Nate Oats reveals plans to honor late fan ahead of Alabama home opener
As Alabama is getting ready to start its college basketball season, it’ll be without its biggest fan. But the Crimson Tide are going to honor him prior to tip-off Tuesday night.
Coach Nate Oats told reporters there are plans to honor Alabama superfan Cameron Luke Ratliff, who passed away from COVID-19 complications in April, before the Crimson Tide’s game against Louisiana Tech at Coleman Coliseum. Ratliff was a senior public relations major at Alabama and led the “Crimson Chaos” student section.
Oats discussed what it’ll be like without the 23-year-old in the stands.
“Ever since I got here, he walked in — shoot, sometimes you [walked] in for shootaround four hours before a game and he’s already in the stands setting stuff up, fired up, ready to go,” Oats said on Monday. “I’m going to miss him. It’s sad to think about. I think the school’s done a great job … honoring him. His parents are in town today, they’ll be here for the game tomorrow. It’ll be special to honor him, but we’re going to really miss him. Hopefully the new student leader can pick up where he left off.”
Oats: ‘It’d be great’ if Alabama students honored Ratliff by showing up early
Oats also had a way Alabama students can honor Ratliff: Show up early, just like he did.
“It’d be great if the students here honored him in a meaningful way to show up early before the game,” Oats said. “They’re going to honor him about 15-20 minutes before the game. So if we can pack that student section full 30 minutes before the game and just really give him the respect that he deserves and that we’d all love to see. I know the video they’re going to show is going to bring a tear to your eye. It’ll be nice to recognize him. Hopefully we get a win for him and keep the spirit of what he was about around this program moving forward.”
In March, Ratliff listed the distance he’s traveled and amount of games he attended during his four years in Tuscaloosa on his Twitter — @fluffopotamus88. It’s impressive, and speaks to just how big of a fan he was.
Alabama was a No. 2 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament and went down to the wire with No. 11 seed UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen. The Bruins pulled off the thrilling overtime victory, upsetting the Crimson Tide en route to a Final Four appearance.
The Crimson Tide tip off the 2021-22 season at Coleman Coliseum Tuesday night against Louisiana Tech.