There is no place in the world like Tuscaloosa, Ala., on football Saturdays.

Two weeks ago when Alabama hosted Oklahoma on ESPN, the play-by-play announcer called games at Bryant-Denny Stadium “a happening.”

That may be an understatement.

People arrive – in some cases, weeks before a game – to camp out in their RVs.

They offer passersby food, drinks or just casual conversation.

Many fans who arrived early set up camp across from the Paul W. Bryant Museum, one of the many revered places on Alabama’s football-frenzied campus.

Vendors line the streets of Tuscaloosa selling shirts, hats, jerseys and virtually anything crimson and white.

“T-shirts, $5.”

Do you hear that at local bookstores?

Everybody wears Alabama clothing.

There are no colors from other schools. If a person isn’t wearing something related to the university, the colors still follow suit.

Message boards and announcers had raved about the quality of fans at Alabama home games.

They were right.

Alabama fans are the most polite and knowledgeable fans around.

When NIU took the field as a team for the first time, no one booed.

When was the last time that happened?

Fraternity members dress up in suits and ties to attend. They invite dates, who also dress up. The game means something to these people, just as it did to generations before.

People take nice cars and make them unofficial Tidemobiles.

Not just old cars either.

A Hummer rolled through campus with flags waving and an elephant painted on the side that covered nearly the entire door panel.

Despite overlooking the Huskies in many phases, the Alabama fans knew about Northern Illinois football.

They knew about Turner and the speed of the defense.

That’s saying something, considering Alabama reporters joked in the press conference that they didn’t even know what coach Joe Novak looked like.

After interviewing MAC commissioner Rick Chryst, many media members looked around trying to figure out who they were interviewing and why.

Kudos to the fans.

After the NIU upset, ‘Bama fans talked about how good the NIU team was, not how good they played.

That speaks volumes.

After the game, fans at the bars continued the “Roll Tide” chants despite losing to the Huskies.

The people are proud and they should be.

Alabama is what every struggling football school wants to be.

If you’re looking for ideas on how to start, follow the Crimson caravan to Tuscaloosa.