It’s a tradition like no other: Alabama fans waking up early and taking a trip to Walmart to get a picture with their championship trophy. But this year provided an unlikely twist for Bama fans — the CFB Playoff trophy was being shown at a Tuscaloosa Target.
And it's officially unveiled! Come out to the Tuscaloosa Super Target to get a picture with the trophy. @wvua23 pic.twitter.com/Zvazndlvy8
— Sarah Macaluso (@SarahMacaluso) January 15, 2016
We’re not quite sure why the Walmart fad died out, but we can all agree that the new location isn’t very Bama at all.
Nonetheless, thousands of Bama fans stormed Target last Friday to get their free pictures with trophy No. 16:
My brother @TideGuy1966 with @AlabamaFTBL's @CFBPlayoff hardware @Target Tuscaloosa. #RollTide #BuiltByBama #Sweet16 pic.twitter.com/eIV684tqty
— Karen (@karenswrites63) January 16, 2016
Some fan reactions to the trophy (from TuscaloosaNews.com):
Julian Giles:
“It’s ours. It’s coming to Tuscaloosa,” Giles said. “Those guys (won) it for us, and we appreciate it.”
Linda “Butterbean” Lewis, who was “drooling” when she saw the trophy on TV:
“It goes blood deep. I bleed crimson, baby,” she said. “I have been a fan as long as I can remember. I love Alabama football.”
More photos:
The first man in line gets his photo with the NC Trophy presented by Dr. Pepper at @Target in #Tuscaloosa! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/zglImQDp8f
— Alt 101.7 (@alt1017) January 15, 2016
Alabama's national championship trophy will be here at the Tuscaloosa Target tomorrow from 4-7 p.m. CT. pic.twitter.com/0xvZOJXXjf
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) January 15, 2016
when you go to target for rice and run into the national championship trophy #okay pic.twitter.com/SEgwMiV8yh
— Sara Beth Bolin (@sbbolin) January 15, 2016