The president and first lady of the Emerald Coast Alabama Club Florida chapter, Darryl and Cynthia Gilley, put on their crimson and white and made their way to Poppy's Time Out Sports Bar in Destin, like they've done for every game over the past four years.
But, this game was different — it was personal for the Tuscaloosa team.
The game pitted undefeated, BCS-ranked No. 1 Notre Dame to Alabama, whose one-loss of the season against Texas A&M was earth-shattering for The Tide. But, early in the game, the luck of the Irish ran out, and Nick Saban and the boys from The Cotton State could finally breathe easy.
Poppy's in Destin Commons serves as the official game-watching hub for the Alabama club, according to the Gilleys. Fans staked out spots all throughout the back of the restaurant,
Kim Buff, a Destin resident, said she is a huge Alabama fan.
"My niece is a Crimsonette — a majorette — and I go to as many games as possible, but the ones I can't make I still watch on TV."
Alabama went on to win the game 42-14, claiming their third BCS National Championship in four years, and their second in a row.
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