Crimson Caravan: The RVs roll into Tuscaloosa for Gameday weekends
Tuscaloosa Magazine – Fall 2008 (Print version only)
It’s Friday evening in Tuscaloosa, the night before a big Alabama football game. The town’s dressed up in crimson and white, and fans are flocking in – none more enthusiastically than those rumbling onto campus in their beloved RVs….”These are very loyal fans with hearts of gold,” said Ronnie Robertson, director of transportation services for the University of Alabama. “Win or lose, they’re here to enjoy themselves. There are two key factors: They love people and they love football.” On-campus lots – eight plus three others reserved for Tide Pride members – open at 6 p.m. on Friday. An hour later, said Robertson, the lots are instant cities. He and Chris D’Esposito, assistant director of transportation services, are probably more familiar with the lots than anyone else…
Foreclosures below U.S. average
Huntsville Times – Oct. 2
…The percentage of Alabama mortgages that were past due or in foreclosure continued to run lower than the national average in the second quarter, according to a University of Alabama report released this week. The Alabama Center for Real Estate found that 3.29 percent of 601,377 active mortgages across the state were “seriously” delinquent or more than 90 days overdue – in the April-June period, compared with 4.5 percent nationwide. Still, only 0.65 percent of the loans entered the foreclosure process in the quarter, compared with 1.08 percent nationwide
Schools’ ‘rainy day’ fund wiped out
Associated Press – Oct. 2
…University of Alabama finance professor Robert Brooks said with the volatile stock market it’s a difficult time for state governments to depend on capital gains and similar revenue. “Governments that have strong reserves are going to weather this crisis better than others,” Brooks said. He said the state’s education budget problems also shows what happens when government relies heavily on sales taxes. “Sales taxes are very sensitive to economic conditions,” Brooks said…
Montgomery Advertiser – Oct. 2
Rib meat and greet at Alabama an absolute Dream
USA Today – Oct. 2
…Dreamland BBQ…If Alabama had an official restaurant, this would be it,” University of Alabama senior Tim Chandler said. “Look at the walls. You see Coach Bryant’s photo. Coach (Nick) Saban. Coach (Gene) Stallings. It’s the best ribs in the world, and it’s all from a cee-ment shack.” And it’s arguably the best college football joint in the land…As golden jubilees go, Tuscaloosa is doubly blessed. This season is the 50th anniversary of Bryant’s return to his alma mater. Friday marks the 50th anniversary of Dreamland…