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Auburn Tiger Mascot Story
AUBURN: A FEATHURED TIGER AND AUBIE
Nearly thirty years later the student had become an Auburn faculty
member. He took the bird to the first Auburn-Georgia football game,
an 1892 contest played in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. When Auburn
scored the first touchdown, the aging eagle broke free from his old
friend and began to soar above the field. When Auburn fans looked
upward and saw the eagle they shouted “War Eagle!”
Auburn defeated Georgia on that day, but their fans were saddened
when War Eagle died after giving his all for an Auburn victory.
However, the eagle’s spirit stills soars today when Auburn faithful
stand and shout, “War Eagle,” after a victory.
In 1932, a group of Auburn fans got together and purchased a
second eagle from a farmer for $10. However, because of economic
problems caused by the great depression, the group could not afford
to feed the bird. Therefore, they decided to give it away to a carnival
that was passing through town.
Nearly 30 years later, in 1960, auburn received a wounded eagle
from Dr. Dell Hill of Talladega, Alabama. An Auburn architecture
student, Jon Bowden, cared for War Eagle III for a few months
before eventually giving him away to another student, Elwyn Hamer.
The eagle’s new caretaker was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega
fraternity and ever since, the brothers of that fraternity have taken
care of Auburn’s eagles. Having the aviary, which houses the bird,
named for him, would later honor Hamer.
During the week before Auburn’s game against Alabama in 1964,
War Eagle III escaped and landed in a nearby backyard. The owner
of the property shot and killed the eagle, claiming it was attacking
his children. Auburn fans claimed the culprit was a jealous Alabama
fan.
The following year, the City of Birmingham obtained an eagle from
the Jackson, Miss. zoo and presented the eagle to Auburn. War
Eagle IV soared 15 years for the Tigers which is the longest reign of
any eagle to date.
The next eagle to spread his Auburn wings was War Eagle V, who
joined the Auburn faithful on the Saturday before the 1980 Alabama
football game. The eagle that they acquired from Land Between the
Lakes, Ky., arrived just in time for coach Doug Barfield’s final game,
and helped to usher in the Pat Dye coaching era.
The current mascot is War Eagle VI. Her seven-foot wingspan can
be witnessed at Auburn athletic events and numerous public
appearances. With talons that can squeeze down with a grip of 450
pounds per square inch, it’s too bad that Auburn coaches can’t line
her up in the backfield. She’d never fumble the football, considering
that Tiger running backs are lucky to squeeze 20 pounds per square
inch with their grips.
Instead of dining on live animals, War Eagle VI consumes a diet
composed of ground up meat, vegetables and vitamins. According to
1998 Tiger assistant trainer Aaron Wheeler, safety is the main
concern when filling out Tiger’s menu.
“Tiger is not allowed to hunt because it would promote violent and
aggressive behavior,” said Wheeler. “We don’t allow that because
she’s so close to the public.”
AUBIE
Auburn’s Eagle is not the school’s only mascot that has a soaring
reputation. A costumed tiger named Aubie helps to cheer university
teams to victory. Aubie has notched several impressive wins as
well. The Universal Cheerleader Association elected him as the
nation’s No. one college mascot several times in the 1990s.
Aubie’s existence began as a cartoon character that first appeared
on the Auburn-Hardin Simmons football program cover in 1959.
Birmingham Post-Herald artist Phil Neel, created the cartoon tiger
that continued to grace Auburn football program covers for the next
18 years.
Aubie’s look has evolved through the years. In 1962, he began to
stand upright, and the next year he dressed up for the first time,
wearing a blue tie and a straw hat. Good fortune accompanied Aubie’
s appearances on game programs for Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan’s
squads. The Tigers won the first nine games he appeared on the
cover, and in his first six years, Auburn was 23-2-1 at home.
The Tiger’s home record during Aubie’s program cover 18 year span
was 63-16-2. Despite these impressive numbers, they did not
include Aubie’s name in the naming of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
They transformed Aubie in 1979 when he came to life in the form of a
costumed character at the SEC Basketball Tournament.
A New York based costume company, Brooks-Van Horn, used two
program covers from the early sixties as a reference for creating
Aubie’s outfit. The firm, which also provided costumes for Walt
Disney, designed and produced the tiger costume for $1,350.
AUBURN: ON A ROLL AT TOOMER’S
CORNER
Mr. Whipple, the Charmin man, would shriek in horror if he
witnessed an Auburn victory celebration at Toomer’s Corner. Fans
show delight in “rolling” the trees with tissue paper at this gathering
place found where the university meets the City of Auburn. Big game
celebrations have lasted for hours in the past, leaving this historic
area with quite a tissue specimen. Auburn victories over their
archrival, Alabama, has given new meaning to the phrase, “Roll”
Tide.
AUBURN: A FEATHURED TIGER AND AUBIE
Nearly thirty years later the student had become an Auburn faculty
member. He took the bird to the first Auburn-Georgia football game,
an 1892 contest played in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. When Auburn
scored the first touchdown, the aging eagle broke free from his old
friend and began to soar above the field. When Auburn fans looked
upward and saw the eagle they shouted “War Eagle!”
Auburn defeated Georgia on that day, but their fans were saddened
when War Eagle died after giving his all for an Auburn victory.
However, the eagle’s spirit stills soars today when Auburn faithful
stand and shout, “War Eagle,” after a victory.
In 1932, a group of Auburn fans got together and purchased a
second eagle from a farmer for $10. However, because of economic
problems caused by the great depression, the group could not afford
to feed the bird. Therefore, they decided to give it away to a carnival
that was passing through town.
Nearly 30 years later, in 1960, auburn received a wounded eagle
from Dr. Dell Hill of Talladega, Alabama. An Auburn architecture
student, Jon Bowden, cared for War Eagle III for a few months
before eventually giving him away to another student, Elwyn Hamer.
The eagle’s new caretaker was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega
fraternity and ever since, the brothers of that fraternity have taken
care of Auburn’s eagles. Having the aviary, which houses the bird,
named for him, would later honor Hamer.
During the week before Auburn’s game against Alabama in 1964,
War Eagle III escaped and landed in a nearby backyard. The owner
of the property shot and killed the eagle, claiming it was attacking
his children. Auburn fans claimed the culprit was a jealous Alabama
fan.
The following year, the City of Birmingham obtained an eagle from
the Jackson, Miss. zoo and presented the eagle to Auburn. War
Eagle IV soared 15 years for the Tigers which is the longest reign of
any eagle to date.
The next eagle to spread his Auburn wings was War Eagle V, who
joined the Auburn faithful on the Saturday before the 1980 Alabama
football game. The eagle that they acquired from Land Between the
Lakes, Ky., arrived just in time for coach Doug Barfield’s final game,
and helped to usher in the Pat Dye coaching era.
The current mascot is War Eagle VI. Her seven-foot wingspan can
be witnessed at Auburn athletic events and numerous public
appearances. With talons that can squeeze down with a grip of 450
pounds per square inch, it’s too bad that Auburn coaches can’t line
her up in the backfield. She’d never fumble the football, considering
that Tiger running backs are lucky to squeeze 20 pounds per square
inch with their grips.
Instead of dining on live animals, War Eagle VI consumes a diet
composed of ground up meat, vegetables and vitamins. According to
1998 Tiger assistant trainer Aaron Wheeler, safety is the main
concern when filling out Tiger’s menu.
“Tiger is not allowed to hunt because it would promote violent and
aggressive behavior,” said Wheeler. “We don’t allow that because
she’s so close to the public.”
AUBIE
Auburn’s Eagle is not the school’s only mascot that has a soaring
reputation. A costumed tiger named Aubie helps to cheer university
teams to victory. Aubie has notched several impressive wins as
well. The Universal Cheerleader Association elected him as the
nation’s No. one college mascot several times in the 1990s.
Aubie’s existence began as a cartoon character that first appeared
on the Auburn-Hardin Simmons football program cover in 1959.
Birmingham Post-Herald artist Phil Neel, created the cartoon tiger
that continued to grace Auburn football program covers for the next
18 years.
Aubie’s look has evolved through the years. In 1962, he began to
stand upright, and the next year he dressed up for the first time,
wearing a blue tie and a straw hat. Good fortune accompanied Aubie’
s appearances on game programs for Coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan’s
squads. The Tigers won the first nine games he appeared on the
cover, and in his first six years, Auburn was 23-2-1 at home.
The Tiger’s home record during Aubie’s program cover 18 year span
was 63-16-2. Despite these impressive numbers, they did not
include Aubie’s name in the naming of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
They transformed Aubie in 1979 when he came to life in the form of a
costumed character at the SEC Basketball Tournament.
A New York based costume company, Brooks-Van Horn, used two
program covers from the early sixties as a reference for creating
Aubie’s outfit. The firm, which also provided costumes for Walt
Disney, designed and produced the tiger costume for $1,350.
AUBURN: ON A ROLL AT TOOMER’S
CORNER
Mr. Whipple, the Charmin man, would shriek in horror if he
witnessed an Auburn victory celebration at Toomer’s Corner. Fans
show delight in “rolling” the trees with tissue paper at this gathering
place found where the university meets the City of Auburn. Big game
celebrations have lasted for hours in the past, leaving this historic
area with quite a tissue specimen. Auburn victories over their
archrival, Alabama, has given new meaning to the phrase, “Roll”
Tide.
Auburn Nickname, Mascot &
Game Day Traditions
Game Day Traditions