war damn history

ok, so i know i promised a really great post LAST week.  but i got busy.  really busy, actually.  i had lots of work to take home with editing and ebooks, some baby presents to finish, sleep.  you know, the important things. 

to make up for it, get ready for a FANTASTIC post on my two favorite parts of auburn history.  interesting, yet entertaining.  why auburn history you ask?  because football season is just weeks away and i'm starting to get the fever.  oh, and because i believe in auburn and love it.  so, here goes.   

toomer's corner

toomer's corner is at the intersection of magnolia ave and college street, right in the heart of downtown.  the corner marks the entrance of auburn university and has been an auburn landmark since 1896.  at toomer's corner, there are several large southern old-growth oak trees known as (not surprisingly) toomer's oaks.  the oaks are said to be over 130 years old.

one of auburn's great traditions is rolling the corner.  and by rolling, i mean toilet paper.  the tradition started in the 1950s to celebrate away victories, but has since developed into something greater.  whenever something good happens in auburn - a team victory, graduation - expect toilet paper to flow from the trees.

unfortunately, in january 2011, a man calling himself  "al from dadeville" bragged about poisoning the trees with a massive dose of spike 80df, a commercial herbicide.  the trees were not expected to survive.  but thanks to great acts by the city and the school of agriculture, things are looking up for the trees.  

the war eagle

http://www.ocm.auburn.edu/welcome/traditions.html

"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. 

or

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. 

or

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.

you can choose which story you like best (i prefer the first one), but no matter which one you pick, you have to admit that seeing that beautiful golden eagle flying over jordan-hare stadium is one fantastic sight.

there have been seven war eagles since 1892.  i won't bore you with all their stories, but if you're interested, you can read them here.

keep an eye out for my next p52 post coming this week.  the theme is "sunshine" (again).  getting a picture shouldn't be too hard since all we've had around here is sunshine.  a little rain wouldn't hurt.

until then...war damn eagle, y'all.