Alabama Superfan Continues Tradition

Tommy Ray Has Been to Every Alabama Game Home and Away Since 1972

Is in tonight.

The alabama crimson tide held its home opener at bryant-denny stadium this afternoon.

Waay 31s max cohan shows us why today's game was extra special for one local fan.

Like other teams alabama has limited capacity to games to approximately 20 percent.

Today that meant just under 20,000 fans watched the action inside bryant-denny stadium.

But even attendance limits can stop some traditions.

"if they allow fans in there, i'll get in and if it gets to where they don't allow them, then i might end up in nick saban's office, begging."

Tommy ray is not your average crimson tide fan.

The huntsville native has been coming to alabama games since 1963 and has been at every single game -- home and away -- since 1972.

"since the first game of 1972, they've played 607 games, i've been to 607 games."

Saturday's win over texas a&m was his 633 game overall.

Over 48 seasons, ray says that when he takes a step back and looks at the collection of tickets he's amassed -- he sometimes asks himself how did he do it.

"of course, the answer is simple -- one game at a time."

With the uncertainty surrounding the season over the summer and then questions over whether or not fans would permitted at games -- ray says he feels blessed that he can keep his streak -- now spanning nearly a half century -- alive.

And he says it's the excitement that he's felt at every game since his first in 1963 that keeps him coming back.

"and what i saw, there wasn't but about 15,000 people in there, but it's the same feeling.

Red jerseys, red helmets, white pants, two red stripes like it's described on the radio, nothing's changed."

Believe it or not, ray isn't and has never been a season ticket holder.

He's just taken it one game at a time and he says he's still in need for tickets to five games this year.

In tuscaloosa, max cohan, waay 31 news.