The official school colors of the University of Alabama are crimson and white. However, there is some debate as to whether crimson should be considered a shade of red or a shade of maroon. In this article, we will examine the history of Alabama’s colors, look at how they are defined, and try to determine conclusively whether crimson is red or maroon.
The History of Alabama’s Colors
The University of Alabama was established in 1831 in Tuscaloosa. The original school colors were actually blue and white. However, in the 1880s, a new football team was formed and the colors were changed to crimson and white. There are a few theories as to why crimson was chosen:
- Crimson was a popular school color at the time, used by schools like Harvard.
- It was chosen to symbolize the blood of Christ.
- It was selected to reflect the red carnations worn by the first Alabama football team in their lapels.
Regardless of the reason, crimson and white were adopted as the official Alabama colors in 1888. They have remained so ever since, for over 130 years.
How Crimson is Defined
So what exactly is crimson? There are a few ways we can determine how it is defined:
- Dictionary definitions – Most dictionaries define crimson as a strong, deep red color with a tinge of purple.
- Hex color codes – The official Alabama crimson hex code is #9E1B32. This is a shade of red.
- RGB values – The RGB values for Alabama crimson are (158, 27, 50). Again, a shade of red.
- Official descriptions – Alabama’s athletic department defines crimson as a “reddish purple” color.
Based on these definitions, crimson appears to sit in a gray area between red and purple. It is considered a shade of red, but has purplish undertones that give it a slight maroon-like appearance.
Comparing Crimson to Red and Maroon
To understand whether crimson should be classified as red or maroon, it helps to compare it directly to standard shades of each color:
| Color | Hex Code | RGB Values |
|---|---|---|
| Crimson (Alabama) | #9E1B32 | (158, 27, 50) |
| Red | #FF0000 | (255, 0, 0) |
| Maroon | #800000 | (128, 0, 0) |
This table shows that standard red is much brighter and more saturated than crimson. Standard maroon is darker and more muted. Crimson falls somewhere in between – it has more vibrance than maroon but is duller than red.
We can also compare the hex codes visually:
Crimson
Red
Maroon
The crimson block appears closer to maroon than to bright red. While it is still distinctly red, it contains enough purple/blue tones compared to red that classifying it as a maroon feels appropriate.
Other Major Universities with “Crimson” Colors
Alabama is not the only major university with crimson athletic colors. Harvard, Indiana, and Utah also use shades of crimson. But how these colors are classified varies:
- Harvard – “Crimson” (considered a red)
- Indiana – “Crimson” (considered a red)
- Alabama – “Crimson” (considered red or maroon)
- Utah – “Crimson” (considered a maroon)
This shows there is some disagreement on whether crimson is fundamentally red or maroon. Most view it as a red, but Alabama and Utah lean towards maroon in their official descriptions.
Conclusion
Based on the evidence, the University of Alabama’s official crimson color seems to fall somewhere in between red and maroon:
- It is officially defined as a “reddish purple” which suggests maroon.
- Its hex code and RGB values put it squarely in the red family.
- It is lighter and brighter than standard maroon but darker and duller than standard red.
- Other crimson universities are split between red and maroon classifications.
Overall, I would categorize Alabama’s crimson as technically being a shade of red due to its official hex code and RGB values. However, it contains enough purplish-blue tones compared to bright red that subjectively classifying it as a maroon seems reasonable as well. It sits closer to maroon than it does to a pure bright red. So while Alabama crimson is technically red, it certainly has maroon-like characteristics.
In summary, the debate over whether Alabama crimson is red or maroon has solid arguments on both sides. The technical definitions point to red, but the eye test leans maroon. Because of its purple undertones, Alabama crimson toes the line between both colors.
