Bama Fans Down In Number For Georgia State Game
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: November 19, 2010
While Crimson Tide were getting ready for typical game, it wasn't like a typical gameday in Tuscaloosa. It was the first time in 61 years that Bama has played a home game weekday. With it being mid-week, the usual crowd didn't pack in until three hours before kick-off. Even then, the crowd was small compared to a Saturday game. "The only ones here are us who are retired, the students and those who are close -- like Birmingham or whatever," said Pamela Kollin who traveled to Tuscaloosa from Mobile.
There were very few people from out of state. George and Inga Adams were among only a few fans on the strip around noon...six hours before kick off. The Adams' normally don't get to travel to Bama home games. This weekday game was just a good opportunity. "We had to make a trip down to bring our granddaughter to Mississippi also we made this cross-over trip," said Adams.
Tuscaloosa City Schools dismissed classes early starting at 11:30 am anticipating traffic would jam efforts of trying to get students home.
But, around noon -- the University Strip was almost a ghost town with a few crimson tide fans walking around. 24 hours before Saturday games it can be shoulder to shoulder. Many of the businesses were feeling it. BIG BAD WOLVES barbecue sets up in the middle of he strip of every home game. Their sales were down 60 percent. Owner, Marsha Kindley tells ABC 33/40, "This is by far our worst home game for the season by it being during the week."
