Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
An extra special Auburn birthday surprise!
Submitted by Eddie McCoy - You can read lots of great Auburn insight at Eddie's blog http://auburnfootballinsider.blogspot.com/
With Sept. 12th, my birthday approaching, i'm reminded of the last time Auburn played on that same date, and it was back in 1998 against Ole Miss in Oxford. As some of you might or might not know, is that I served as a football manager, between 1996 and 1999. Most of the time as a student manager, I rode with the head equipment manager, Frank Cox in the equipment truck, and one of my many duties was to always take a last look around the locker room before we pulled out.I was walking back in the lockerroom to make sure that we had not left anything, especially a players pads or helmet, and when I made a turn to check out the shower area, what to my wondering eyes should I see.....but all the female cheerleaders taking a shower. I'm sure they had assumed that we had already left and therefore jumped in, but I think I stood their staring for what probably was only a few seconds, but it felt like forever. They evidentually saw me, and I quickly ducked out before they could scream, which they didn't, and I left, but it was the best impromptu birthday gift that I ever received that involved a football game. That is one Auburn Football memory among many that will be permantely ingrained into my memory.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Debut of the 2009 JumboTron PreGame Video - Salvia's Family Reunion
Thanks again to Tommy Davis for this video from his great vantage point during the September 5, 2009 La Tech game. Coach Chizik and the new video debut together!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A memorable flight of Spirit
Coach Gene Chizik and Company's first game. Spirit performed a memorable pre-game flight! Thank you to Tommy Davis for generously providing the video.
Meeting Coach Jordan the night the 1957 National Championship was announced
Originally posted by IV on www.habotn.com on September 8, 2009
I was fortunate to have met Coach Jordan twice in my lifetime. I am going to tell about the first encounter. The night in 1957 that it was announced that Auburn was the AP National Champion, there was quite a celebration at Toomer's Corner as I am sure you can imagine. This was before I-85 was built and all of the through traffic such as New Orleans to Atlanta came right up College Street and Toomer's Corner. A large crowd gathered but no toilet paper. This was before the tradition of rolling the trees. I would bet that there was about as many folks there that night as a present day Toomer's Corner gathering, the only thing was Auburn had an enrollment of about 9,000 in those days.
For awhile, 18 wheelers were unable to get through until the Auburn Police got bright and re-routed traffic off of College Street. It was interesting for a period of time as no 18 wheeler got by without the driver blowing his horn loud and strong and learning how to yell WAR EAGLE. There was even a Volkswagen that got picked up, occupants still inside and lifted over a post in the center of the walkway leading to the campus from Toomer's Corner. I don't know if that post is still there and I don't remember how the driver of the Volkswagen got out as he had been put down on the sidewalk that goes past the lathe and Samford Hall.
After celebrating for a good while, someone in the crowd got the idea of going to Coach Jordan's house to get him to speak to the crowd. So off we went. Some drove, but most went down the street singing and shouting WAR EAGLE. We got to Coach Jordan's house and his wife came to the door to see what all the commotion was about.
Of course, we started to yell "we want Coach Jordan, we want Coach Jordan". He finally came to the door and I along with a guy I had no idea who was, lifted Coach Jordan up on our shoulders and carried him out to where most of the crowd was. We then put him down and he was very gracious in what he had to say, giving his players, assistant coaches and others all of the credit. That was the kind of man he was. When he got through speaking, I introduced myself and told him that I was from his hometown of Selma. This brought a big smile to his face and he was so glad that a fellow Selmian had been there to share in the celebration with him.
He thanked me and asked how were things in our hometown. I told him alot better after Selma's favorite son had just coached Auburn to a National Championship. That is the kind of memory that I can never forget. Thanks Coach, I will never forget you.
WAR EAGLE
I was fortunate to have met Coach Jordan twice in my lifetime. I am going to tell about the first encounter. The night in 1957 that it was announced that Auburn was the AP National Champion, there was quite a celebration at Toomer's Corner as I am sure you can imagine. This was before I-85 was built and all of the through traffic such as New Orleans to Atlanta came right up College Street and Toomer's Corner. A large crowd gathered but no toilet paper. This was before the tradition of rolling the trees. I would bet that there was about as many folks there that night as a present day Toomer's Corner gathering, the only thing was Auburn had an enrollment of about 9,000 in those days.
For awhile, 18 wheelers were unable to get through until the Auburn Police got bright and re-routed traffic off of College Street. It was interesting for a period of time as no 18 wheeler got by without the driver blowing his horn loud and strong and learning how to yell WAR EAGLE. There was even a Volkswagen that got picked up, occupants still inside and lifted over a post in the center of the walkway leading to the campus from Toomer's Corner. I don't know if that post is still there and I don't remember how the driver of the Volkswagen got out as he had been put down on the sidewalk that goes past the lathe and Samford Hall.
After celebrating for a good while, someone in the crowd got the idea of going to Coach Jordan's house to get him to speak to the crowd. So off we went. Some drove, but most went down the street singing and shouting WAR EAGLE. We got to Coach Jordan's house and his wife came to the door to see what all the commotion was about.
Of course, we started to yell "we want Coach Jordan, we want Coach Jordan". He finally came to the door and I along with a guy I had no idea who was, lifted Coach Jordan up on our shoulders and carried him out to where most of the crowd was. We then put him down and he was very gracious in what he had to say, giving his players, assistant coaches and others all of the credit. That was the kind of man he was. When he got through speaking, I introduced myself and told him that I was from his hometown of Selma. This brought a big smile to his face and he was so glad that a fellow Selmian had been there to share in the celebration with him.
He thanked me and asked how were things in our hometown. I told him alot better after Selma's favorite son had just coached Auburn to a National Championship. That is the kind of memory that I can never forget. Thanks Coach, I will never forget you.
WAR EAGLE
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The 1957 Iron Bowl
Submitted by "IV"
There is no doubt that my favorite Iron Bowl was the 1957 edition for several reasons. Of course, it was our biggest beat down ever on Alabama, 40-0 and it was the first and only father-son Iron Bowl for me and my dad. That was the final game of a wonderful undefeated season that saw Auburn win a national championship and it also was the coldest I have ever been at a football game. Alot of the Alabama fans left at halftime as the score was 34-0, so did alot of the Auburn fans due to the cold. This was before they enclosed Legion Field and the end zones were open to a strong wind that seemed to have sped up after entering from the North, making the stdium like a wind tunnel. I went to the rest room at halftime and it was all I could do to make myself want to go back to my seat and the freezing weather. By the way, I got in as a student for $1.00 and Dad's ticket was $5.00. Boy, how times have changed.
Back in those days, there was a trdition that all freshmen should wear an orange and blue rat cap until Auburn beat Alabama in something. I had my rat cap on that day. When we went up on the Tide at the half by such a large score, I just knew it was about time to say goodbye to that rat cap. In the second half, Coach Jordan played all of the troops that were dressed out that day, preferring not to continue to run the score up on Alabama. Coach Jordan was a great coach and a fine gentleman as well.
Dad and I enjoyed ourselves that day immensely, but we never went to another Iron Bowl together again. He died all to soon and I miss him just as much today as I did the day he left us. Dad never went to school at Auburn, having only an 8th grade education. Even though Dad exited school early to go to work on his father's farm, he still was one of the smartest people I have ever known. He was an Auburn man through and through.
The best part of that day was at the end of the game, I threw my rat cap high in the air, never to see it again. I was truly tired of that thing after having worn it just about every day for 3 months. I sure would like to have it back again, but more than that, I wish to the deepest part of my soul and being that I had my Dad back again. He and I would go to many Iron Bowls together. After all, I learned more from him about life and love for Auburn than anyone else I know.
Just for you III, WAR EAGLE, I love and miss you so very much.
IV
There is no doubt that my favorite Iron Bowl was the 1957 edition for several reasons. Of course, it was our biggest beat down ever on Alabama, 40-0 and it was the first and only father-son Iron Bowl for me and my dad. That was the final game of a wonderful undefeated season that saw Auburn win a national championship and it also was the coldest I have ever been at a football game. Alot of the Alabama fans left at halftime as the score was 34-0, so did alot of the Auburn fans due to the cold. This was before they enclosed Legion Field and the end zones were open to a strong wind that seemed to have sped up after entering from the North, making the stdium like a wind tunnel. I went to the rest room at halftime and it was all I could do to make myself want to go back to my seat and the freezing weather. By the way, I got in as a student for $1.00 and Dad's ticket was $5.00. Boy, how times have changed.
Back in those days, there was a trdition that all freshmen should wear an orange and blue rat cap until Auburn beat Alabama in something. I had my rat cap on that day. When we went up on the Tide at the half by such a large score, I just knew it was about time to say goodbye to that rat cap. In the second half, Coach Jordan played all of the troops that were dressed out that day, preferring not to continue to run the score up on Alabama. Coach Jordan was a great coach and a fine gentleman as well.
Dad and I enjoyed ourselves that day immensely, but we never went to another Iron Bowl together again. He died all to soon and I miss him just as much today as I did the day he left us. Dad never went to school at Auburn, having only an 8th grade education. Even though Dad exited school early to go to work on his father's farm, he still was one of the smartest people I have ever known. He was an Auburn man through and through.
The best part of that day was at the end of the game, I threw my rat cap high in the air, never to see it again. I was truly tired of that thing after having worn it just about every day for 3 months. I sure would like to have it back again, but more than that, I wish to the deepest part of my soul and being that I had my Dad back again. He and I would go to many Iron Bowls together. After all, I learned more from him about life and love for Auburn than anyone else I know.
Just for you III, WAR EAGLE, I love and miss you so very much.
IV
Monday, August 31, 2009
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!
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!
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