I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities. -from the Auburn Creed
A-Day
Each
spring, a Founder's Day celebration is held in Auburn. As part of
this celebration, the football team plays a scrimmage game that
gives Auburn fans a chance to preview the Tigers before the fall.
Fans come from all over to see the A-Day game.
Mascots
Auburn's costumed Tiger mascot is in his 24th
season as a spirit leader and goodwill ambassador for Auburn University.
A popular character among Auburn fans and one of the more animated
mascots in the country, Aubie has been on the job since 1979. His
crazy antics and mischievous personality helped transform Aubie
into the mascot we all love today. Some of his endeavors, as well
as his constant promotion of Auburn spirit, are why Aubie was selected
as the #1 collegiate mascot in the entire nation in 1991, 1995,
1996, 1999, and 2003 by the Universal Cheerleaders Association. Check
out: http://www.auburn.edu/aubie/
"War Eagle" is Auburn's battle cry, not a mascot or nickname. The
most popular story about the battle cry dates back to the first
time Auburn met Georgia on the football field in 1892 and centers
around a spectator who was a veteran of the Civil War. In
the stands with him that day was an eagle the old soldier had found
on a battlefield during the war. He had kept it as a pet for almost
30 years. According to witnesses, the eagle suddenly broke free
and began majestically circling the playing field. As the eagle
soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone
for a thrilling victory. Elated at their team's play and taking
the bird's presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans
began to yell "War Eagle" to spur on their team. At the
game's end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground,
and died. But the battle cry "War Eagle" lived on to become
a symbol of the proud Auburn spirit.
The 1914 contest with the Carlisle Indians provides another story.
The toughest player on the Indians' team was a tackle named Bald
Eagle. Trying to tire the big man, Auburn began to run play after
play at his position. Without even huddling, the Auburn quarterback
would yell "Bald Eagle," letting the rest of the team
know that the play would be run at the imposing defensive man. Spectators,
however, thought the quarterback was saying "War Eagle,"
and in unison, they began to chant the resounding cry. There
is another story surrounding the 1914 Carlisle game. Each time the
Indians had scored during the season, fans and the Carlisle players
yelled, "War Eagle." But on this particular afternoon,
it was Auburn's own Lucy Hairston who adopted the battle cry as
he danced across the goal line for the only touchdown of the game.
Another
version of the War Eagle story comes from Indian lore. Legend says
"War Eagle" was the name given to the large golden eagle
by the Plains Indians because the eagle furnished feathers for use
in their war bonnets. The rarest version of the origin of the "War
Eagle" cry grew from a 1913 pep rally at Langdon Hall where
students had gathered the day before the Georgia football game.
Cheerleader Gus Graydon told the crowd, "If we are going to
win this game, we'll have to get out there and fight, because this
means war." During the frenzy, another student, E. T. Enslen,
dressed in his military uniform, noticed something had dropped from
his hat. Bending down, he saw it was the metal emblem of an eagle
that had been loosened while he cheered. Someone asked him what
he had found, and Enslen loudly replied, "It's a War Eagle!"
History was made as the new cry echoed throughout the stadium the
next day as Auburn battled Georgia.
Beat Bama Parade
Each year
before the Auburn-Alabama football game, student groups work to
build floats to participate in the Annual Beat Bama Parade. From
Greeks to the freshman class and ROTC, many organizations take part
in the parade. Along with all the fans that come to support the
team, this parade and the pep rally at Toomer's Corner afterwards
is a huge part of the football season.
Cater Hall Callouts
Held on
the front and back steps of Katherine Cooper Cater Hall, callouts
are a time when students who have been chosen for membership into
certain campus organizations are announced.
Concourse
If the
weather permits, the brick walkway located in front of Haley Center
is covered with Auburn students. Students engage in many activities
on the concourse, from tables set up to promote organizations, to
people socializing and others simply hanging out and enjoying a
sunny Auburn day.
Greek Sing
It's not
your mother's Step Sing! Greek Sing is an annual tradition among
Auburn's sixteen Panhellenic sororities. The words "practice
makes perfect," and "again!" can be heard during
spring semester as the sororities prepare for the event. Each Panhellenic
sorority competes in a song and dance competition complete with
costumes, makeup, props, and backdrops to produce an exciting show.
The groups are judged and awards are given to the top three entries
as well as a Spirit Award for participation and a Presidents' Choice
award based on a vote of the chapter presidents. The event, which
raises about $15,000 annually, benefits the Lee County chapter of
Habitat for Humanity.
Hey Day
On January
29, 1985, Auburn reinstated an annual tradition of the Fifties and
Sixties called "Hey Day," a day on which all students
wear name tags and say "hey" to everyone they pass. Leaders
on campus join forces and pass out name tags to support this tradition
and prove that Auburn University has the friendliest campus around.
Homecoming
Aside
from being a time for the alumni, Homecoming is a great time for
the students. Spirits are high with events, including the Omicron
Delta Kappa Cake Race, the big game on Saturday, painted signs and
windows, election of Miss Homecoming, selling of the traditional
mums by Mortar Board and band parties. In addition, the University
Program Council brings events to celebrate the week, known as "Tiger
Nights." Events include an outdoor cartoonist, hypnotists,
fireworks and bands on the campus for students to enjoy.
Rosen-Hutsell-ODK Cake Race
The annual
Rosen-Hutsell-ODK Cake Race takes place Homecoming Week and all
are encouraged to enter the 2.7 mile race across campus. The first
25 to finish receive a home-baked cake. While the first male to
cross the finish line wins a kiss from Miss Auburn, the first female
to cross the finish line wins a kiss from a top Auburn male "celebrity."
The race was established in 1928 by Wilbur Hutsell, the track coach
at the time, to discover possible track team recruits in the freshman
class. Women began participating in 1977. Check
out: http://www.auburn.edu/odk/
Tiger
Nights
Tiger
Nights, a late-night programming event sponsored by UPC, is Auburn's
newest tradition. This event happens the night before the Homecoming
football game and features inflatable games, main stage concerts,
a free midnight breakfast at Foy Student Union as well as carnival-like
activities such as wax hands, cotton candy, and interactive games.
Tiger Stomp
An
annual event held Spring Semester, hosted by the Black Student Union
that celebrates the African-American tradition of "stepping".
"Stepping" is a traditional form of dance and song created
by the members of the National Pan-hellenic Council. During this
event members of the Greek community compete for monetary prizes.
For more information about this event please contact the Black Student
Union at 334-844-1389.
Tiger Tuesdays/Freshman Forum
Tiger
Tuesdays is a group of leadership programs just for freshmen. These
programs meet Tuesday nights throughout the year with the focus
of fostering great future student leaders. Each group contains between
15 and 45 students who join together to learn their own leadership
styles and techniques, as well as plan, develop, and administer
projects. This developing Tiger Tuesday's program includes Freshman
Forum, a program sponsored by the Student Government Association.
The purpose of Freshman Forum is to promote the interest of the
freshman class while developing personal leadership skills and learning
about the structure of SGA. One of their great accomplishments was
organizing Tiger Feedback, a panel of eight of Auburn's top administrators
gathered to directly address questions from students. All freshmen
are encouraged to apply for and participate in the Tiger Tuesday's
program to continue the tradition of great students becoming great
leaders!
Toomer's Corner Pep Rallies
Auburn
University is pleased to announce the return of a cherished Auburn
tradition. The Student Government Association worked with the City
of Auburn to bring pep rallies on the plains back to Toomer's Corner
during football season. Thousands of students, faculty, and fans
fill the streets at Toomer's Corner to cheer their Auburn Tigers!
Encouraging spirit within the Auburn community and campus, these
pep rallies have boosted enthusiasm and Auburn pride in the heart
of each member of our great Auburn family!
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