GUEST COMMENTARY DAY: Abbey Minor "The Road to 15"

Editor's Note by Stan J. Griffin: Abbey Minor is a freshman Crimsonette for the University of Alabama's iconic Million Dollar Band, and is a native of Fayette County, having attended Fayette County High School. She offers a unique perspective about being part of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program's quest for its 15th national championship during the 2012 season. I think that you will find her commentary very interesting, and I appreciate her contributing her writing talents and her enthusiasm about the Crimson Tide to The Sports Connection.

The “Road to 15” began for me on April 28, 2012 after I was selected to become a member of the University of Alabama Crimsonette line.

This was truly my dream come true. My first fall semester of college would have lacked so many wonderful and cherished memories if I was not a member of the Million Dollar Band.

There is no denying the strenuous amount of hours both the MDB and Crimsonettes put into practice during the fall, but the vision of experiencing another national championship firsthand, kept us all moving forward with anticipation. It is unquestionable that being a member of such a famed band and majorette line for a nationally ranked school is one of the most rewarding and enthusing feelings.

We are all fortunate enough to be students at a college with the most AMAZING football environment in the south. I consider it a huge honor to be able to represent a school like The University of Alabama as a Crimsonette. This year was also extremely special to be a member of the Million Dollar Band because this year was the celebration of 100 years; the “Centennial Season.”

I got to be a part of the celebration with numerous MDB Alumni, in which we performed a halftime show consisting of  over 500 MDB alumni and nearly 75 Crimsonette alumni. It was such a great feeling to be surrounded by a historic group of alumni family.

Kicking this past football season off in Dallas, Texas at Cowboy Stadium in the game against Michigan was more than one small-town girl could ever hope for!

This experience has allowed me to attend and perform at most all Alabama football games this past season. As most all games this season ended in cheers, the two most memorable games for me have been, without a doubt, LSU and Georgia (in the SEC Championship). It was certainly a blessing to experience such historic but nerve-wracking games which ended with close victories for the Crimson Tide.

Coach Nick Saban did an excellent job this year with our team on and off the field. We all hope he sticks around as long as he possibly can, leading us on the road to 16, 17, & 18! Our guys are all talented football players, but they also possess a great amount of character off of the field as well. We are so grateful to be cheering them on every game day and feel supported by them as well!

Our team successfully led us upon the road to No. 15 just as we had all hoped for throughout the season. Luckily, Santa did not have to bother bringing us tickets to the big game this Christmas, because the MDB had already provided everything we would need for a life changing trip.

So our trip to Florida for the BCS championship game finally began with a prolonged 16- hour bus ride, and we finally arrived in Boca Raton, FL.

We had a set agenda for each day that included practice each morning as well as performances throughout our three- day adventure. We began Day 1 with a slightly rainy practice. We then traveled to South Beach, Miami where we performed a parade leading us to the beach for the BCS Discover Championship Fan Experience.

There the MDB and cheerleaders performed a pep rally for the Alabama fans on the beach. After our performance we had a chance to mingle around South Beach. The atmosphere was ecstatic with Notre Dame fans flooding the streets as well as  Crimson Tide fans appearing every now and then. Day 2 consisted of a rather hot practice and free time to enjoy the beach with the girls and stop at a few shopping malls, followed by a nice dinner.

Waking up on Monday morning the day of the championship, we all had a sense of excitement. The only thing standing  between the MDB and the most anticipated football game all season was one extremely rainy practice.

We managed to stick it out and overcome the setback so we could head back to the hotel and prepare for the big game. As soon as we arrived at Sun Life Stadium a small pep band went to perform at a pep rally. We began to line up and get ready to move into the stadium. I think we even converted a few Notre Dame fans before the game began; as several fans dressed in green asked for pictures with Crimsonettes.

As we walked into the stadium chanting our usual “Roll Tide” we all knew that this would be a night we would never forget.  We made our way to perform pregame with excitement. Hearing the fans join us in “the big BAMA spell out” is definitely one of my favorite parts of pregame! When our team made their way onto the field it was evident that they were here for one thing, to bring another trophy back to Tuscaloosa. After the first quarter, it was pretty obvious to everyone they were not leaving Sun Life Stadium without No. 15.

Performing my last halftime as a freshman Crimsonette at the BCS National Championship was truly a moment I will cherish forever.

The big win was such a moment of rejoice and celebration, and I cannot imagine celebrating it any other way than with my Crimsonette sisters, the Million Dollar Band, cheerleaders, fans and most of all the football team and staff.

To be a part of the era of a National Championship football team, and cheering them on by marching in the year of the Centennial season of the iconic Million Dollar Band was such a historic and once- in- a- lifetime opportunity. ROLL TIDE!

It’s time to begin the journey to 16!