Gaines, son of IV, offer's his first post.

I don't remember how old I was, maybe IV can help me out with this!  But I was young, maybe 5, maybe 6 years old; just a budding young Tiger. Dad had gotten us tickets to an Auburn Homecoming game, and our seats were in the newly constructed upper deck section (west section), about half-way up.

I remember being pretty scared that I was going to fall to my death being that high up, but after a while I got used to the altitude. I remember that I had a stuffed animal with me, a little fuzzy white cat with deep blue eyes, and I was playing with the toy instead of focusing on the game. Sitting near us was a nice lady who had a daughter who was about my age. The daughter saw my little stuffed animal, and became enamored with it. She came up to talk to me about the kitty, and asked me what his name was. I didn't have a name for the toy, he was just kitty-cat as far as I was concerned. Well, she asked if she could name the kitty "Tu Tu". I said, "If he's Two Two, that would make him Four!" The little girl said, "well let's call him Four Four then!" And my reply was, "Four Four is Eight!" And on we went up the multiplication tables until I reached 64, at which point my your brain couldn't fathom the next numbers. Anyway, the little girl and I played together, dad and her mom shared Auburn memories, and the team was victorious! So, at a very young age I learned quickly several things about Auburn that hold true to this day: 1) Auburn people love Auburn, and will talk to utter strangers about a common ground if you will only wear a little burnt orange and navy blue. 2) Auburn Football games are fun as heck, and can even be exciting at times! 3) The cutest girls in the world love Auburn and Auburn Men, and will go out of their way to meet them!!!

I'd love to believe that the little girl still remembers me, and that I made her day of Auburn Football a fun experience for her too. I'd also love to think that she grew up, went to Auburn, and became the Homecoming Queen or a Tigerette, or a Cheerleader, and still thinks back to one of her first football games and the little boy with the cat called "Tu Tu". Regardless, she is someone I will never forget, because she was a very integral part of my first Auburn experience.  Not only because she and I became friends for a day, but also because I helped her learn the words to "War Eagle". I played a role in creating, even at a young age, an Auburn Man and an Auburn Woman.

War Damn Eagle!

Auburn beats Syracuse 37-34 in overtime, 2002

As posted by "Peter 'Big Snacks' Frankenschmidt" at www.habotn.com 

I surprisingly remember that Syracuse game well. I started the day off right: consuming three minis of Smirnoff 100-proof at room temperature at 8a.m. before walking to the tailgate. I ended the night with some other guy's girlfriend. In between, I was transformed from a life-long Auburn fan into a rabid personality with Orange and Blue running through my veins.

Not sure why it was that game that was special. I had been too many at that point. I just remember standing on the wall around the 10 yard line in the student section (after I told Mr. Yellow Jacket Guy to shut up or come get me if he wanted me to step down into my seat...I guess he was in a good mood, he just laughed), screaming my lungs out. I looked down the field, up into the stands, over at the band, and it just hit me like a ton of bricks. This place, which I already loves and held dear, was truly the greatest place on earth.

A couple of overtimes later, the glorious fame was over and the good guys were victorious. I was in heaven as I walked out of the stadium with some friends. Up ahead, I saw a pretty girl standing by herself, waiting on drunk boyfriend to catch up. I grabbed her and laid a huge kiss on her. She seemed shocked at first, then looked back at him stumbling around, looked at me, shrugged her shoulders, took my arm and walked away with me. Stuff legends are made of. 

War Damn Eagle!

See game stats and story

Thank you to “IV” for our very first entry! IV was the inspiration for this blog.

The "War Eagle Special" submitted by IV

Time for some reminiscing. The most fun I ever had going to a road Auburn game was circa 1963. I am sure some of you more senior A. U. fans may remember the "War Eagle Special". This was a special train that left Montgomery early on Saturday morning to go to the Auburn - Ga. Tech game, stopping in Auburn en route to pick up additional passengers including a lot of students. Having been long gone from Auburn and freshly established in the Gump, I, along with some new found Auburn buddies boarded said train in 'gomery and off we go to Hotlanta and what is now Bobby Dodd Stadium. Quite a few fans boarded at outset, but the fun really started when we stopped in Auburn. My friends, you think you can have fun traveling with some buddies to a game say in an R. V.? You ain’t lived until you go to a game with a train load of Auburn buddies, old and newly found! Once in Atlanta, the R. R. had special busses to take us to the game. We got there in time to walk over to the Varsity for a few dogs, the only good thing in the vicinity of G. T. campus except for my younger son now living nearby on Peachtree Street. We beat the insects that day as I recall 29 to 21 which in those days was not easy to do in Atlanta. You were automatically 14 points down when you set foot in the stadium. The train ride back was where it really got to be fun. Mucho adult drinks and partying for those that cared to participate. This also brings back memories of the wreck Tech pajama parades on campus on Friday before the Tech game, but that is another story for another time.