Alabama fans flock to Dicks Sporting Goods to buy championship gear

Headlights became visible as the final seconds ticked off the national championship game clock. Loyal Alabama fans began flocking to Dicks Sporting Goods in the Brook Highland Plaza off of U.S. 280 after Alabama defeated Clemson 45-40 to claim a 16th National Championship.

Several sporting goods and fan apparel stores opened after the win to sell a selection of T-shirts, hats and sweatshirts to mark the occasion.

Christel Barnett, an Alabama graduate, said she makes a visit to Dicks after every national championship.

“I plan to wear this to work tomorrow,” Barnett said.

Matthew Baldwin was watching the game with Alabama in the lead in the fourth quarter and he decided he wanted to be among the first to walk away with some of the postgame swag. He said his girlfriend called when Clemson scored their final touchdown and told him what had happened so he decided to err on the side of caution.