“Roll Tide.” You hear it after a touchdown, after acing an exam, and even after a minor mishap like spilling coffee. For those unfamiliar with the University of Alabama, the phrase can be perplexing. Is it a cheer? A greeting? Some sort of inside joke?
Coady Latimer, a University of Alabama student known as “Captain Crimson” at football games, perfectly encapsulates the ubiquity of “Roll Tide.” “It’s thoroughly invaded my family,” he admits. Despite his family’s Florida Gator roots, “Roll Tide” has become their all-purpose expression, used in texts, on t-shirts, and even when lamenting an empty fridge. It’s become so ingrained that, as Latimer says, “it’s not like it has a certain use or anything like that anymore.” This widespread adoption only deepens the mystery for those outside the Crimson Tide faithful.
Unlike straightforward school chants like “Go [Mascot]!” or “Go [School Name]!”, “Roll Tide” requires a bit more unpacking. It’s certainly not a call to “Go Elephants!”, even though the elephant has been the team’s mascot since 1930. For newcomers to the University of Alabama, especially those from outside the state, understanding “Roll Tide” is a crucial step in navigating the campus culture.
This seemingly simple phrase is more than just a cheer; it’s a cultural cornerstone. A quick social media query about recent “Roll Tide” usage revealed nearly 40 responses from UA students and alumni, showcasing its versatility across situations – from mundane to momentous. It’s the name of the university’s athletics website, RollTide.com, and even has its own explanation page for incoming freshmen.
But how did “Roll Tide” transcend the stadium and become a ubiquitous expression in Tuscaloosa and beyond? Catherine Evans Davies, a linguistics professor at UA, sees “Roll Tide” as a marker of a “discourse community.” “People who share ways of speaking,” she explains, form these communities, and newcomers must learn the linguistic rules to participate. Understanding “Roll Tide” is key to understanding the University of Alabama’s unique culture.
Dorothy Worden, another linguistics professor at UA, identifies “Roll Tide” as a “cultural key word.” These words, unique to or prominent within a group, offer insights into that culture. Worden believes “Roll Tide” fits this definition perfectly, carrying layers of meaning and serving various functions within the Alabama community. It embodies the culture of the university, its football team, and everything they represent.
While the literal translation of “Roll Tide” might escape many users, its connection to Alabama football is undeniable. It originated as a cheer to support the team, but its evolution into a broader cultural touchstone is a fascinating story.
The Genesis of “Crimson Tide” and the Rise of “Roll Tide”
The story of “Roll Tide” begins with the history of Alabama football itself, which started in 1892. Initially, the team was known as “varsity” or “Crimson White.” Sportswriters even nicknamed them the “Thin Red Line” until 1906.
The moniker “Crimson Tide” emerged in 1907 after a particularly muddy and hard-fought game against Auburn, which ended in a 6-6 tie. Hugh Roberts, a sports editor for the Birmingham Age-Herald, is credited with coining the term “Crimson Tide,” later popularized by Zipp Newman of the Birmingham News, as detailed by the Paul W. Bryant Museum. Interestingly, it was a sportswriter, Everett Strupper, who described the team as “elephants” in 1930, leading to the adoption of the elephant mascot.
Alabama football’s national prominence grew significantly after a 1922 victory over the University of Pennsylvania. The following season saw Wallace Wade take over as coach, ushering in a new era of success.
In December 1925, the student magazine Rammer Jammer referenced the “Crimson Tide” heading to California for a game, urging school spirit and support. That year, Wade’s Crimson Tide secured their first National Championship.
This victory spurred a contest in Rammer Jammer for a new fight song. Ethelred Lundy (Epp) Sykes, editor of The Crimson White student newspaper, won with “Yea Alabama!”, intended to replace the older fight song “Swing.” Published in May 1926, “Yea Alabama!” contains the line “Go! Roll to vic-try!” but notably, the now-iconic “Roll Tide!” chant at the song’s end is absent from Sykes’ original score.
The University’s First Year Experience website suggests “Roll Tide” was initially used to describe the team’s entrance onto the field. However, the precise transition from this descriptive phrase to the widespread cultural exclamation trademarked by the university remains somewhat unclear.
Somewhere along the way, “Roll Tide” became intertwined with the fight song, integrated into stadium cheers alongside tunes like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Dixieland Delight,” and organically woven into everyday conversation.
“Roll Tide” Off the Field: A Phrase with Many Meanings
ESPN’s 2010 commercial brilliantly illustrated the versatile applications of “Roll Tide.” From mundane scenarios like passing ketchup to significant life events like weddings and even funerals, “Roll Tide” was presented as the appropriate response. Coady Latimer’s favorite example from the commercial – “Roll Tide” at a funeral – highlights its unexpected yet somehow fitting usage.
“It’s far beyond football,” Latimer observes. “It means more than just, ‘Go Alabama’ or ‘Go Bama.’ It’s that ‘we’re a family, and we have something to join around’ kind of thing.”
This adaptability makes a literal translation for outsiders nearly impossible. As linguistics professor Dorothy Worden explains, “Roll Tide” is deeply rooted in “pragmatics,” the study of language in context. Meaning isn’t solely in the words themselves but emerges from the “social community and the shared understanding” of its users.
While “Roll, Tide!” with a comma can be interpreted as an imperative urging the team to “roll,” most uses of “Roll Tide” function more subtly. Professor Davies breaks down its social functions: greeting, membership confirmation, closing remark, congratulation, or encouragement to persevere.
“Roll Tide” can open and close conversations, identify fellow Alabama fans (a “membership check”), celebrate achievements, or offer encouragement in challenging situations – like the aforementioned puppy pee or speeding ticket. In these instances, “Roll Tide” essentially translates to “carry on” or “keep rolling.”
Joining the “Roll Tide” Community
For those new to the University of Alabama, understanding and adopting “Roll Tide” is a rite of passage. Meaghan Baril, a UA student from San Diego, experienced this firsthand. Despite knowing of “Roll Tide” before moving to Alabama, its true meaning only clicked later in her freshman year.
Her initial awkward encounter with “Roll Tide” happened when a hotel porter in Birmingham greeted her with it upon learning she was there for school. “I was like, ‘Um, thanks.’ I didn’t know what you were supposed to do,” Baril recalls. She quickly learned, however, and now uses the phrase herself, especially during football season.
Worden, as a linguist and newcomer to Tuscaloosa, understands the learning curve. “I know what the words mean, but I’m still learning the social context that allows me to interpret those words and all the different things they can mean.”
The “Roll Tide” discourse community extends far beyond Tuscaloosa. Latimer encountered a fellow “Roll Tide” enthusiast in a Dublin pub, recognizing his Alabama sweatshirt. Hani Imam, a UA alumnus, even opened an Alabama-themed store in Jerusalem, greeting customers with “Roll Tide!” daily.
Professor Davies emphasizes the power of Alabama football’s history and tradition in solidifying “Roll Tide” as a cultural touchstone. Using the phrase signals belonging to a community connected by this shared passion. For many, “Roll Tide” may be used without conscious thought, an ingrained expression of identity and allegiance to the University of Alabama.
Roll Tide.
