He isn't a troll.

In fact, he is quite the opposite.

The cyber world of college football knows him as "Chattown Tide." His name quickly became associated with the art of trolling a fan base when he posted 'Tua language barrier' in a BamaOnline chat room back on Sept. 12.

The post, of course, pertained to then-Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a native of Hawaii, and his ability to communicate with his teammates.

The post:

"I haven't heard it mention, so I thought I would address the elephant in the room. He seems like a smart kid, so I'm wandering how his transition to the states has been as far as communication goes? Are we doing anything different like special playbooks or relying on signals more when he's in the game? I thought I saw him point to receivers a couple of times and defenses might catch on if he's pointing to who he's going to throw the ball to. The only time I've been out of the country is when I was shipped to Nam and I was as confused as a yankee learning to square dance."

The Internet went nuts.

Now, more than 10 months later, Chattown Tide is talking, sort of.

In a more wide-ranging story on the evolution of online chat rooms as they relate to college football, ESPN dives into the entertaining - and sometimes newsworthy - art of expressing opinions on the information super highway.

Here's what we know: His friends call him "Bear Johnson." He didn't want to give his real name. He's a 66-year-old retiree in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is a "life-long Alabama fan" who sells wood-craft supplies.

Yes, he was surprised by the reaction to his post.

Today, he is apologetic and asked the reporter to apologize to the Alabama quarterback if he talks to him.

"Boy, did I feel like an idiot," he said.

It's pretty clear Tagovailoa saw the message and took it in stride.

Still, Bear Johnson was sincere in his post and didn't mean any harm. He also shared the reason for his passion for the Tide.

"The Bear visited my high school my junior year when I was a backup linebacker," he said. "He told coach I was the toughest player he has ever seen and would give me a scholarship just for my toughness, but I was better suited for the war.

"Bear sayin' that was the reason I joined the Army. I second-guessed that decision all the time overseas, but I imagined that was Bear's own way of making me tougher and a better man."

Check out the entire ESPN piece on college football's "never-ending online tailgate."

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.