9/29/17
I write from my campsite in Opelika, Alabama, about 15 miles away from Jordan-Hare Stadium on the campus of Auburn University. This is the final leg of my College Football Pilgrimage Odyssey that actually began in 1970. Little did I KNOW then, that my days with the Pitt Panthers football team would be the start of my Odyssey. My high school Gladiator Football Skills permitted me to earn a 9 term Grant in Aid Scholarship with Pitt University. During my travels of 3 years, we played in majestic College Football Stadiums throughout our country.
As most alumni, I too was loyal to my university until the destruction of Pitt Stadium in 2000 to make room for a basketball arena, student housing, student fitness center, plus many offices, training rooms, and workout rooms for athletes only. My two part story covering ‘Pitt Football’-The Pederson Penalty at Pitt and Nebraska is archived in the College Sports Football section on our homepage.
After 15 plus years of witnessing the ‘Downfall of Pitt Football’ in Pitt Stadium, Three River Stadium, and Heinz Field, my yearly ‘Football Weekend’ from Henderson, NV with the Boys of Quiptown in Aliquippa, Pa changed. With my friend Greg in from Houston to watch a Thursday night game between Miami and Pitt at ‘Dismal Heinz Field’, Greg surprised me with a ‘Gift’. He had two tickets for the Temple vs Penn State Game at Beaver Stadium that Saturday in September of 2010.
Though I played in Beaver Stadium, the current structure had increased from around 60,000 seats to about 106,000 seats. The memories of driving and walking in the parking lot are still fresh. Fans were everywhere. The chatter and the noise added to the Tail Gating experience. However, it is always the most primitive sense that is staggered by the competing aromas of food being cooked. With such a large gathering surrounding Beaver Stadium, it dwarfed the crowd and atmosphere at Heinz Field for a Pitt Game.
When halftime rolled in, I made my announcement to Greg. Starting in 2011, the ‘Football Weekend’ was out and in was my first College Football Pilgrimage. Kris Cinkovich a friend, coached the wide receivers at the U of Arkansas. His family’s invitation to a football game at Arkansas against Tennessee was combined with the Game of the Century, LSU at Alabama. Though Beaver Stadium initiated me, Bryant Denny Stadium baptized me in the religion of College Football.
College Football roots far exceeds the roots of pro football. All one has to do, is do as I, and travel on College Football Pilgrimages to witness, shower, smell, taste, hear and touch the PASSION of College Football fans. Trying to explain might do it an injustice. However, with an open Imagination anything is possible. Please permit my writings to begin.
With extra time on my hands after a quick trip for supplies on Thursday, my distance from the exit to Jordan-Hare Stadium was about 4 miles. A helpful native named Robert provided me with great directions to the Stadium. When my vision saw the Stadium on Thursday, a turn was made to head back to the campsite. The 2017 College Football Pilgrimage consisted of three Stadium visits. Reminiscing joined me back at the campsite. My Pilgrimages are solo for my TIME and PASSIONS have yet to be matched by others.
After this year’s Pilgrimage, my ASS would have either played in, sat in or both in the top ten attendance college football stadiums in the country. Auburn and Clemson Stadiums are add-ons. Sanford Stadium which sits 92,746 at the U of Georgia is the King Pin. If ‘Good Health’ & ‘Good Fortune’ continue to accompany me, that part of my Odyssey concludes the second Saturday in October of 2017. Next is the abbreviated history of “Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium”.
HISTORY OF JORDAN-HARE STADIUM 
auburntigers.com writes, “Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium, the nation’s 10th-largest on-campus stadium, with a capacity of 87,451, has served as home of the Auburn Tigers since 1939. On football Saturdays in Auburn, Jordan-Hare Stadium becomes Alabama’s fifth-largest city. More than 75,000 season tickets have been sold to Auburn home games in each of the last 18 years.
The stadium is named for Ralph “Shug” Jordan, Auburn’s all-time winningest football coach, and Clifford Leroy Hare, a member of Auburn’s first football team, president of the old Southern Conference and longtime chairman of Auburn’s Faculty Athletic Committee.
Legendary coach Pat Dye has also had his name forever attached to Jordan-Hare Stadium, as the turf officially became known as Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium prior to the 2005 Iron Bowl.
Dye, who served as head coach and athletics director at Auburn from 1981-92 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2005, led Auburn to a 99-39-4 record and four SEC Championships in his 12 seasons on the Plains.”
As a history buff of College Football Stadiums, the opening statement of Jordan-Hare Stadium being ranked in the top 10-largest on- campus stadium caught my attention. As a member of early 70’s Pitt Panthers’ football team, I was privileged to have played in Glorious College Football Stadiums throughout our great country. When my College Football Stadium Quest began a few years ago to add to the college football stadiums that I played in, my focus turned to attending a game in the top 10 largest college football stadiums.
Nowhere on my original list was Jordan-Hare Stadium. Since my list was composed a few years ago, perhaps time permitted Jordan-Hare Stadium to move into the top ten. After a search to 3 websites, collegexpress.com, wikipedia.org, and foxsports.com, my original list was confirmed. Jordan-Hare Stadium was also not on the list of the 3 sites mentioned. auburntigers.com should reconsider their opening statement.
A trip back in time will start our journey with Jordan-Hare Stadium. Van Allen Plexico of thewareaglereader.com writes,
Before 1939: Drill Field and Drake Field
“Before the Tigers came to claim Jordan-Hare as their home, the teams played on two other on-campus fields. Both now lie under concrete, asphalt, and floral arrangements. In the shadows of the chemistry lab building between Samford Hall and Foy Union, which was at last check a park and a parking lot, Auburn hosted football games on what was called the “Drill Field” from 1892 until the 1920s. Abandoning this location, the Tigers moved to Drake Field—an area later to be paved over as part of the Haley Center parking lot, next to the original site of the Eagle’s Cage and also near the women’s dorms. (Pic of Drake Field)
Athletic Director Emeritus Jeff Beard, a student at the time, helped assemble the temporary bleachers at Drake Field. “Each year bleachers were erected ten rows high on each side of the field.” He recalled, “They held approximately 700 people, the seating capacity for our home games. We had one home game a year.”
By the late 1930s, crowds were too large to be adequately accommodated in the temporary bleachers at this location, and Auburn found itself forced to play most of its games on the road, usually in Birmingham’s Legion Field, Montgomery’s Cramton Bowl, Mobile’s Ladd Stadium, and Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia. From this unhappy situation, with the team forced to play its “home games” far from home, came the seeds of the mighty edifice which now graces the Auburn campus.
As early as 1934, the university’s Physical Plant had considered building a “concrete stadium to put Auburn on the map,” though with the lingering effects of the Depression, nothing had come of it. The money simply wasn’t there. By 1937, the decision had been made to build, should the funds become available. Finally, they were. Moving to a third site, preparations were begun for the construction of a permanent facility: “Auburn Stadium.” A young Jeff Beard, helping to survey the area, drove in the first stake to mark off the future stadium. Auburn has played on this site ever since.
By 1938, the economic situation had improved to the point that Auburn President Dr. L.N. Duncan could report the approval by PWA Secretary Ickes of “the most ambitious building program ever undertaken by the Alabama Polytechnic Institute.” While much of this new construction would include non-athletic facilities, among items included in the $1,446,900 PWA-funded project was the construction of a $60,000 stadium unit, which included erection of concrete stands, engineering work to prepare the area, and completion of a modern track facility.
Engineering work was indeed needed at the new site. A meandering stream at the bottom of the valley had to be diverted and filled in. In addition, before a stadium and field could be built there, the previous tenants needed evicting. These inhabitants consisted of a herd of goats, belonging to the dean of the school of veterinary medicine, which grazed in the valley. These goats were reported to exhibited a severe nervous condition—one which would be duplicated by supporters of many visiting teams that came to play against Auburn over the years. (Your intrepid Wishbone columnist has long wondered why Jordan-Hare never came to be nicknamed “Goat Valley,” or something to that effect. Then again, we probably don’t need yet another nickname to confuse the uninitiated.)”
Wikipedia.com writes, “The stadium, then known as Auburn Stadium, hosted its first game on November 10, 1939, between the Auburn and Georgia Tech freshmen teams. The stadium was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day (November 30) 1939 before the first varsity game played in the stadium, a 7-7 tie with the University of Florida under Auburn head coach Jack Meagher. The Auburn-Florida game was originally scheduled for Dec. 2, 1939 in Montgomery.
The game was rescheduled in order for the stadium to be dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, Auburn officials seemingly wanting the significance of the occasion to dovetail with America’s established Thanksgiving Day football tradition, a plan nearly thwarted by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Franksgiving” decree. Had Alabama not chosen to observe Thanksgiving on its original date, the stadium likely would not have been dedicated until 1940.
The stadium is frequently said to have opened with a capacity of 7,500; however, that was only the number of seats in the west grandstand (the lower half of the current facility’s west stands). This is usually cited as the stadium’s original capacity because the west grandstands were the only permanent portion of the original facility. The actual original capacity of the stadium, taking into account the wooden east stand as well as bleachers behind each end zone, was approximately 15,000—a figure that was actually quoted by a number of official Auburn sources of the day.
The official attendance of 7,290 for the dedication game, as quoted by then-athletics business manager and future athletic director Jeff Beard, came from the number of tickets printed for the game. However, a thanks-for-coming note from Meagher cited the actual attendance as 11,095, and newspaper accounts reported that anywhere from 12,000-14,000 people were in attendance”.
Van Allen Plexico of thewareaglereader.com writes, “In a press release issued on New Year’s Eve, 1948, the Board of Trustees of A.P.I. “authorized President Ralph Draughon to contract for the construction of 13,000 additional seats at the Auburn Stadium.” The wooden bleachers on the east side were to be replaced with concrete seats and the west stands expanded to bring the total capacity to 21,500. The Board also voted to name the newly expanded facility “Cliff Hare Stadium.”
Dr. Clifford Leroy Hare served as State Chemist and dean of the School of Chemistry and Pharmacy at A.P.I., as well as faculty chairman of athletics. He also played backup quarterback on Auburn’s very first football team, in 1892.
With the arrival of Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan in 1951, the stadium’s growth was assured. Quickly reversing the Tigers’ football fortunes, Jordan took the team to two straight bowl appearances. Success on the field quickly led to financial success.
“In 1955 we had been to a couple of bowl games and we were feeling good,” Beard states. “Coach Jordan was building a good program and we had some money jingling in our pockets so we decided to build the west stands up to fifty-four rows high.” The reasoning was actually a bit more complicated than that. The Board of Trustees, in a resolution dated April 29, 1955, gave a number of factors which weighed into the decision. The resolution stated:
“It appears more feasible, economical, and advantageous to plan the scheduling of more football games on a home-and-home basis…“To accomplish this on a satisfactory basis it appears that approximately 30,000 stadium seats should be available at Cliff Hare Stadium, which would permit us to negotiate for games with almost every member of the Southeastern Conference…
“By having a stadium of proper capacity at Auburn and by scheduling more home-and-home games, we would benefit materially from stadium rental fees which we pay when playing away from Auburn…”
In addition, the resolution called for a new press box “to replace the existing temporary and inadequate press box section.” Clearly, this matter was of some importance to the Board and the president. Draughon and Beard had come to realize that by playing at Auburn, they could save the money they were paying Columbus and other cities to rent out their stadiums. Draughon stated that the project would be “started as early as possible…in order to have facilities ready by the opening of the football season.”
The resolution was adopted without dissent, although in a bow to the true mission of the college, a resolution adopted several weeks later took pains to note the expansion was actually “for the benefit of the college and the students in attendance thereat.”
A memorandum from Beard to Draughon, dated June 3, 1955, shows that Batson-Cook Company of West Point, Georgia, won the contract to build the additions for $275,000.00. Beard remembers that the crews “walked off the job on the last day of August. The stadium was complete.” (1957 pic)
With the capacity of the stadium having reached 34,500, Auburn could host four home games in 1955: Chattanooga, Florida, Furman, and Mississippi State. (The Tigers won all four games, shutting out Florida and Furman, and would end the year with a regular season record of 8-1-1.) Playing and winning those four games at home, Beard said, “was a great feeling for those of us who were tired of traveling. Four games showed us what a great advantage it was to play at home.” The commitment had at last been made to bring Auburn’s opponents to the campus.
Even so, still none of the Tigers’ major rivals (aside from Florida) would play in Auburn. No Alabama, No Georgia, no Tennessee, no Georgia Tech. The year 1957 saw Auburn climb to the very pinnacle of football success, going undefeated and winning the AP National Championship. Coach Jordan had demonstrated that the Tigers were a force to be reckoned with and this gridiron success provided leverage in Auburn’s negotiations with other schools.
The time had come to close in one of the end zones, connecting the two stands at one end. A memorandum from L. E. Funchess, Director of the Campus Planning Committee, to Beard, dated March 3, 1960, reports approval of the plan to close in the south end zone, at a cost of nearly a half-million dollars. The bleacher seats which had stood there were moved to the north end, providing still more seats. (The north end would otherwise remain open, allowing access to the field house that would become Petrie Hall.) A large scoreboard replaced the previous one which had been built by an engineering class years earlier. In addition, dressing rooms were built under the new stands.
An overall plan for the stadium’s development began to take shape with the 1960 expansion. The sidelines stands had been built into hillsides, so the closing of the end zones would have blocked air circulation within the stadium. To remedy this, risers were left out of the lower seats in the south end zone. This, along with construction of a continuous interior concourse, was modeled on the Rice Stadium in Texas.
(It’s hard to imagine today that Auburn modeled its premiere athletic facility after something the Rice Owls had built first.) The single-level, continuous concourse allowed direct access for first aid vehicles and transports to any point within the stadium, and also made it easier for attendees to move about the stadium and to and from their seats.
Wikipedia.com writes, “Shug Jordan became head coach of the Tigers in 1951. He was still coaching when his name was added to the stadium in 1973, making it the first stadium in the United States to be named for an active coach. The stadium’s capacity more than tripled during his 25 years at Auburn; it seated 61,261 when he retired in 1975.(1972 Pic)
With the addition of the west upper deck in 1980
and the east upper deck in 1987
the stadium became the largest in the state of Alabama until the 2006 and 2010 expansion of Bryant–Denny Stadium (capacity 101,821) at Alabama. The 2004 stadium expansion extended the east upper deck by an additional section on each end, adding more luxury suites and additional general seating to reach the current capacity of 87,451.
On November 19, 2005, the playing field at the stadium was named in honor of former Auburn coach and athletic director Pat Dye. The venue is now known as Pat Dye Field at Jordan–Hare Stadium.
Before the 2007 season, a $2.9 million, 30-foot (9.1 m) high by 74-foot (23 m) wide high definition Daktronics LED video display was installed in the south end-zone of Jordan–Hare Stadium. Auburn is the first SEC school to install an HD video display and the second in the NCAA (after Texas’ Godzillatron). In August 2015, a new LED videoboard that is 57 by 190 ft, 10,830 square feet (1,006 m2) was unveiled and is currently the largest videoboard in college athletics.
A master plan for future expansion of Jordan–Hare Stadium was completed in 2011 by Pieper Sports Facility Consulting. There is no immediate timetable for the expansion, but Auburn hopes to reach a capacity of at least 100,000. The new expansion would include upper decks in both north and south endzones, and a brick facade on the exterior”.
Pat Dye Field is revisited in a story by Jeremy Henderson of thewareaglereader.com. Jeremy writes, “It was 1984. Actually, first it was 1983. Paul Conner was in his 19th year in the engineering department and Pat Dye was gearing up for his third and arguably best season as Auburn’s head coach. Maybe Dye knew it was going to be a possible national championship kind of year and he wanted things to look good for television (“And that,” Conner says pointing to the slide of a photo he took of a CBS cameraman on the sidelines, “is why we do it.”).
Or it could have been that Pat Dye was just sick of playing on Jordan-Hare’s mangy field. And sick of practicing on that mangy field, which he had to practice on because the practice fields were even mangier. “They were made with every kind of grass imaginable,” Conner says, “we called it Heinz 57” — was how they were laid out … how perfectly, undrainably, horribly level they were. (Pic of Paul Conner-2009)
“You could have dumped 10,000 gallons of water on them and it wouldn’t go anywhere,” Conner says. “People just do not understand water.” Not that Dye really understood water or drainage all that much, either, in any kind of scientific relation to turf beyond knowing that the damn puddles just never disappeared. Because it took till the ’84 season for Possy to convince Coach that what was going to keep his beautiful fields beautiful was a beautiful tear-it-up-again drainage system.
It was May. Texas and the television cameras were coming in September for the first game of the season. September 17. He still remembers the date. He had four months. “I don’t know how we did it,” Connor says. Paul Conner knows exactly how he did it. Yes, yes, he was a sharp-as-a tack engineer — he designed the back braces that his rag tag crew of borrowed nephews and borrowed golf course maintenance guys and university employees had to wear in order to be able to stand up at the end of the day after all that trenching and packing …
He built some of the specialized equipment they tilled with and sprigged with and poured the 1,300 tons of sand in with … he machined the casing for the transmitter that sent the first TV signal from space … he designed the irrigation system with the mounted water cannons special ordered from Washington state.
“We did all this out of GAF funds [Greater Auburn Fund — now Tigers Unlimited], which means we didn’t have to wait on a purchase order,” Conner says. But Conner used some of his own equipment, his own truck. He called in favors for earth moving and sand grading and says that the next year he even paid for all 17,000 feet of pipe he installed underneath the field to keep the thing dry, the good kind of dry.
And you know he (Coach Dye) believes you’re the guy when a year after you’ve created the enviable masterpiece of a field (“We used to play Tennessee every year and when they got ready to do Neyland Stadium, they had the players to vote on what field they wanted it like and they said ‘we want a field as good as Auburn’s,’ Conner says. “That’s in a magazine somewhere”) he lets you talk him into tearing it up again to install not just any drainage system, but one you designed yourself.
When completed it looked like the Sistine Chapel turned upside down, on grass as green as ever God could have intended, so green you couldn’t see a speck of brown ground under it. He believed it because when Conner got through with the thing, a drop of rain had, at most, 6 inches in any direction before it got sucked into a ditch. Coach Dye believed it so much that he didn’t just promote Conner to a new position, he created a position to fit around how important he now was: Assistant to the Athletic Director/Facilities”.
FRIDAY:PRE-GAME RITUAL
The purpose of the Friday:Pre-Game Ritual is for various reasons. Understanding the layout of the land is vital for Battle Day on Saturday. Most witness a football game. My Imagination permits me to watch ‘Modern Day Gladiators’ battle and joust on a field marked with lines. An oblong shaped air inflated ball is used for scoring points. Gladiators can run with the ball, throw the ball and kick the ball. Modern day equipment is used by the Gladiators for ‘Brute Force’ and collisions rule the play. Officials judge the Battle.
Friday is the calm before the mayhem. While walking around the stadium, Homage can be paid to those that battled before on the field, and to those others who cared for the injured. Band members, Cheer Squads, Pep Squads and Dance Teams and all deserve their fair due as performers.
My Pilgrimages are similar to the Muslims who Pilgrimage to Mecca to rub their hands, elbows, arms and shoulders on the Holy Shrine. I too, touch and rub the walls of these Majestic Shrines to absorb the energies of all including the fans that have been expelled and embedded into the concrete structures. The wonderment of Pilgrimages is the Unknown. My story continues in chronological order.
After seeking parking directions, my vehicle found its way to a free parking garage across the street from the Stadium. Next is my first pic from atop the structure.
While pulling into the garage, signs indicated that the TailGate Guys had been preparing their campsites. With his card in my pocket, my hunt was on for Paul Willis, Vice President of the company. Our paths crossed last football season at Kyle Field, Texas A&M, Wednesday before the Thanksgiving Day game.
More info about Paul and the TailGate Guys can be found in the Pilgrimage Section on our homepage in the story titled ‘Kyle Field and Thanksgiving Day’. For you college football fans, place Kyle Field on your list of stadiums to visit. If possible choose a Thanksgiving Day Game. As I was walking through the tents, the odds were slim, that Paul would be located. It was U of Auburn where the DREAMS of the TailGate Guys started. With one DREAM completed, other Dreams grew. After giving me his card at Texas A&M, Paul invited me to look him up if my Pilgrimage ever took me to Auburn. Next is a picture of Paul and me in Auburn.
A short visit was all the time Paul had as final preparations were under way. Auburn U was their largest operation that was spread throughout the lands neighboring the Stadium. Paul explained that since our last encounter, the TailGate Guys had expanded to include northern Universities and beyond. We exchanged ‘Good Wishes’ and then I departed for my ‘ritual’. While walking away, the TailGate Guys and I had one thing in common. Each of our undertakings began with a DREAM. I dreamt of Pilgrimages and they dreamt of catering to fans of college football and other sports, plus events.
Besides ‘paying homage’, during my ‘ritual’, I always seek the opportunity with permission, to take a picture from the field level. Some Stadiums grant me an invite, while others do not extend one. Jordan-Hare Stadium, unlike its beginnings, is surrounded by other strategically placed structures. School was in session with plenty of student activity. Plus, a student center was located across the street from the Stadium.
With three Heisman Trophy winners, one is currently honored with a giant statue.
After walking around the Stadium three times, if there were other giant statues outside the Stadium for Bo Jackson and Cam Newton, I missed them. (Apparently Bo Jackson’s giant statue was removed for renovations of the Stadium. It is noted on the video).
My pleas for an invite to take a pic from the field were not answered. This was the best shot from about 50 yards away through a gate opening.
Before departing the ‘Battle Gear’ for the Bulldogs had arrived.
Last photos from on top of the parking garage before heading back to my campsite.
GAME DAY-SATURDAY 9/30/17-MISS. ST vs AUBURN
With kick-off scheduled at 5:10pm local time, leaving my campsite at 11:15am was my kick-off to the ‘Celebration of Pigskin’. Pigskin is the nickname for a football. This ‘Celebration of Pigskin’ will be replicated over 100 times each fall Saturday at other colleges, small and large, throughout our great country. After my baptism at Bryant-Denny Stadium, this ‘Celebration of Pigskin’ is viewed by many including this writer, as a ‘Spiritual Experience’. Jordan-Hare Stadium along with the massive throng of fans will contribute and participate in this ‘Spiritual Experience’.
Tail gating is part of this ‘Spiritual Experience’. Food, drink, and time is shared with family and friends for preparations of this Celebration. As a visitor, my compass will guide me until time says to enter the Stadium. With plenty of free parking, a patch of grass about ¾ of a mile from the Stadium was claimed 30 minutes later.
This couple took my pic plus blest me with an Auburn Welcome.
Whenever needed, volunteers are solicited as my camera people. I am not a ‘Fan of Selfies’. My first spot to visit was across the street from my patch of grass. It was a very large free parking area that was opened to motor homes, trailers, trucks and cars. If a story was to be found, my compass would lead me and lead me it did. First stop was ‘Art Work’. It was during my 2016 Pilgrimage to the state of Texas, that ‘cooking rigs’ caught my attention. For some, price was not an issue.
However, this ‘cooking rig’ had a story. It was ‘Art Work’.
This ‘cooking rig’ was hand crafted by Lester Stoll. Lester lived nearby and with his wife’s help and blessings; they have set up a campsite on the same spot for over 26 years. Lester according to others is a Master Tinker. His hands have developed a reputation throughout the territory. Joining us in the pic is his master chef of 12 years Ryan Molt and Lester’s wife Mary Ann.
As our conversation grew, Lester wanted me to meet others of the campsite. In a short time, I met Cindy & Ron and Harriet & Dick. Their story was as equally exciting. Cindy was a ‘Lifer’. She was baptized at the age of six by Auburn Football. A common practice in some college football communities in our country is to indoctrinate the young early. With over 50 years as a ‘Lifer’, Cindy and the others wove tales of Auburn Football including the ‘Tiger Walk’.
According to legend, the ‘Tiger Walk’ started in the 60’s as an informal way to greet and show support for the Tiger Football Players and Coaches as they walked to the Stadium on game day. It was after Coach Dye had left the program around 1989 that Cindy and the others had a DREAM. To demonstrate their support for the ‘Tiger Walk’, a ‘Banner’ was added at the end of the walk. The players and coaches agreed to sign the ‘Banner’ as a show of unity.(Pic L-R is Ron, Cindy, Lester, Harriet & Dick)
With that agreement, an ‘Old Tradition’ was reborn into a ‘New Tradition’ that continues to this day both at home and on the road where permitted. ‘Tiger Walk’ fans show up and hold the ‘Banner’ for the team to walk under and touch the ‘Support’ of Tiger Fans before entering the battle field.
Auburntigers.com writes, “The most famous Tiger Walk took place on December 2, 1989, the day Auburn welcomed Alabama to campus for the first time ever. Previously, the Auburn-Alabama series had only been played at Legion Field in Birmingham.
Auburn officials estimate that 20,000 fans lined Donahue Drive for the Tiger Walk that day. ESPN.com college football writer Ivan Maisel, who was there that day, wrote that “the height of emotion [the Tiger Walk] reached in 1989 will be a watermark for years to come.”
Alabama came into the battle ranked #2 in the country with a 10-0 record. Auburn was ranked #11 at 8-2. Final score Auburn 30-Alabama 20. According to Ivan Maisel writer at ESPN, “But the victory on the field, while important, paled beside the victory off the field. Because when Alabama arrived on campus, Auburn had arrived, too. Tiger Walk has become the signature event of Auburn’s pre-game ritual”. Other universities have laid claim to this ‘ritual’, but Auburn states that they don’t generate the same ‘PASSION’.
My goal for a pic with ‘local beauty’ was granted by Morgan.
Lester then introduced me to Dr. Scott Renner the Assistant Director of Accessibility Electronics and Information Technology at Auburn University. Scott blest me with his story of Inspiration. Taken from auburn.edu is the following.
“A diving accident nearly 20 years ago left Scott Renner paralyzed from the neck down, but it hasn’t stopped him from living a rich and independent life. Renner credits assistive technology for helping him enjoy some of the same activities he engaged in before his accident. In his current position with Auburn University’s Center for Disability Research and Service, housed within the College of Education, Renner helps others learn about the possibilities that exist for individuals with disabilities as a result of cutting-edge technology. Assistive technology enables Renner to move, turn on lights, open doors and answer his phone, but it also affords him the freedom to engage in more adventurous pursuits”.
Upon meeting Dr. Scott, he opened up old memories when he said I reminded him of ‘George of the Jungle’. After listening to my teenage story of my back slamming into a tree from swinging on a rope over a creek, he said I was very fortunate that my accident had different results than his. During our short visit, I took more from Dr. Scott than what I may have left behind. It was called ‘INSPIRATION’.
He asked that I relay his plea to others. Though he has not ever been subjected to discrimination with his disability, he knows of others that has. He asks for others to recognize the plight of the disable and encourages others to ‘Make a Difference’.
With Blessings and Inspiration packed as ‘Gifts’, my journey through other campsites continued. Other Tigers were ready if called upon.
Live music, a first on my Pilgrimages, was offer offered at this campsite.
A pic with a 360 Samsung Gear. A new toy with mixed results.
A Gallery of Pics same location
While making my final preparations for the game, scouts from another territory were spotted. With their identities revealed, they agreed to a photo. On a mission from Houston University was Harold on the left and Eric on the right.
Time dictated my next POA. Visiting all campsites is impossible. Three o’clock was nearing for the Tiger Walk. Next are three pics along my walk.
After arriving at my destination, an extremely large crowd had gathered along the ‘Tiger Walk’. Not wanting to waste a photo opp, an Angel appeared to grant my wish. It was not until after the photo was taken, that my Angel disclosed her earthly name. She was Tricia Skelton, Tiger Eyes Flag Line Instructor. From auburn.edu is written, “Ms. Skelton is a 1995 graduate of Auburn University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music and English. She is a National Board Certified Teacher who teaches 6th grade at Opelika Middle School where she was named Teacher of the Year”.
Tricia also ‘Makes a Difference’ in her community assisting with Opelika High School’s Spirit of the South Marching Band flagline and majorettes plus helping to create and teach the kickline. She continues to judge competitions and tryouts around the area. Tricia ‘The Angel’ is next.
Unknown to me at the time, my next pic that my Angel took is me with three members of the world famous The AUMB Dance Line. Taken from their website auburn.edu, “The Tiger Eyes Dance Line is comprised of fourteen talented young ladies. The dance line choreography is a show-stopping blend of several genres, including jazz, ballet, precision/drill, and high-kick. Each member of the dance line possesses incredible dance technique, which is utilized each fall to enhance the visual presentation of the Auburn University Marching Band.
In addition to the technical aspects of the Dance Line, poise, posture, body carriage, and showmanship are considered to be of utmost importance. The candidates selected to be members of the Dance Line possess incredible levels of talent, showmanship, and Auburn spirit, all of which are keys to the success of the Tiger Eyes and the Auburn University Marching Band”.
A stranger in the crowd arranged the next photo with members of the Auburn Cheer Squad and more ‘Blessings’.
THE TIGER WALK WAS NEXT
VIDEO OF TIGER WALK BEFORE MISSISSIPPI ST BATTLE 9/30/17
With the ‘Modern Day Tiger Gladiators’ safely escorted to their Battle Room, the outside festivities continued with other Rituals. Tricia informed me earlier of the ‘Meeting of the Band’ on 4 corners directly across from the Stadium. The Band is strategically positioned as four quarters some distance equally from the Stadium. Their pre-game music added to these Rituals while creating an atmosphere of unity for the Auburn Football Nation. Next is my pic near the center of this Pep Rally Ritual. (Notice the Sweat)
Video of this Pep Rally Ritual on the 4 Corners by James Dees
Usually my POA is to get inside the Stadiums about 90 minutes before kick-off to explore the different regions. There are times when my POA is met and other times when they are not. My entry to my section revealed that about 60 minutes remained until kick-off. First pic inside Jordan-Hare Stadium & Pat Dye Field.
My explorations would be cut short with only a trip to the concession stand. That too would wait until TIME dictated, for much absorption of the ‘Energies’ was on my menu. Einstein is quoted, “Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be changed from one form to another.” Following his principle, feasting on the ‘Energies’ of the ‘Celebration of Pigskin’ is one of my main reasons for the Pilgrimages. More would be taken by me than what I could leave behind. Eventually, the ‘Energies’ absorbed would be passed on to others.
FIRST FIELD PIC
The kind usher that snap my pic directed me to the next couple. They had an interesting story. As long time season ticket holders of 40 plus years, they witnessed the growth of Jordan-Hare Stadium. After sitting in many different sections during the expansion, seats to their likings called out to them. The U of Auburn should recognize loyal fans as these two with a game that other fans can play when entering Jordan-Hare Stadium. They can call the game ‘Where’s Waldo’? I would have won on my first try. Please let me introduce Mr. & Mrs. Waldo.
PICS OF PRE-GAME & BUSY LOWER CONCOURSE
WITH FOOD & WATER IN HAND ANOTHER FIELD PIC
Wearing Aliquippa Gear makes a statement. Most have no idea where Aliquippa, Pa is located. However, the Auburn Fan in the Orange Shirt did. He was from West Virginia along with another Auburn Fan but he attended Duquesne University in downtown Pittsburgh. His PASSION and the others in the next photo is for Auburn Football.
With the ice broken, we were no longer strangers, but PASSIONATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS bathing in the ‘Celebration of Pigskin’. More Rituals continued with the arrival of War Eagle. For you PASSIONATE FANS, next is the ‘Legends of the War Eagle’ taken from auburntigers.com.
Auburn Tradition | War Eagle!
“War Eagle” is Auburn’s battle cry — not a mascot or nickname. “War Eagle” has become a way for the Auburn family to greet and identify with each other all over the world. Anywhere you’re wearing something with an Auburn logo on it, chances are you’ll hear a friendly “War Eagle!”
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.
Whenever Auburn people gather, the battle cry “Warrrrrrr Eagle!” is almost certain to be heard. It has been a part of Auburn’s spirit for more than 100 years. (Check speck in white cloud near flag pole.)
War Eagle Legend 2
The toughest player on the Carlisle Indian team in 1914 was named Bald Eagle. In an effort to tire him out, Auburn began to run play after play straight at him. Without huddling, the quarterback would simply yell out, “bald eagle” and the Tigers would attack. Spectators mistook “bald eagle” for “war eagle” and began shouting it every time the Tigers came to the line. When Lucy Hairston scored the game-winning touchdown for Auburn, he supposedly yelled “War Eagle,” and a new Auburn tradition was born. (The Eagle has Landed.)
War Eagle Legend 3
During a Langdon Hall pep rally in the undefeated season of 1913, the head cheerleader said, “If we are going to win this game, we are going to have to go out there and fight, because this means war.” At that moment an eagle emblem fell off a student’s military hat. Asked what it was, he reportedly shouted, “It’s a War Eagle.” The next day it became the favorite student cheer when Auburn beat Georgia, 21-7, to win the SIAA championship.
War Eagle Legend 4
Some say that Auburn fans adopted the “War Eagle” phrase due to its connection with Saxon warriors who used the yell as their battle cry. When buzzards would circle the battlefields, settling among the dead, the Saxons began calling them “war eagles.”
Since the first War Eagle, there have been six other birds throughout Auburn’s history which have served as the school’s symbol and kept alive the legendary battle cry. War Eagle VII (Nova) currently entertains fans with her customary flight around Jordan-Hare Stadium prior to each home football game”. (A blurry pic of Nova after her flight).
After Nova’s Entrance, the ‘Rituals’ continued with more War Chants led by the Auburn Cheer Squad from the Battle Field. (Video taken in 2016)
The Auburn Faithful loosened up their vocal chords with ‘Chants of War’ to be followed by the Auburn Marching Band. An extremely loud crescendo welcomed the Tiger Band.
As the pre-battle festivities concluded out on the field ran the Gladiators of Mississippi State to a small cheer from their loyal fans sitting in the corner of the end zone. Within moments, the loudest roar so far welcomed the Gladiators of Auburn U.
THE GAME
A summary of the Battle is my least favorite topic to write about. Both teams were ranked in the top 25. Mississippi St was ranked 24th and Auburn came in at #13. The experts in Las Vegas had Auburn giving up 7 plus points.
My summary was that the Tigers came to battle with ‘Poise & Energy’ while the Bulldogs apparently left their ‘Poise & Energy’ in Starkville. Seven motion penalties affected the continuity of the Bulldog’s offense with a total of ten penalties. The Tigers committed only one penalty. Head Coach Gus Malzahn of Auburn gave credit to the Auburn Faithful for generating the noise that affected the Bulldogs.
To be honest with you, I have sat in louder Stadiums. The lopsidedness of the score actually harnessed the noise of the crowd. Only once during the Battle, were my ‘Gooseflesh’ raised during a goal line stand. (Gallery of Game Pics)
Next is a video summary of the Battle between Mississippi St & Auburn
The pic of the clock tells its story
With the Auburn ‘Celebration of Pigskin’ officially over, the Faithful Students filed out.
I waited until most others left to soak in one last bit of ‘Energy’ that was expelled by all in attendance. As the crowd cleared off the Pat Dye Field, the ground crew was mending and cleaning the turf, adhering to their ‘Gold Standard’ established by Paul Conner.
Time permitted for me to visit Toomer’s Corner on Sunday, the day after the ‘Celebration of Pigskin’. Another ‘Auburn Ritual’ since 1896 was evident with the throwing of toilet paper rolls on the majestic trees after a victory.
My story wraps up as my fingers peck sitting at my campsite in Anderson, SC looking out a window that leads into the woods. It is Wednesday evening 10/4/17. Wake Forest vs Clemson await me this Saturday at Death Valley. The question, that is ask to me most frequently is, ‘What is your favorite Stadium’? My answer is this. They are like children. Beaver Stadium in College Park indoctrinated me in the ‘Ways of College Football’. Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa baptized me in the ‘Ways of College Football’.
When you add those two with all the other Stadiums, I have played in and/or sat in; the results are each child is ‘Special’. There are no favorites for each child with their own ‘Rituals’ partake in the ‘Celebration of Pigskin’.
If your TIME permits, visit the Pilgrimage Section on our homepage for other Pilgrimage tales. Plus, visit our other stories of Insanity posted in the marked sections of our homepage. Until our paths cross again, please pass on our website to others.
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