Alabama’s official team color of crimson has a long and storied history. As one of college football’s most iconic programs, the Alabama Crimson Tide are recognized by their trademark crimson jerseys and helmets wherever they play. But why did Alabama choose crimson as their color, and what is the significance behind it? Let’s take a deeper look at the history and meaning behind Alabama’s famous team colors.
The Origins of Crimson
Alabama first fielded an official football team in 1892, wearing cardinal red and navy blue uniforms. This color scheme was used for the first decade or so of Alabama football. However, in the early 1900s, Alabama’s football coach Wallace Wade had a vision of switching to the color crimson. After seeing how vivid Harvard’s crimson jerseys were in a game in 1907, Wade was inspired to make crimson Alabama’s official team color as well.
The switch to crimson was made in 1910, thanks to coach Wade. He felt crimson evoked a sense of power and strength that represented the spirit of Alabama football. At the time, crimson dye was also much more vibrant and eye-catching compared to the faded reds that were available with other dyes. This allowed Alabama’s uniforms to stand out. Since adopting crimson jerseys in 1910, Alabama has become one of the most recognizable college football teams in the country.
The Meaning Behind Crimson
But why crimson over other colors? For coach Wallace Wade, crimson represented several important concepts for the Alabama football program:
- Power – Crimson is a deep, rich color that signifies strength and intensity.
- Passion – The vivid tone of crimson reflects the passion of Alabama players and fans.
- Heritage – Linking to Harvard’s use ties Alabama to the history and tradition of college football.
Additionally, within Southern culture, the crimson color is associated with grace, elegance and high class. This fits well with the University of Alabama’s vision of itself as a prestigious institution. The color crimson carries cultural symbolism in the South that resonates with the university’s identity.
How Crimson Became Alabama’s Primary Color
After the switch to crimson jerseys and helmets on the football field in 1910, it took a few more decades for the color to become Alabama’s singular primary color across all its sports programs. Up through the 1930s, Alabama’s athletic teams wore a variety of uniform color combinations including purple, gold, white, green, and of course, crimson.
It wasn’t until the arrival of coach Frank Thomas in 1931 that Alabama adopted crimson as the only uniform color for football. Thomas unified Alabama’s appearance by using solely crimson jerseys and helmets. This created the classic Alabama football look that is now famous nationwide.
Over the next couple decades, Alabama expanded the use of crimson into uniforms for other sports as well. By the 1950s, virtually all University of Alabama athletic teams wore some combination of crimson, white, and gray uniforms. Crimson became a unifying thread that tied all of Alabama’s sports teams together visually.
When Did Alabama Become Known as the “Crimson Tide”?
Alabama’s famous nickname – the Crimson Tide – has origins dating back to the very first years of Alabama football:
- 1906 – sports writer Hugh Roberts with the Birmingham Age-Herald first referred to the “Crimson Tide” in an article describing a dominant Alabama football game.
- 1948 – legendary sports broadcaster David Housel heard the term “Crimson Tide” used by former Alabama coach Hank Crisp and began using it regularly during radio broadcasts of games.
- 1979 – “Crimson Tide” was officially adopted as Alabama’s nickname, over 100 years after the first team in 1892.
The Crimson Tide moniker emerged organically from writers and broadcasters before eventually being trademarked by the university. The imagery of a surging, unrelenting tide of crimson perfectly captures Alabama’s style of powerful, physical football.
How Crimson Became Alabama’s Primary Color
After the switch to crimson jerseys and helmets on the football field in 1910, it took a few more decades for the color to become Alabama’s singular primary color across all its sports programs. Up through the 1930s, Alabama’s athletic teams wore a variety of uniform color combinations including purple, gold, white, green, and of course, crimson.
It wasn’t until the arrival of coach Frank Thomas in 1931 that Alabama adopted crimson as the only uniform color for football. Thomas unified Alabama’s appearance by using solely crimson jerseys and helmets. This created the classic Alabama football look that is now famous nationwide.
Over the next couple decades, Alabama expanded the use of crimson into uniforms for other sports as well. By the 1950s, virtually all University of Alabama athletic teams wore some combination of crimson, white, and gray uniforms. Crimson became a unifying thread that tied all of Alabama’s sports teams together visually.
Crimson in Alabama Culture and Tradition
As Alabama football rose to national prominence throughout the 20th century, the color crimson became ingrained in the cultural identity of the state of Alabama. Fans embraced crimson as a symbol of state pride and dedication to the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. Today, crimson is synonymous with Alabama football throughout the state.
Many Alabama fans ritually wear crimson on game days to demonstrate their support. Crimson flags, banners, shirts, and other accessories are common sights on Alabama Saturdays in the fall. For Alabama fans, donning crimson is a display of the passion, heritage, and identity of Alabama football.
Additionally, the University of Alabama has expanded its use of crimson into other aspects of campus culture. From the Crimson Ride bus system to the Crimsonettes dance team to the Crimson & White student newspaper, Alabama has branded many university programs and activities with the color crimson.
Famous Alabama Crimson Moments
With over 130 years of football history, Alabama has many iconic crimson moments:
- 1926 Rose Bowl – Alabama wore crimson in its first-ever bowl game, defeating Washington 20-19 in a national matchup.
- 1978 National Champions – Alabama clinched the national title with a 14-7 Sugar Bowl win over Penn State in a true “Crimson vs. Blue” matchup.
- 2020 National Champions – DeVonta Smith dominated in his crimson jersey with 12 catches for 215 yards and 3 TDs to lead Alabama over Ohio State.
Some of Alabama football’s greatest games and most memorable moments involved the Crimson Tide winning big in their trademark crimson uniforms.
Conclusion
From its adoption in 1910 to its present-day status, the color crimson has become deeply rooted in the University of Alabama’s athletics programs and cultural identity. For over a century, Alabama players and fans have embraced the traditions and meaning associated with donning the distinctive crimson uniforms.
Whether it is the power and passion of the Crimson Tide on the field, or the state pride of Crimson Tide fans, Alabama’s official color holds a unique place in the story and heritage of Alabama football. The rich tone of Alabama crimson will likely continue inspiring players and fans for generations to come.
