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A Thousand Thank-Yous
Jan 17, 2012 CATEGORIES: Alabama SEC Football, Athens, Auburn, Florida, Georgia Football, Gridiron Belles Tour, Gridiron Belles: A Guide to Saturdays in Dixie, LSU Football, LSU v ALABAMA football, Ole Miss Football, SEC Football, South Carolina, Tennessee Football, Uncategorized, Vanderbilt
"Real Belles Watch Football"--and have chandeliers at their South Carolina tailgate!
These Bengel Belles had quite the story to share- Thanks for all being Gridiron Belles!
All season I’ve preached about the importance of thank you notes. Thank you notes for your tailgate hosts, thank you notes for the people who get you tickets, thank you notes for the people who have you over to watch a game. (We really all should be writing thank you notes to our team’s players…) All season, I’ve received some ever so kind thank you notes myself from fans I’ve met along the way. So, it’s only fitting that I thank YOU for all that you have inadvertently done for me this season.
Aimee introduced me to Chimes and hosted me at her competition ready tailgate
For the past 5 years I have expressed my obsession with SEC football with anyone who would listen. For research purposes, I have talked unceasingly about traditions, clothing styles, tailgate menus as well as players and coaches on the field. Then, I started asking for help. I started asking the Belles and Gents that I had met along the way to reach out to their friends to help me. I needed pictures, quotes and stories and boy did I get them!
Lesson learned: never go to a game in the Swamp before November!
If you’ve ever written your own book, you know that the chronic nerves that surface once the book is at the printer requires more support than anyone anticipates. For those of you, strangers and friends alike, that offered your calming words via calls e-mails, posts, and tweets of encouragement, a thousand thank-yous.
The Grove is the perfect place to display your Pink and Proper Lilly purchases! Thanks, P&P!
Ready or not September 3, 2011 came around and it was time for the rubber to meet the road. From the first game of the season to the last, strangers–now friends– took me under their wings. Generous fans invited me to lavish tailgates, allowed me to stay in their homes and graciously promoted my book to their friends. People I didn’t even know were inviting me to special events and treating me like kin. Southern hospitality at it’s finest.
My new friend, Kelly, took me on the field in Neyland Stadium... wow!
Thanks, Vandy Belles, for all of your support and enthusiasm!
Even those fervent SEC fans, that maybe didn’t love everything I wrote about their team, taught me something. They thickened my skin. Taught me to be more open-minded. Encouraged me to look at all sides. They reminded me that Belles are courageous and tough.
The most supportive parents in the world. Also the most excited to be at the historical BAMA v LSU game.
Without tearing up the way I do while watching Steel Magnolias, I’ll keep it short and sweet. It was because of YOU that my 2011 Gridiron Belles tour was a success. It is because of YOU that I was able to fulfill my dreams of being an author. My career for the past 4 months has been tailgating. And because of YOU, Gridiron Belles worked.
These UGA Belles told me that the sky was the limit-- thank you!
Thank you, from the bottom of my Southern Belle heart, for being such hospitable, generous and devoted fans of your team. It is the spirit and excitement that y’all displayed that kept me going on the road for 93 days straight without a break from the South’s greatest pastime. It is people like YOU that make Southern football the living legend that it is.
The savvy mama, Doran, thanks for having me on your wonderful show!
Thank you all. For everything.
Xs and Os,
Christie Leigh
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Sweet Home Alabama
Jan 9, 2012 CATEGORIES: Alabama, Alabama SEC Football, BCS Championship Game, Gridiron Belles: A Guide to Saturdays in Dixie, LSU v ALABAMA football, SEC Football, Southern Football, Uncategorized
The Tide Sisters
SEC fans are the most loyal and energetic in the nation. I’m convinced, however, that Alabama fans are what most people mean when they use the term “Fanatical.” It’s expected of BAMA fans to be fanatical—it’s part of the oath they take as new borns: Wear Crimson, despise Auburn, name a child (or at least a dog, boat, or RV ) “Bear” and above all, be the most fanatical football fan you can imagine day in and day out. This is one vow that is unforgivable to break. And I love it.
Mr. C and Ms. Tide, two of the greatest BAMA fans I know!
On a level understood only in the SEC—perhaps only in Alabama– eating, breathing and decorating your home in the only logical theme of Crimson Tide, team dedication has reached a new level in Tuscaloosa.
Look closely and count how many places you find houndstooth!
My trip across the South has introduced me to more than my fair share of Tide fans. I stayed with one of the sweetest Bama Belles at her Bay house outside of Mobile and was welcomed into her home with open arms… just as soon as I changed out of navy and orange… in the driveway.
All fans who enter, MUST match the decor!
The Bama fan of the season, however, required a family. The “Tide Family” (I’ve kept their name to myself as to not have them inundated with calls and e-mails asking for ideas of how to be a better BAMA fan once this is released) has set a new bar for BAMA fans . They are as kind as they are loyal. They are as generous as they are dedicated.
Yes, a larger than life replica of The Bear's hat serving as window treatments in the bathroom!
Decorated by the eldest daughter of the “Tide Family,” this second home, located a first down away from the entrance to Bryant-Denny Stadium, epitomizes the phrase “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Lucky monogram she has, isn't it?! This is the beautiful creative brain behind the "wow."
I’d likely get some of the details mixed up if I tried to tell you how long the “Tide Family” has been a part of the BAMA community. I’d tell you that there are 12 grandchildren who went to, or are currently enrolled at, the University of Alabama when really there are something like 26. And I’d tell you that it was MR. Tide that spearheads the “fanaticism” and game day excursions on their party buses and boats when really it’s MRS. Tide. So I’m going to keep the details to myself and just let pictures speak 13 words. Because, 13, is exactly how many national championships this Tide Family has been around to celebrate the Crimson spirit.
These curtains speak from themself
No detail, large or small, went un-dedicated to Alabama. I was in awe. I was impressed beyond words and knew immediately that there may be a lot of families that are Tide fans, but there is only ONE “Tide Family.”
Meet the lovely Tide Family
Thanks for the hospitality Mr. and Mrs. Tide! And good luck getting your 14th national championship tonight!
Xs and Os,
Christie Leigh
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It’s going to take TWO Honey Badgers for an LSU win
Jan 6, 2012 CATEGORIES: BCS Championship Game, Gridiron Belles: A Guide to Saturdays in Dixie, Honey Badger, LSU, LSU Fans, LSU Football, LSU v ALABAMA football, Ole Miss Football, SEC Football, Southern Football
Gods gift to the LSU defense. And offense come to think about his returns...
HBII. You'll be introduced to him momentarily. Don't you see the resemblance?
It’s been over a month since I’ve last seen LSU play football in person. Which is a long time… considering I managed to see the Fighting Tigers play five times this season alone.
No, LSU is not “my team,” but my purple dress sure did get a lot of Ware (see what I did there?) this season as I was lucky enough to be a distant part of the Tiger’s perfect season and impressive display of gridiron talent.
Take for instance, Honey Badger. This highly inappropriate, and not Gridiron Belles endorsed, video shows you how Tyrann Mathieu, the mind-blowing-five-foot-nine-almost-the-Heisman-winner-who-leads-the-world-in-tackles-as-the-most-intimidating-cornerback-in-college-football, easily personifies a honey badger found in the wild.
It’s safe to say that, yes, Honey Badger takes what he wants. Did I mention that Honey Badger, the player, ranks No.1 Nationally in fumble recoveries and No. 1 in the SEC for forced fumbles? He does.
So let’s call a spade a spade. If you’re an LSU fan, having a honey badger on your team (among many other talented players) going into the greatest game of college football history, is a good thing. Going into the most anticipated National Championship ever played with TWO honey badgers is even better. Allow me to introduce you to “Honey Badger II.”
THE Honey Badger II
What I’ve learned from 5 games with the purple and gold is the importance of having a Honey Badger in the stands. Having a tiger’s eye at midfield in Death Valley is all fine and good. What’s more intimidating is forcing the other team to actually look into the eyes of Mike the Tiger as they tip toe into Tiger stadium. The same goes with Honey Badger Number Two (HBII). It’s great to have Honey Badger on the field, but HBII really shows his teeth and tenacity to opposing fans at the tailgates and in the stands.
It's all fun and games until HBII shows up in the Grove
There is no record of existence of this honey badger prior to his 2011 debut season. There is no explanation of how HBII and the Honey Badger on the field are able to coordinate their gameday outfits so well. The only obvious connection is the mutual respect and obsession with winning. And, of course having their pictures taken by fans across the land and, taking with they want.
Honey Badger II is true to his cause even during away games
HBII unites two fan bases in the Grove
An early start to his Heisman campaign
LSU fans smile much bigger when HBII is among them in the stands
I think that's HBII and Coach Les...
I'm not sure who is happier
One last photo-op before HBII took what he wanted and hopped the fence. Who was going to stop the Honey Badger? Exactly...
All smiles after a perfect season.
Thanks for all of your hard work this season, Honey Badger (II). What a fan!
Xs and Os,
Christie Leigh
p.s.– Bama fans, don’t worry, your super fan is coming on Monday!
