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Alabama fans cheer on their team in a positive way during their 48-14 win over Western Carolina on Nov. 22, 2014, in Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)

(VASHA HUNT)

Alabama fans didn't like it a few weeks ago when some LSU fans broke into a profane chant directed at their coach, Nick Saban.

It was so vulgar - the first word started with the letter "F," the second word was "you" and the final word was "Saban" - LSU AD Joe Alleva felt compelled to issue an apology.

Alabama AD Bill Battle will have to do the same if some of his fans don't stop disgracing themselves and the song "Dixieland Delight."

If you've been to Bryant-Denny Stadium in recent years, you've heard it played over the loudspeakers. You usually hear it more than once at every home game, but you don't just hear the original version by the band Alabama.

You hear a vulgar and profane alteration. You hear these extra lyrics: "F... Auburn. And LSU. And Tennessee, too."

What's the difference between using the Queen Mother of all four-letter words in that context and the one spewed out by some LSU fans at Saban? There is no difference. It's beyond rude, and it's wrong. What's worse, it's become a regular, choreographed part of Alabama home games.

Battle made a vague reference to this Dixieland Disgrace in his regular letter to Alabama fans, "The Battle Plan," last week after the big win over Mississippi State. The profane lyric could be heard loud and clear during that game.

After applauding the energy and enthusiasm in Bryant-Denny Stadium that day, Battle wrote this: "Speaking of class, our fans are known nationally for being vocal in support of our team and treating opponents with class. Any individual who uses inappropriate language, particularly in chants against the opposing team, does a disservice to the classy national reputation that our entire fan base has deservedly earned. ... Our team, coaches and University - as well as families and children in attendance - deserve better."

Amen.

Good for Battle for saying something that needed to be said by someone in authority at Alabama. The school has built the best game-day atmosphere in college football, but some fans adding a four-letter taunt to a popular song doesn't add to the fun.

It spits on it. And now it's past time to stop it.