Jameson Williams reacts to Alabama fans use of karate gi Twitter emoji

In the last day or so, what can only be described as a movement has begun amongst Alabama fans on Twitter. Now the guy largely behind it, Tide wide receiver Jameson Williams, has issued a comment.

“It’s exciting seeing that,” Williams said Wednesday. “I like seeing it — I just went on there earlier and I was, like, what’s this? But it’s exciting seeing things like that, showing how the Alabama family is behind you and how we’re all together and everything. It’s just exciting to see things like that.”

The wave of social media togetherness involves putting the karate gi emoji after one’s name, or “handle” on Twitter. 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. The emoji likely got very little use in the state of Alabama before Williams and fellow wideout John Metchie III started the “Crimson Crane” celebration this season.

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 lifting 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.”

The origins of the “Crimson Crane” celebration remain largely unknown, but 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.

On3’s James Fletcher contributed to this report.