For Tommy Ray of Huntsville, following Alabama football has meant finding a ticket and being there — every game, every season, for more than half a century.
Known as “Roll Tide Tommy,” Ray began his streak in 1972. Home games, road games, bowl games and playoff games have kept him traveling wherever the Crimson Tide plays.
Rick Karle reported that Ray, 78, attended his 692nd consecutive Alabama football game when the Tide hosted South Carolina on Sept. 26.
“I’ll keep it going as long as the Lord blesses me with good health,” Ray said in Karle’s post.
What makes that commitment even more remarkable is that Ray isn’t a season ticket holder. He buys individual tickets, finding a seat each week through ticket sites or other means.
When Yellowhammer News reported on his streak in October 2023, Ray had attended 654 consecutive games. Add the 26 games he attended before the streak began, and his lifetime total stood at 680 — exactly half of the 1,360 games Alabama had played at that point.
Since then, he has kept showing up.
His devotion also led to a memorable moment on ESPN’s College GameDay. During an appearance on the show, Ray confirmed that he had met every Alabama head coach since Bear Bryant except Nick Saban.
Then Saban joined him.
“Appreciate your support for all these years, man. I wish I could have won 600 games in a row,” Saban said.
“You won a bunch,” Ray replied.
Ray thanked his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for making the meeting possible. He also expressed his appreciation for Saban’s contributions to the university and community and thanked Karle for continuing to share his story.
He also thanked the brother-in-law who took him to his first Alabama game.
Now, another milestone is within reach. If Ray attends each of Alabama’s eight remaining regular-season games, the Nov. 28 Iron Bowl against Auburn in Tuscaloosa will mark his 700th consecutive game.
For all the numbers his streak has produced, Ray’s approach has remained simple. In a 2019 BamaCentral interview, he explained that his goal was to make it to one more game.
Asked whether he had a favorite, his answer was just as simple.
“The next one,” Ray said.
Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.
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