crimson flame.
Fight on, fight on, fight on men!
Remember the Rose Bowl, we’ll win then.
So roll on to victory,
Hit your stride,
You’re Dixie’s football pride,
Crimson Tide, Roll Tide, Roll Tide!!</p>

10

<p>And as long as we’re at it, might as well dust off this gem for those who haven’t seen it: [ESPN</a> Alabama Roll Tide Commercial - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>

11

<p>If I was young, and had the college decision in front of me, I know where I’d be heading.</p>

<p>Roll tide!</p>