Damn. We will all miss him, but he's gonna have great fun talking BAMA football with Coach Bryant & all the other Tide fans.
----- Original Message ----- From: "kurtrasmussen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "rtf" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 8:54 AM Subject: [RollTideFan] Sad end of an era for Tide fans > > http://www.al.com/sports/mobileregister/pfinebaum.ssf?/base/sports/1087031792256480.xml > > > > Sad end of an era for Tide fans > > Saturday, June 12, 2004 > > "This is it," he said, slowly mustering up as much strength as he could > earlier this week. He seemed to pause for a moment, took a short breath > and continued expressing his thanks. > > "I've heard from so many friends and it means so much ... you all mean > so much to me." > > The name Jerry Bogle probably doesn't ring a bell to many people. > However, the sights and sounds of Bogle and his long-time partner in > crime, Troy Ferguson, have been a part of Alabama football folklore for > as long as most can remember. > > They are commonly referred to as the "Big Dogs from Scottsboro." The > name came courtesy of the late Alabama All-American, Derrick Thomas. > > Bogle is 6-foot-3 and Ferguson, commonly referred to as "Big Red," > stands an inch taller. In full dress uniform, they would probably tip a > scale together slightly over 600 pounds. They show up at Alabama > football games wearing red pants, an elephant snout, suspenders, > 5-foot-long crimson ties and -- as if you haven't figured out the rest > -- hold up sticks with Tide detergent boxes on top along with rolls of > toilet paper. > > They lead the Rammer Jammer cheer. They entertain the students and Tide > fans with their endless enthusiasm. It has been the safest bet in the > world over the last 20 years that when an Alabama game is televised, the > Big Dogs are shown on the tube, shaking their Tide boxes feverishly > after an Alabama score. It once took the duo three hours to make their > way from their motor home at Legion Field to the entrance gate into the > stadium. Everyone wanted their picture taken with the Big Dogs and they > never turned down a request, even if meant missing kickoff. > > "I bet we've had our picture taken a million times," said Ferguson, and > he may be shooting low. > > For all of their theatrics, the two are among the nicest fellows you > could ever meet, and their loyalty and support for their school has > never wavered. > > Sadly, their long run is nearing its end. > > Bogle is acutely ill with cancer. Despite optimism from his friends and > constant encouragement from Alabama fans far and near, Bogle has > accepted the inevitable reality. > > "This is probably it for me," said Bogle, who is 66 and recently retired > from an aluminum plant. > > Bogle started leaving Tide games in the third quarter last fall to head > back to the RV, something that had never happened before. Finally, he > went to the doctor and bladder cancer was discovered. There was optimism > at first. However, recently, the cancer has spread and hope has faded. > Eight days ago, the doctors sent him home from the hospital to be with > his family. > > Every day, Ferguson, who is 10 years younger and an investigator in the > Jackson County District Attorney's office, comes by and the two old > friends remember the good times. They finish each other's sentences. > They call each "Big Dog" and a sentence rarely ends without the other > one laughing. They act like two overgrown kids but are a joy to watch > and be around. However, this week, while Bogle tried to be cheerful, his > partner couldn't fight back the tears. > > "He's like a brother to me and this is so difficult," said Ferguson, who > choked with emotion. "He's making arrangements. He has already picked > out his clothes, his suit and pants and all ... and realized he didn't > have a tie. So I ran over to Huntsville last night and bought him a big, > red Alabama tie." > > The two met 20 years ago as high school football officials and struck up > a famous friendship. They started going to games together and never > stopped. Their Tide boxes have been signed by players and coaches alike > (the original one rests in the Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa). > > Before games and after, their RV is the epicenter of the Tide fan > nation. They have tailgated with fans of other schools as well, even > those from Auburn, whom the two commonly refer to as "the war chickens." > > I remember interviewing them once and gently asking about their habits > during the game. After all, I thought to myself, there's no way these > fellows can do this act stone-cold sober and I mentioned that to the duo. > > "We have fun," said Ferguson. "But let me make something clear. We don't > drink during the games." > > "Really," I said. > > "Now we may take a drink afterwards when we get back to the motor home > but no sir, when we're wearing the uniform, we don't drink. We don't > want to bring any embarrassment to the University of Alabama." > > And they didn't. Oh, perhaps some of the more upper-crust fans who sit > on their hands in their designer outfits during the games may have > lifted their noses to the sky at the specta cle of the Big Dogs ranting > and raving and grunting while shaking their Tide boxes and toilet paper. > > However, to the average fans, the guy or gal who lives Crimson Tide > football 365 days a year, Jerry Bogle and Troy Ferguson have been as > much a part of the wonderful tapestry of Alabama football as Bear > Bryant, Joe Namath, Kenny Stabler and the 12 national championships. > > And as long as fans go to Tide games this season or in the future, the > sight and sounds of the Big Dogs of Scottsboro will forever be etched in > their hearts and minds and our memories. > > (Paul Finebaum's column appears Tuesdays and Saturdays in the Mobile > Register. Contact him at [EMAIL PROTECTED]) > > > ______________________________________________________ > RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List > > "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" > > To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net > ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
