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The Crimson Tide that sweeps over Alabama is also creating waves in the western suburbs.
The Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based defending college football national champions and current No. 1 ranked squad have one of the most devoted fan bases in the country, and Chicago has proven to be a strong second home to the north.
For years, local University of Alabama rooters have packed The Houndstooth in Wrigleyville for games. And now an option for suburban diehards has emerged.
Each football Saturday this fall, Crimson Tide fans have rolled into Another Round — the downtown Downers Grove restaurant/bar — to cheer on their team. Fans fill a room on the north side of the establishment with everything from the red and white Alabama pom pons to a 6-foot tall Alabama elephant mascot.
The Crimson Tide fever is evident even before you enter the door, as the school flag hangs outside Another Round on game days.
“The TV’s all are big, HD, there’s lots of seating, and it’s more kid friendly than a lot of bars,” said Kim Landego, a Downers Grove resident and the suburban chair of the University of Alabama’s Chicago area alumni chapter. “At a lot of places it’s pretty hard to do this with kids. It’s a great bar.
“On game days, Another Round plays the fight song (“Yeah Alabama”) and flashes these awesome round lights every time Alabama scores a TD or field goal. At the end of the game and we win, they play our traditional ‘Rammer Jammer’ song. Another Round tries to make game day as close to being at Bryant Denny Stadium (in Tuscaloosa) as possible.”
That included a new twist for Saturday’s afternoon game with Duke, where Alabama diehards used the outside patio at the bar to simulate pregame outdoor tailgating.
“I used to have parties at my house each Saturday to watch Alabama games with friends, and this is exactly what we would do,” Landego said. “Its such an awesome experience to be able to do it with true die hard Alabama fans.”
Like the team’s fortunes on the field, suburban interest in Tide football has soared.
“We started this (at another suburban bar) the last five games of last year and had maybe eight people the first game, then 15, then 20,” Landego said. “By the title game (against Texas) we had probably 80 to 100.”
Early results this fall at Another Round have shown that Alabama fever is still burning. Even the season opener against unheralded opponent San Jose State drew major interest.
The Crimson Tide that sweeps over Alabama is also creating waves in the western suburbs.
The Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based defending college football national champions and current No. 1 ranked squad have one of the most devoted fan bases in the country, and Chicago has proven to be a strong second home to the north.
For years, local University of Alabama rooters have packed The Houndstooth in Wrigleyville for games. And now an option for suburban diehards has emerged.
Each football Saturday this fall, Crimson Tide fans have rolled into Another Round — the downtown Downers Grove restaurant/bar — to cheer on their team. Fans fill a room on the north side of the establishment with everything from the red and white Alabama pom pons to a 6-foot tall Alabama elephant mascot.
The Crimson Tide fever is evident even before you enter the door, as the school flag hangs outside Another Round on game days.
“The TV’s all are big, HD, there’s lots of seating, and it’s more kid friendly than a lot of bars,” said Kim Landego, a Downers Grove resident and the suburban chair of the University of Alabama’s Chicago area alumni chapter. “At a lot of places it’s pretty hard to do this with kids. It’s a great bar.
“On game days, Another Round plays the fight song (“Yeah Alabama”) and flashes these awesome round lights every time Alabama scores a TD or field goal. At the end of the game and we win, they play our traditional ‘Rammer Jammer’ song. Another Round tries to make game day as close to being at Bryant Denny Stadium (in Tuscaloosa) as possible.”
That included a new twist for Saturday’s afternoon game with Duke, where Alabama diehards used the outside patio at the bar to simulate pregame outdoor tailgating.
“I used to have parties at my house each Saturday to watch Alabama games with friends, and this is exactly what we would do,” Landego said. “Its such an awesome experience to be able to do it with true die hard Alabama fans.”
Like the team’s fortunes on the field, suburban interest in Tide football has soared.
“We started this (at another suburban bar) the last five games of last year and had maybe eight people the first game, then 15, then 20,” Landego said. “By the title game (against Texas) we had probably 80 to 100.”
Early results this fall at Another Round have shown that Alabama fever is still burning. Even the season opener against unheralded opponent San Jose State drew major interest.
“We had about 45 alumni show up ranging from Oak Lawn to Schamburg to Minooka,” Landego said. “I was happy with the turnout considering it was a holiday weekend (Labor Day) and we played San Jose State.”
The fan base multiplied for Week 2 against ranked opponent Penn State, and the elite conference schedule (starting with Arkansas and Florida over the next two weeks) should continue the frenzy.
“And you don’t have to be an Alabama graduate,” Landego said. “We have a lot of regulars who are just Tide fans.”
Scott Hardiman, who grew up in Alabama and now resides in Glen Ellyn, had been trying to find a local bar that would broadcast the games for 20 years.
The Saturday gathering helps Hardiman live and relive the Roll Tide tradition.
“Just being a part of and getting back, closer to the tradition,” Hardiman said. “Talking about not only this years team but teams long ago and the players new and old. Sharing the event with my son who didn’t see all the winning seasons or national championships or can’t get to a game. It’s singing the fight song after scores, ‘Rammer Jammer’ after victory, and hearing ‘Roll Tide’ with meaning.”
And Hardiman’s not even an alum. He graduated from Samford University in Birmhingham in 1984.
“If you grew up with, or embrace the tradition, you’re hooked. My girlfriend grew up in Downers, never watched Alabama before we dated. Yeah, if she wants to see me on Saturday she has to watch, but she was wearing the “Bama” clothing and knew most of the coaches in the SEC long before the last national championship.”
Alabama isn’t alone in having a big fan base nearly 1,000 miles from campus. Texas, Louisiana State and other football powers have official bars in downtown Chicago where alumni and fans congregate.
But football in the state of Alabama has always been unique, from the fierce rivalry with in-state conference-foe Auburn to its overflow fan support into the Chicago suburbs.
“In Alabama more than any other state, this is all we have because there are no pro teams,” Landego said. “It’s your college and you live and die for it.”
The Web site RollTideChicago.com provides plenty of evidence of the diehard nature of the local chapter.
“We have our own T-shirts for members (the 2009 version featured ‘Roll Tide Chicago’ written against the backdrop of the city skyline),” Landego said. “We try to be Tuscaloosa, but the Chicago chapter. We’re like a big Alabama family.”
Being a member of that family is not limited by age either.
“The older crowd who witnessed the glory years of the 1960s and 70s with Coach Bear Bryant mingle effortlessly with the younger generation who are basking in the current Tide resurgence under Nick Saban.
“Bama fans are a rare breed when it comes to our love for our football team.”
A Saturday walk down Main Street in Downers Grove is all the proof you need.
