"How you feelin?" I asked a friend of 25 years on the night before the SEC Championship Game.

"Nervous, Mike. But I got nervous before the Vandy game. But you know what? I love the 'Bama fans," he replied. "They're knowledgeable. They're passionate about their team. It matters to them. They're good people."

Spoken to me by a fellow Florida Gator.

Turning to the large black binder that sits on the desk of my classroom, I thought about a letter inside of it—a letter I received many years ago by former Alabama head football coach Gene Stallings.

I still have it. And I always will.

I asked Stallings what he thought the most important aspects of teaching and coaching were.

His response was written ...

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