From Tennis Match To "Too Far?" Did Crimson Chaos Cross the Line During Iron Bowl of Basketball?

The Coleman Coliseum crowd was heavily involved in the Tide's rivalry game win on Wednesday night.

The University of Alabama and Auburn University renewed their athletic rivalry by meeting on the basketball court for an SEC regular season contest on Wednesday night. 

Without a doubt, the Coleman Coliseum crowd was as lively as it's been all season as the Crimson Tide welcomed a top-10 opponent in the form of its bitter rival in a crucial game for conference standings.

The last three seasons the winner of the initial matchup between the opponents has gone on to win the second, and win the Southeastern Conference regular season championship. 

Officially 13,474 crammed into historic Coleman Coliseum, a place Auburn center Dylan Cardwell deemed, "abstract art", and while the majority of the spectators were there to cheer on the home team, there was a clear group of Auburn faithful who found their way into the arena.

"Yeah, that environment was crazy. It'd be nice to have that every game at home," said Alabama forward Grant Nelson. Nelson played his best game in conference play, scoring 14 points with 11 rebounds while bringing the crowd to its feet twice in the second half with impactful dunks. 

The evening will largely be remembered for the Tigers's second half comeback and the Crimson Tide's ability to hang on late at home for a big win to put the Tide, Tigers and Tennessee Volunteers into a three-way tie for first in the SEC standings. 

Despite social media grumblings for a new arena after a first-half light malfunction only one possession into the game, the Coleman crowd proved that, when full, the Alabama faithful can create an electric environment. 

Coleman Coliseum wasn't full on Tuesday, Nov. 28 when Alabama welcomed the Clemson Tigers to town for the ACC/SEC Challenge and ESPN commentator Jay Williams went viral for saying it, "sounds like a tennis match" at the game, a contest the Tide lost 85-77.

Williams, in his first return trip to Tuscaloosa since making those comments in November, leaned into the Alabama student-section's shenanigans, poking fun at his comments and getting revved up in his presence. He complimented the difference in the atmosphere, but did "Crimson Chaos" and the Alabama faithful take things too far with their rival in town?

Just after the game was halted after a single possession to sort the lights out, the Auburn faithful organized a rousing "Bodda Getta" chant that was promptly met with profanity from the Alabama crowd. 

Language Warning:

Bodda Getta chants were loud in Coleman Coliseum after Johni Broome drained a 3 to open the game.

This was the Alabama student section’s response shortly after: @NextRoundLive pic.twitter.com/SUjpueO0if

— Taylor Korn (@TaylorKornTNR) January 25, 2024

The profane chant happened twice over the span of the event, both in response to the Auburn faithful organizing support for the Tigers. On top of that, the Alabama students organized several pointed chants directed at Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl's weight. 

"I didn't hear that. I wasn't aware of that. I want the crowd - I think what makes college basketball, college basketball is you get the age group that we've got as college students and they bring a certain energy to the game," said Alabama coach Nate Oats on Friday when asked about the chants. 

"My assistant Coach Pannone was in the NBA and he keeps commenting on how great the crowds are. Not being disrespectful, I do not condone any type of disrespect at all, but I didn't hear that. I wasn't aware of it. We want our crowd to be super loud. We want them to do it with class. We want them to support us, give us energy, and I'll say this we play in some really tough road environments in the SEC. Think about when we go to Auburn and when we go to some places. Yeah, it'd be nice if everybody's crowd, particularly ours, who we have more control over was super loud, super energetic and very respectful in their cheers. I'm not sure I've got a whole lot of control over what exactly is being said nor am I aware of what's being said most of the time. I learned a long time ago to tune the crowd out and try to focus on what the game is. I don't think I want to hear what they're saying about me on the road all the time." 

The SEC has played 41 basketball games over the course of its first three weeks with Saturday presenting a full slate of conference action. The home teams have gone 30-11, proving how difficult it is to win on the road in this league. Alabama's only conference loss was on the road, last Saturday to Tennessee. 

Five of Alabama's six remaining home games are on Saturday, starting with tonight at 7 p.m. as the LSU Tigers enter Coleman Coliseum riding a two-game losing streak. Will the Crimson Tide faithful find a way to balance both Nelson and Oats's comments by bringing energy to impact the game but do so in a respectful manner?

Alabama Baseball HC Rob Vaughn Gives Update on Dylan Lonergan