Nestled along Interstate 85, Auburn University, located in Auburn, Alabama, is home to 33,015 students and is one of the 13 founding charter members of the Southeastern Conference.
The story of “War Eagle,” the University’s fight song, is an example of a longstanding tale and tradition at Auburn.
The legend goes: During an 1892 match against the Georgia Bulldogs, a pet eagle was in attendance.
In the latter part of the game, the bird broke free and began to fly overhead. At the sight of the soaring eagle, fans began to chant “War Eagle.” This propelled the Tigers to mount a comeback and pull ahead of the Bulldogs late in the game. By the game’s end, the eagle swooped down, crashing into the playing surface below.
While “War Eagle” is the fight song, Auburn’s official mascot is the Tiger, with Aubie the Tiger serving in the role since his inception, first as a cartoon in the early sixties and then later as a costume worn by students in 1979.
Aubie has become a staple in the Auburn community and is often seen pumping up students and alumni at Jordan-Hare Stadium and basketball games. Aubie is the most decorated mascot in the SEC, holding claim to a record 11 mascot national championships, and is also a member of the National Mascot Hall of Fame.
From the gridiron to the pool, Auburn has been a prolific power in the SEC, claiming 23 national championships across six sports, a majority of them coming in the past two decades. Like its SEC counterparts, football dominates the Auburn imagination as the most popular sport at the University. In 2010, the Tigers went undefeated en route to their most recent championship.
Auburn has also been prolific in its other sports, with the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams combining for 13 national championships since 1997. The Tigers also ranked 33rd nationally and 10th in the SEC in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings last year.
For fall Saturdays, thousands of devoted fans line Donahue Drive to greet the team as they enter Jordan-Hare Stadium for Auburn’s “Tiger Walk” tradition. Arguably the most picturesque tradition at Auburn is “Rolling the Corner,” located at Toomer’s Corner. After football victories and national championships, students throw and drape anything in the local vicinity with toilet paper as a celebration.
“Bodda Getta,” “Track ’em Tigers” and “Glory, Glory to Ole’ Auburn” are just some of the iconic game-day chants to get Auburn’s faithful involved and active during the game. Once “Swag Surfin” comes over the loudspeakers and the student section begins to rock, there is no chance of quieting the Tigers.
