Can't give myself credit but I saw somewhere else the best short summation of the Bama mindset as it pertains to Auburn, themselves and the rivalry. It's a brilliant take.
Almost all Alabama fans honestly believe Auburn is always on the brink of total collapse while Alabama is always on the brink of total domination.
That's perfect. It explains the puzzled, rampaging assholery when AU is on top as it has been for most of their lives. It explains the arrogance. It explains the braying, ignorant assholery when UA is successful. It explains every single call to Finebaum's show over the past decade. 99% of them have that attitude bred into them when their father and his sister/cousin hook up and make babies.