Alabama Final Four celebration: Fans lose their minds on the Strip after historic win

After the Alabama men’s basketball team’s win to advance to its first-ever Final Four int he NCAA tournament, Crimson Tide fans lost it on the Strip.

That’s par for the course after historic wins, but you typically saw it after national title wins during Nick Saban’s tenure as head football coach.

Credit this one to Nate Oats and the Bama basketball squad, who defeated Clemson to advance, following their second trip to the Elite 8. The Tide had a back-and-forth prizefight with the Tigers but took control in the second half to send the program fans have never seen them go: The Final Four.

The Strip came alive well before the final buzzer, with fans packing out local bars like The Rabbit Hole, Rounders, Twelve 25 and others, each erupting in cheers after every made 3-pointer or Tiger turnover.

The Houndstooth patio was at capacity, with hundreds of fans biting their fingernails while glued to the TVs hanging from the ceiling. As Tide stars like Nick Pringle and Grant Nelson sunk crucial, game-clinching free throws, fans began to let loose, though tense until the clock hit zero.

High-fives and bear hugs spread like wildfire, as did the harmonies of “Rammer Jammer” and “Sweet Home Alabama” while men and women screamed “The Final Four!” into each other’s faces. One fan toted an Alabama flag from the Strip to Queen City Avenue, as car horns honked and “Roll Tides” repeated.

One fan scurried over to AL.com’s camera to pull her bottom lip down to reveal the letters “RMFT” tattooed inside. Strangers embraced, close friends reunited after spending the game at separate bars only blocks away -- the Tide advanced.

Oats and his Bama team cut down the West regional nets Saturday night, and they’ll have a week before they take on the dangerous defending national champ UConn Huskies. But seven days is child’s play compared to the 110-plus years it took to finally arrive at this mountaintop.

See the photos from the Strip in Tuscaloosa above and below.