Drinking the "Crimson Kool Aid?" With gusto! Thank you sir, may I have another? On June 6, 2008, former player and strength and conditioning coach, Freddie Roach, asked his former teammate, defensive lineman Todd Bates, if he would write a motivational piece for the 2008 Crimson Tide. Bates, who was made a permanent captain in 2004, set to work soon after the 11 PM request was made because the deadline Roach gave him was "by the next morning". What Bates produced "out of (his) soul" speaks to the Bama Nation and what it believes in. 134 words of Crimson truth. The video is dedicated to a beloved member of the the Crimson Tide family, John Mark "Johnny" Stallings son of Coach Gene Stallings. Roll Tide Roll! Johnny! R.I.P.