KENNY CLYDE AND HIS TIDE TAKE.

Warm welcome to bammers

Kenny Clyde and I go way back to the days when both of us arrived in Atlanta looking to make our mark in the ad agency business. Since those early days, we've logged many miles in our annual Third Saturday in October pilgrimages to either Knoxville or Birmingham. We typically headed out on Friday morning so we could get in 18 before hitting the bars. Depending on game time, we'd squeeze in another 18. Sunday morning before heading back to ATL, we'd get in yet another 18, weather, wives, and moods permitting. So this game has a special meaning to both of us.

Meet Kenny Clyde

Kenny Clyde's cousin, Danny Rae Clyde

Kenny Clyde hails from Birmingham where he grew up in the shadows of Legion Field where most Saturdays you could find him selling Cokes and old lottery tickets in the stands of that hallowed place. I've met his kin including all 49 cousins: Jim Bob Clyde, Forest Joe Clyde, Billy Joe Clyde, Cooter Clyde, Danny Rae Clyde, Leon Clyde...you get the picture; all very nice and all very Crimson Tide. Denzil and Ann, Kenny Clyde's folks, welcomed me into their home. Super folks and super Bear Bryant devotees. They insisted I wear my orange jump suit.

For a fair and balanced look at tomorrow's game in Rocky Top, we've invited Kenny Clyde to share his thoughts on the 2014 Third Saturday in October (editor's note: not really the third Saturday).

Please Welcome Kenny Clyde...in his words...
Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, I had three certainties in my life.  I loved Jesus, Alabama football, and hated the Tennessee Vols.

Tide Pride with Cooter Clyde

That faded pumpkin orange is unique.  Uniquely bad.

When I grew up and moved to Atlanta, wouldn't you know that among the first people I meet is Mark Woolard.  A Marylander who lost a bet and thus went to school in Knoxville (editor's note: Mark was recruited to UT).  Even worse, he graduated from there (editor's note: with honors).  Even more worse, he remained a fan of the Big Sucking Orange.

Between 1981 and 1996 or so, we went home and home.  Knoxville to stay with his fantastic in-laws, and to Birmingham to stay with my parents.  Mark's wife is similarly addicted to orange, put despite that, we allowed them into our home, treated them like family and, just like the little boy who befriended a snake, we got bit.

Y'see, from 86 to 95, Bama had their way with the Oranginas.  Win, win, win, etc.  (Ok, there was one tie, but Bama didn't LOSE!)  And Mark and Debbie were festering little boils, just waiting to explode (editor's note: true).

Finally on Oct. 14, 1995, the unthinkable happened.  The Vol-weevils defeated the Tide, in Legion Field, 41-14 (editor's note: Peyton Manning sliced and diced the Tide secondary. Schweet).

Being the good sports we are, me and my wife and my parents congratulated Mark and Debbie and reckoned that they were due a win after all those years of hearing "we just beat the hell out of you".  Like true fans, we celebrated the wins, and were graceful with the losses (editor's note: puhlease).

Not Mark. That snake.

Sunday morning dawned bright and early.  Dad made a big country breakfast for everyone.  Mark couldn't wait to read The Birmingham News just to make certain it hadn't been a dream. It was a peaceful, non-eventful morning.  Finally, the four Atlantans packed up and waving goodby to Mom and Dad, hit the road.

Then it happened.  About three days later my Dad called.  Seemed he had gone to the liqour cabinet to pour himself a little cold remedy and there, attached to all the bottles, were orange sticky notes reading "41-14." Over the next week or five, they found notes everywhere!  In shoes, in closets, on cans of beans, on the workbench, in the laundry room.  He hadn't missed a spot.

I asked Mark how many hours of sleep he missed vandalizing my parents' home.  His response?  "Not as many as over the past few Third Saturdays in October."

Funny thing, no notes have appeared in awhile ("like six million babies have been born" awhile).

And I don't think Sattidee will ruin this streak. I like Butch, but Bama beats Dooley's seniors 33-10.

Look for your GREAT EIGHT™ WINNING PICKS SOMETIME LATER TODAY (we'll be busy earning a living today).

MAKE MO' MONEY WITH MARK™