Toomer's Corner

We in the South love our football.  And by South, I mean the Southern states.  And by football, I mean American football.  We are incredibly passionate about our teams, supporting them through thick and thin and putting down whatever team they come up against.  Admittedly, it is a bit extreme, but I love it!  I absolutely love the game, despite the fact that I really can't throw or catch a football.  Besides the game itself, which with the team I support always seems to be a nail-bitter no matter the skill of our team, I love the pageantry of it all.  I love the band, the team colors, the cheerleaders, the fans, the songs and the traditions.

In the state of Alabama, there are no professional football teams, no NFL teams, so college football rules all.  There are two main teams: Auburn and Alabama.  I'm surprised that on moving to the state, on your official documentation that you don't have to tick a box next to one of them.  It seems nearly every citizen of our great state is a strong supporter of one of the teams, but certainly not both.  It's understandable in fact as we have good teams.  Over the past four years the crystal football, the National Title trophy, the award to the best college football team in the nation, has resided in our state.

I'm an Auburn girl; I cheer for the underdog and wouldn't have it any other way.  I bleed orange and blue.  A love for Auburn runs deep in my veins and I love being part of the heated rivalry.  Some of my very best friends are Alabama fans, but even we get into the rivalry come football season.  My mother once said she could picture me marrying someone of a different race or religion, but she was pretty sure I'd never marry an Alabama fan.

At Auburn, we think of ourselves as one big family.  Being the underdog in the state only strengthens our love for Auburn, just as going through difficult times with a friend only strengthens your bond.  We have had some wonderful seasons in the last few years including two undefeated seasons and one national title, but we've also had some pretty horrific seasons.  As Auburn fans, we know that is how it goes, we won't always be the best, but we love Auburn no matter what.

I spent years sitting in the student section (even well after my years as a student) at the Auburn, cheering my team on, dancing along with the band, shouting the cheers of "Bodda Getta," and enjoying being with over 87,000 members of my Auburn family.  I love watching the eagle fly around the stadium before kickoff, landing on the field to shouts of our battle cry, "War Eagle!"  I love singing the National Anthem with the band as the entire stadium shows respect to our country.  I love those special occasions when jets would zoom over the stadium at the conclusion of the National Anthem.  I loved sitting close to the band, learning the dances they did with each tune and performing along side them.  I loved watching Aubie, our tiger mascot as he crowd-surfed, conducted the band, danced or led cheers.  But after a big win, my absolute favorite tradition was going to roll the trees at Toomer's Corner.

I know, to those on the outside it sounds like an incredibly odd tradition.  And I do my best to be green and help the environment, and yet, I absolutely loved going to throw toilet paper over the branches of the towering oak trees.  After a big win, the Auburn family crowds around the main intersection of the little town and throws rolls of toilet paper over these trees.  The tradition has been going on for at least thirty years.  Some reports say that it started because the Toomer's Drug Store, well over one hundred years old and still making delicious lemonade, had the only telegraph in town.  When the team would play away games, they used to throw the ticker-tape over the nearby power lines.

There is something magical about standing under those trees, so covered in white that you can hardly recognize them as trees.  There's joy, energy and pride in the school we love.

Two years ago, just after we won our own National Title, an Alabama fan poisoned our beloved trees.  I must admit that most fans on both sides found this act horrific.  While we love our rivalry, there are no real feelings of hate or vengeance.  Despite the best efforts of scientists and our well-known forestry department, the trees have now died.  This Saturday is the A-Day game, a day where the football team sort of showcases itself, breaking into two teams and playing against one another.  (As Auburn always wins, it's a fun occasion!)  After the game, the trees will be rolled for the last time.  The trees that have stood watch over the corner of the university, seeing our joys and triumphs for nearly one hundred years will be coming down.

It may seem a bit silly to mourn the loss of some trees, but I'm feeling truly nostalgic this evening.  I know though that the Auburn Spirit will always be strong, no matter what stands at Toomer's Corner.  I believe in Auburn and love it!