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November 18, 2006

Iron Bowl takes its toll on "mixed" marriages

By Jimmy Simms

Like thousands of other Alabamiams, Hazel Dingler of the Berlin community is also looking forward to watching the game. A life-long Alabama fan, her support Crimson Tide football has come with a degree of sacrifice, however. For the past 38 years she has been married to a die-hard Auburn fan.

“He (Jerry Dingler) is die-hard Auburn fan and I’m die-hard Alabama. We get along fine most of the time, but not Saturday,” Dingler said. “I’m doing all of my housework and preparations for the game today. When the game starts, he’ll be on the couch and I’ll be in the recliner on the other side of the room. We won’t sit together, because it wouldn’t do for us to be that close to one another when the game is on.”

Dingler said she can be a bit of a cheerleader during the game, particularly if the game is close.

“I get excited. I’m a cheerleader from the get go. I’ll be standing up and yelling at the TV and he’ll just sit there and look at me,” Dingler said. “During half-time we call a truce long enough to get our snacks and then it’s more of the same in the second half.”

In recent years, a strong start by Alabama has usually ended in a dismal finish and a victory for the Tigers, but Dingler said she’s hoping for a better outcome this year.

“If Auburn wins the game, he’ll look at me and say something like, ‘I told you so,’ and then the war is on,” Dingler said. “It usually takes me two or three days to get over an Alabama loss to Auburn. During that time I usually provide Jerry with a pillow and blanket for the couch.”

Dingler’s plan this year when Alabama beats Auburn, she said, is to paint the score on their pickup truck and stick Alabama flags all the way around it.

“I’ve already got a tag on the front of the truck that says ‘No. 1 Alabama Fan,’” Dingler said. “Jerry hates that, but he might as well get over it, because it’s going to be worse when the Tide wins.”

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