They Still Do That? The Evolution of Auburn University Traditions

Auburn University celebrates a rich history of traditions dating back to its founding in 1856. New traditions are being integrated into the school’s history each year, while old traditions are stronger than ever. From where they started to where they are now, here are four of Auburn’s most celebrated traditions from the perspective of current students and seasoned alumni.

Auburn’s Roaring Welcome – Tiger Walk & Tailgate

From the echoing cheers of fans lining the streets for Tiger Walk to the uniting fun of tailgating, these traditions have been a staple on Auburn’s campus.

Instead of the huge crowds we see today, the first Tiger Walk consisted of a group of kids walking up the street to meet the team, cheer them on and ask for autographs. Since then, it’s grown into thousands of fans lining the streets from the Athletics Complex all the way to the stadium.

“Tiger Walk has become bigger and bigger and bigger,” said Ricky Smallridge ’82, a longtime Auburn resident since the early 1980s. “And now they’re doing Tiger Walk at even the away games.”

For fans and players alike, Tiger Walk is an opportunity to connect with each other and get pumped up for the game ahead. For Anna Chason Buchanan, current junior and student recruiter, Tiger Walk gave her a moment that she’ll cherish for a lifetime.

“When I was younger, we had a tailgate close to Tiger Walk. We got up to the very front and I was standing there with my jersey on and bows in my hair. I was probably nine or 10 and I got a high five from Cam Newton,” said Buchanan. “I was so excited, and I was squealing. We still talk about it to this day.”

The walk begins exactly two hours before each game. However, much earlier than that, fans from all over pitch their tents for a good old-fashioned tailgate party.

Since he was little, College of Human Sciences communications editor Graham Brooks ’14 and his tailgating family set up camp to enjoy a full day of Auburn fun. “We’ve got to the point where we joined a tailgate, and we all pitch in and do a lot of different work for it,” said Brooks. For over 20 years, the tailgate has occupied the same spot and is equipped with grills, fryers, chairs and tables, a generator and TVs.

For Brooks, tailgating is more than an excuse to party all day — it’s cherished time with friends and family. “One of my favorite things about it is just getting together and seeing everybody each week from our tailgate, and catching up on life,” he said.

On game days, the air is filled with the electric excitement of thousands of fans as they all pack into the stadium awaiting the next great Auburn tradition.

Winging It – The War Eagle Flight

Since its debut, the War Eagle’s flight has captured the hearts of students, alumni and fans alike, marking the beginning of each home game.

“I would say that the Eagle Flight is my favorite tradition because it came along after I was out of school and became so popular even around the country. Everyone knows about it,” said Smallridge.

During the 2000 football season, War Eagle VI brought this new tradition to the stadium, soaring above the heads of cheering fans. Brooks recalls watching the inaugural flight when he was only 9 years old.

“I remember being there, it was incredible to watch,” said Brooks. “I’ve always loved that tradition and so has my family. I would always try to get into the stadium before that took place.”

While the first official flight occurred in 2000, a popular legend of the battle cry goes back to 1892.

During a home game, a Civil War veteran’s pet eagle broke loose and began circling the field as Auburn began celebrating their win against Georgia. Seeing the soaring eagle, fans began shouting “War Eagle” in victory. Since then, the War Eagle battle cry and Eagle Flight have become intertwined as symbols of Auburn’s spirit.

“I remember being there, it was incredible to watch,” said Brooks. “I’ve always loved that tradition and so has my family. I would always try to get into the stadium before that took place.”

For current graduate student and mic man Dalton Odom ’22, the Eagle Flight holds a special place in his gameday experience. Before he runs out onto the field to cheer and rally the crowd, the flight begins. Usually, Odom is accompanied on the field with a former football player taking on the role of honorary mic man. To Odom, the best part of Eagle Flight is watching them in awe of the eagle.

“One thing they all tell me is, ‘You know, I never got to see this when I was a player because we were always in the locker room.’ Seeing their faces beaming, just being on the field watching it, has always been the coolest part to me. They look like the little kid that I was when I was younger,” said Odom.

Coming from a family of Auburn alumni, Buchanan has been watching the flight for as long as she can remember. To this day, her favorite memory of Eagle Flight springs from the Texas A&M game during her sophomore year.

“We both had losing seasons, Auburn and Texas A&M. Cadillac was our assistant interim head coach, and everyone in the stadium was like, ‘This is it. This is our game.’ We beat Texas A&M, the eagle went, and we finally swag surfed,” said Buchanan. “Then Cadillac got up on the mic man pitch and started saying, ‘War Eagle!’ It was just so electric.

Better Than Snow – Rolling Toomer’s Corner

When the game comes to a triumphant close, fans young and old rush to Toomer’s Corner, grab the closest roll of toilet paper available and begin celebrating their win with a flurry of snow.

“Rolling Toomer’s shows how people you don’t even know can come together to celebrate the school they love,” said Morgan Watkins ’22, current graduate student. “It’s such a visual representation of how proud we are of Auburn and what the school and teams mean to us.”

In the 1960’s, Toomer’s Drugstore owned the only telegraph in Auburn. Without phones, Toomer’s employees were the first to get news of away Auburn football games. If the Tigers were victorious, the Toomer’s employees would throw the telegraph paper over the trees and power lines to inform Auburn students and locals of the win.

During the infamous “Punt, Bama, Punt” Iron Bowl matchup in 1972, fans ditched the telegraph paper and covered Toomer’s Corner in toilet paper after Auburn’s 17-16 victory. A joke was that Alabama was destined to be No. 2 in the country headed into the final stretch before Auburn beat them and snuffed their season. The punchline went “Auburn beat the #2 out of them.”

The tradition has only grown stronger since 1972, and today the beloved oak trees get rolled after many different athletic victories, not just football.

“The first tree I ever rolled was when I was four or five with my dad who went to Auburn. My blood family,” said Buchanan. “Now I roll Toomer’s with my Auburn Family, who’s all the friends that I’ve gotten to make throughout my time here. And I think it’s a really sweet thing.”

One of the most notable Toomer’s rolls for recent Auburn graduates was when the Auburn Men’s Basketball team advanced to the Final Four in 2019 for the first time in Auburn’s history.

“I remember the sun was setting as we were all running to Toomer’s. Samford Lawn had this orange haze to it, and I remember there were so many people and so much toilet paper being thrown that it was dusty in the air from the toilet paper. It was this orange, dusty haze just all across the lawn. That was really fun,” said Odom.

As thousands of fans swarm Toomer’s Corner after a big win, there is one thing students are careful to avoid on their trek from the stadium.

Sealing Your Fate – The Legend of the Auburn Seal

Sitting outside Langdon Hall, The Auburn University seal is one of the most beautiful pieces of campus history. Legend has it, if an Auburn student steps on the seal, they will not graduate in four years. Additionally, stepping on the seal reputedly means never finding your true love at Auburn and being cursed with seven generations of die-hard Alabama fans in your family.

As someone who accidentally stepped on the seal during his undergraduate years, Odom provides a testament to the truth behind the curse.

“I was taking pictures of a friend of mine for her graduation. She was on top of the steps at Langdon, and I was just backing up, and I felt the texture of the ground change. I looked down and I was like, ‘Crap.’ [And] looking back, I didn’t graduate on time, I have not found a wife here, and I’m praying against seven generations of Alabama fans.”

If you’re unlucky enough to curse yourself, there is one way to reverse the effects. At midnight on Leap Day every four years, jumping in the freezing water of the President’s fountain will free you of the curse.

Buchanan and her friends took advantage of the opportunity this year on February 29, despite never actually being cursed from stepping on the seal.

“A couple kids stepped on the seal earlier that day to curse themselves and then jumped in the fountain to reverse the curse. But I just felt like I couldn’t do that,” joked Buchanan. “I can’t disrespect the seal like that.”

Buchanan and her friends approached the fountain before midnight to watch the eager students waiting for their chance to jump in. She did not plan on getting in the freezing water because she had never been cursed.

“As midnight approached, everyone was counting down from 10. Three, two, one, and midnight finally hit, and everyone just swarmed the fountain. People were cheering and splashing all around. And I looked at my friend, and I was like, ‘We have to do this. We’re never going to get this opportunity as students again.’ So we got in with them. And the fountain was overflowing, and people were putting their heads under and completely dunking. One girl even had swim goggles on. It was just really sweet.”

While current students should remain cautious when passing the seal, graduates can walk freely past Langdon Hall without fear of being cursed. Some graduates, however, remain superstitious.

“When I graduated from undergrad I still refused to step on the seal even though I had just graduated – mostly because I haven’t graduated from grad school yet,” said Watkins. “At that point it was probably fine, but that’s something that I just didn’t want to do.”

From rolling Toomer’s Corner to the festivities of Tiger Walk, these timeless traditions are more than just customs that show school spirit – they are the heartbeat of the Auburn family.

“Every school has their own traditions, but I think ours sets us apart and are just so different,” said Odom. “They are a part of the framework of who we are as an Auburn family.”

As current students and alumni continue to embrace these traditions, the Auburn spirit will shine for years to come.

“I think back to Cadillac Williams’ quote, ‘If you love Auburn, Auburn will love you back,’ said Buchanan. “People have really felt that. I think the more that people buy in, the more that they get out of it. And I don’t see that changing.”

To learn more about how you can carry on these traditions and other beloved Auburn rituals, click here.

By Kaitlyn McCarthy ’24 and Mia Esposito