He's grown to love collard greens, engulfs fried chicken and grits, swills sweat tea and, importantly in the Welch family, pledges his support to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Spring, an Arizona State fan while growing up, turned to the Tide before asking Welch to marry him.
"He kind of had no choice," Welch said. "I was born in Montgomery and we moved to Columbus (Ga.) when I was 2, but all of my family still lives in Alabama and a lot went to the University of Alabama.
"We've always been big Tide fans."
Spring is already trying to line up tickets to go to a game in Tuscaloosa this fall and experience his new team.
The Welch family slyly used Christmas to influence Spring's Crimson conversion. They inundated him with Alabama gear as holiday presents. He's well stocked when it comes to Alabama T-shirts.
"When they put that flag out front and eat off Alabama plates for Saturday dinner, you can't really argue," Spring said.
Spring talked up his new allegiance in spring training to fellow Tampa Bay minor leaguers and bantered with the Rays who either went to Auburn or support the Tigers.
Spring used to argue that the Pac-10 was superior to the Southeastern Conference. No more.
"He learned to say Roll Tide pretty quick," Welch said.
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