Alabama fans band together over 'Crimson Crane' celebration with Twitter emoji

The karate gi emoji likely got very little use in the state of Alabama before Crimson Tide wide receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie III started the “Crimson Crane” celebration this season. However, over the past 24 hours it has become a de facto “Gump Twitter” verification mark, allowing die-hard Alabama fans to separate themselves ahead of the national championship game.

With a lot of fan talk, here is a breakdown of some key terms. First, the “Crimson Crane” celebration mimics a scene from the movie Karate Kid, with each player listing one foot off the ground with his hands lifted out. Secondly, the term “Gump Twitter” is a self-given title for die-hard Alabama fans, who pulled the term from the Alabama football scene in Tom Hanks’ classic Forrest Gump.

Now that the background is out of the way, here is an explanation from the Alabama graduate who started the movement.

“It was more of just a way to show support for the championship coming up,” Adam Weil told BamaCentral’s Tony Tsoukalas. “Just a way for all Alabama fans to recognize how many fellow fans there are out there and identify themselves.”

The movement started like a wildfire once he jumped on social media, posting, “If you have (the gi emoji) after your Twitter name it means you’re verified on Gump Twitter.”

In the world of social media, verification has become the ultimate objective. Whether as a public figure, information source of celebrity, a blue checkmark and follow from @verified can mean that you arrived.

More about the Crimson Crane

The origins of the “Crimson Crane” celebration remain largely unknown, but Jameson Williams took time to explain after Alabama’s 42-21 win over Ole Miss earlier this season.

“It was kind of the week of – and like I said, I don’t know why it was karate – it was just something we came up with.” Williams said during a postgame press conference. “But it’s just been going since then.”

The team-wide “Crimson Crane” after each touchdown might not bring special meaning, but it offers a nice cap to each drive.

During the Iron Bowl, Auburn players mocked the Crimson Tide, using the same Karate Kid inspired celebration twice. However, John Metchie III got the last laugh with an game-winner in overtime, followed by an extended “Crimson Crane” pose in front of his opponent.

The trolling continued into the holiday season as Alabama offensive lineman Javion Cohen traveled up to Hoover High School in Birmingham, Alabama to strike the pose outside Auburn’s Birmingham Bowl practice.