COLUMN: Crimson Tide Loses Superfan, But Gains Its Latest Legend

*This is an opinion column*

It was a sunny spring afternoon outside of Coleman Coliseum on Saturday with a light breeze —just the right temperature for a plaid sport coat.

But the beauty of the day felt deliberate amid the sadness hanging in the air.

This Easter weekend, the concepts of resurrection, rebirth and new life will no doubt still be celebrated in our community while many simultaneously mourn the loss of a young man who left his mark on everyone he touched. But I think it's important to note, though, that in losing a titan of Tide fandom, we may now be seeing something big bloom to fruition.

I never met Luke Ratliff in person and want to make that clear. I say that because, as I have seen many of you say, I still felt as if I knew him personally because of his presence within the Crimson Tide Zeitgeist. Apart from his impact on the fanbase and serving as an unofficial representative of the study body in the Coleman Coliseum student section, he was an early supporter of Tuscaloosa Patch and only had affirming and positive things to say, sprinkled with his wit and humor — a genuinely good dude seemingly bound for great things.

An impromptu gathering of sorts was held outside the entrance of the coliseum Saturday, which was attended by UA Athletic Director Greg Byrne, UA President Stuart Bell, and a host of Crimson Tide basketball players.

Also in attendance were the fans of the ultimate Tide fan. Some put down flowers in front of two portraits of Ratliff on the coliseum steps, while others wept and at least one group opened a half-case of Budweiser — Ratliff's favorite beer — before a solemn delegate in houndstooth overalls placed a single can of beer on the steps.

Byrne shared a hug with Ratliff's family before fighting through tears several times as he spoke to the impact had by the 23-year-old UA senior known lovingly as "Fluffopotamus." The athletic director also sported a plaid sport coat, a look pioneered by former Tide coach Wimp Sanderson that would become Ratliff's signature piece of attire. In March, the coaching staff gifted Ratliff his own tailored sport coat as a sign of appreciation for his commitment to the program, university and fanbase.

Hear what UA Athletic Director Greg Byrne had to say during today's tribute

"We have a lot of rich history here, we've had some incredible coaches and some incredible times, but we don't have a lot of traditions and if anybody has put a springboard into what the future holds from a tradition standpoint is Fluff," Byrne told reporters after the event. "We were actually talking about things he has done just in the last month that we can use for the future and we're going to do that, make sure that happens and that he gets the credit."

Crimson White photo editor Hannah Saad had a front-row seat to the changes within the program both on the court and in the stands during Ratliff's time.

"I honestly believe Luke rebuilt the student fan base for Alabama basketball," she told Patch on Saturday. "My freshman year, the marketing team had to organize free food giveaways for practically every game to entice students to come out to basketball. This year, attending games was so popular and tickets were so limited that students were lucky if they got into more than one game. Luke’s energy was just on another level. He brought the same energy to a Norfolk State NIT game that he brought to the SEC Championship."

She then said he would show up hours before tip-off, laying out copies of Crimson White newspapers on every student section seat for each student to read, crumble up and throw toward the opposing team. The funny thing is, as Byrne and others mentioned, even opposing teams and fan bases thought highly of him.

Among those sharing tributes were Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl and South Carolina coach Frank Martin, further underscoring his appeal across fan lines.

"Luke was more than just a basketball superfan," Saad said. "He had a way of making everyone feel important and like they mattered."

The last year has been hell for so many and for such a bright spot to go out so unexpectedly has not been easy to take. I've personally known more people who died during this pandemic than any other event in my lifetime and I can promise it doesn't get easier with repetition.

Tears could be seen in the eyes of Saad and others behind their masks on Saturday as each speaker choked up reminiscing about their friend.

"Everywhere he went, people recognized Fluff, Alabama basketball’s biggest fan," she said. "When Alabama beat Mississippi State to claim the regular season SEC Championship, Fluff scrambled to get a crowd outside of Coleman Coliseum while also racing back from Starkville to beat the team bus back and welcome the team back to Coleman."

She then said he arrived to cheers of his own fans, smoking a cigar and raising his hands "as high as his plaid jacket would let him."

He transcended traditional fandom, becoming as big of a personality as the stars he would lose his voice hollering for and a model fan for those coming behind him.

"That will be part of his legacy - a student fan base once again giving everything they got to make Coleman Coliseum an intimidating place to play," Saad said. "Not just showing up and expecting an Alabama victory, but making it hard for the other team to have a chance at winning."

As the event wound to a close, I felt discouraged for a moment in trying to extrapolate some kernel of positivity out of such a heartbreaking loss. When I listened to the conversations, though, and thought back on what each speaker said, maybe the backdrop was an appropriate one after all on a beautiful spring day over Easter weekend. There's still optimism to be found.

I'm a lifelong Tuscaloosa native and UA graduate who has lived through the ups and downs for Crimson Tide athletics over the years. But until the recent success under Nate Oats and Ratliff's rise to student section stardom, I've never seen the fanbase so energized and excited — and that's during a pandemic!

Yesterday, I wrote that Ratliff's legacy will live on alongside names like Bryant, Stabler and Thomas in Crimson Tide lore and that belief was reaffirmed Saturday afternoon as it became clear what he left behind in Tuscaloosa.

The Alabama basketball program he loved so much has undergone a rebirth during the last four years as this season proved to be one of the most memorable in school history. And there is no one who will argue the role Ratliff played in that evolution.

It didn't go unnoticed on Saturday either when looking at the outpouring of support seen for Ratliff's family.

As I previously reported on Saturday, a GoFundMe started by Alabama men's basketball assistant coach Bryan Hodgson had raised $38,946 in less than 24 hours. Ratliff had an obvious sense of place and community and it's only fitting that the Tide faithful is showing his family just how important he was in the eyes of so many.

While the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa and untold others grieve this awful loss, a new legend has been born that is sure to be a lasting reminder of the impact one person can have on the world around them.

Click here to donate to the GoFundMe for Ratliff's family.

Ryan Phillips is an award-winning journalist, editor and columnist who is the founder and community publisher for Tuscaloosa Patch. The views expressed in this opinion column are his and not necessarily reflective of our parent company.