To see a video from the “Burn Bama Man Party,” click here.
A likeness of Alabama coach Nick Saban rested atop a few bales of hay Friday night. It was dressed in an Alabama hat, headphones and a T-shirt that read “got Nick …”The face was a picture of the former LSU coach yelling. Then the Saban likeness was set on fire as LSU fans in attendance cheered.”Nick Saban won us a national championship, and now he is trying to do that for a rival team,” said Mistie Rice, property manager and sales coordinator for Tiger Manor. “So we are going to welcome him back to town by setting him on fire.”This was part of Tiger Manor’s second annual “Burn Bama Man Party,” which featured food, music, a parade and of course the burning of a likeness of Alabama’s coach.          Rice said about 50 people showed up last season, but more than 100 attended this year. The crowd included University students and alumni who had one thing in common — a distaste for Saban.”What he did … it hit hard,” said David Allain, architecture junior, about the coach going to Alabama after a brief stint with the Miami Dolphins.Richard Curran, a University alumnus and an attorney living in Nashville, echoed Allain’s thoughts on Saban.”Great coach,” Curran said. “But he is a jerk as an individual.”Curran said he has season tickets and makes it to every home game, and he didn’t think burning a likeness of Saban would reflect negatively on the LSU fans.”They’re trying to get everybody fired up,” Curran said. “There’s nothing malicious. It is truly good college fun.”Allain said he thought the event was a good pep rally for the game.”It reminds you of the old days when they used to beat up cars and burn things,” he said.Amy Hasemkampf, biology senior, said the event was awesome.  “It is all in the spirit of getting excited about the game.” she said.Rice said she thought Alabama fans were going to crash the party because of the high volume of calls and e-mails the complex received form Crimson Tide fans. She said some fans called in with profanity and some called the University’s mascot a kitty.”Most people would just call our office and say, ‘Roll Tide’ and hang up on us,” Rice said. “Then we’d call them back, and ask them if they are interested in buying a condo from us.”—-Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]