Alabama fans 'remember the Rose Bowl,' but likely not from personal experience

Alabama fans sing it loud and proud every game day: "Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then."

But unless you were following the Crimson Tide nearly 80 years ago, this New Year's Day will be the first time Alabama plays in a proper Rose Bowl in your lifetime.

The mention of the Rose Bowl in "Yea Alabama" dates back to 1926, when the Tide took down the Washington Huskies in a major upset many never saw coming.

"No less than coaching legend Glenn 'Pop' Warner said Washington was just too big for the smaller Crimson Tide squad to handle," C.J. Schexnayder wrote for Roll 'Bama Roll. "Entertainer Will Rogers summed up the general sentiment when he called the Alabama the 'Tusca-losers.'"

Despite that, Alabama took down Washington 20-19, then tied Stanford 7-7 in 1927.

In the 1930s, Alabama won two more Rose Bowls over Washington State and Stanford and lost one to California, and in 1946, the Tide downed USC 34-14.

Since then, the Tide hasn't played in a Rose Bowl in Pasadena, though they have played a couple of Rose Bowl-esque games.

In 2010, Alabama captured its first championship under head coach Nick Saban with a 37-21 win over Texas at the Rose Bowl. 

Though the game was overseen by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses and held at the Rose Bowl venue, the rules were set by the now-defunct Bowl Championship Series, meaning the matchup was not a true Rose Bowl, according to the Tournament of Roses. In the proper Rose Bowl that year, Ohio State beat Oregon 26-17.

And in 2021, Alabama took down Notre Dame 31-14 in what was technically the Rose Bowl. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and California's health regulations, however, the game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys. 

So when Alabama and Michigan face off on New Year's Day, soak it in, Bama fans. It could be the only true Rose Bowl memory you'll have to think back on when singing "Yea Alabama" in the future.