Month: November 2020

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The inside view from a former athlete Auburn vs Alabama Experience.

Auburn vs. Alabama Rivalry
Jawara White

As a former Auburn University athlete, the Auburn vs Alabama Rivalry is one I will never forget. Growing up in the football spotlight, I was able to experience both sides of the rivalry. Thankfully I decided to always say “War Eagle.” As I made trips to Auburn my junior and senior year of high school, I slowly learned the depth of the rivalry. The rivalry begins the moment you are born and you pick a side. No seriously, you really have to pick a side.


What does the Auburn vs Alabama rivalry mean to me? The rivalry means blood, sweat, grit, and tears. It means dedication, hard work and determination. The hard work, dedication and determination begin in the months, weeks, and days leading up to the Iron Bowl. Every practice, weight room session, and film session builds up to the Iron Bowl. It is always the last game of the year and it is always the most important game of the year.


My favorite Iron Bowl memory? There are WAY too many to choose from but my freshman year is the easiest memory to pick because it ended with a National Championship under our belt. We were playing in Tuscaloosa. It was my first trip as a player to Tuscaloosa and I had no idea what to expect. People can prep you, warn you, and try and help you the best they can, but the experience is truly one that words cannot describe. As we walked into Bryant Denny Stadium in 2010 we only heard one thing: “Take the Money and Run” playing over the loud speakers. I guess it was a form of intimidation. Sadly, for Alabama, it was a form of motivation. We came out slow but responded from a 24 – 0 deficit and ended up beating Alabama 28 – 27. After the game we could not do anything but smile and laugh, our hard work, determination, grit, sweat and tears pushed us above the rest. We had a few days to celebrate before focusing on a National Title and the SEC championship. During those few days I was able to think about my first experience as a player in the Iron Bowl. I realized then the rivalry is deeper than football; it’s a way of life.

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What’s the Deal with War Eagle? I Thought You Guys Were the Auburn Tigers…

“What is your mascot?” “Are you the War Eagles or the Tigers?” As a former Student Recruiter and current Admissions Advisor at Auburn University, I’ve heard almost every Auburn question under the sun. However, arguably the most common question I’ve been asked comes in some form of the questions above.

            First, let’s clear the air on the debate surrounding the mascot at Auburn University. We are the Auburn Tigers, and this is proudly displayed through our mascot, Aubie the Tiger, who’s a nine-time national champion and the first mascot to be inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.

            So where did the phrase “War Eagle” come from? “War Eagle” is our battle cry at Auburn. Depending on who you talk to, you may hear a variety of tales about how this battle cry originated. However, the most common origin dates back to 1892.

            At Auburn we love our football. Our first ever football game was played back in 1892 against the University of Georgia at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, thus beginning the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. Among those in attendance that day included a veteran from the Civil War. Towards the end of the Civil War, this veteran came across an injured eagle in a battlefield, and nursed the eagle back to health. He then kept this eagle as a pet for almost 30 years, and brought the eagle with him almost everywhere he went. Sure enough, the eagle was also in attendance at this game back in 1892. The eagle broke free from its perch on the veteran’s shoulder and began majestically circling the field. While the eagle was in flight, Auburn’s football team started and finished a thrilling game winning touchdown drive to win their first ever football game. Auburn students, alumni and fans were thrilled by this outcome, and began to yell “War Eagle” as a way to cheer on their team. Ultimately, this is the first way the legend of “War Eagle” translates to today. Roughly 16 minutes before kickoff of every Auburn home football game, one of our two War Eagles, Nova or Aureau, will circle Jordan-Hare Stadium as 87,451 (or as I like to say, 87,450 of my closest friends) scream “WARRRRRRR EAGLE! HEY!” As Nova or Aureau lands at midfield, thousands in attendance erupt, and it gets the crowd fired up just like it did back in 1892.

On August 31, 2000, Tiger (War Eagle VI) became the first eagle to fly free in Jordan-Hare, starting a tradition that is dear to Auburn students, fans, and alumni.

            In addition to the Eagle Flight before football games, the battle cry “War Eagle” can be heard all over the world as a way for the Auburn Family to greet and identify with each other. I guarantee you that if you’re ever wearing an Auburn logo, you’re going to hear a “War Eagle” no matter where you are! This is a symbol of the Auburn spirit. It’s been part of our spirit for more than 100 years, and I’m sure it will continue for hundreds more.

WAR EAGLE!

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Thank You Veterans

By Tina M. Temm

Listen up YOU!

Well that’s over, time to go to school

There are men and women that decide to join the armed forces versus going to college or a community college. These men and women may have joined the regular/reserve federal forces, Coast Guard, or the assorted state Guard forces. Whether it was for one or more enlistments or maybe a career, they put a formal civilian education largely on hold. All those military personnel have to go through different steps to training just as a college student goes through orientation before starting classes. The difference is that screwing up in military training can be physically painful while screwing up in college is costly both financially and time wise.

For those who embark on a tour of the military, at the start they have their lives being told what to do, 24/7. The lives that they had led no longer exist. First stop off would be the reception station which is equivalent to orientation for students that are attending college except people here are not so polite. This will last for usually a week or more depending on the individual’s brushes with the military’s bureaucracy.

Next comes Basic Training in which they will be controlled by their sergeant/chief depending on the service they are in. They will be told when to wake up, when to eat, when to sleep, time to do PT (physical training) and when it’s time to do training.

After basic they go to their actual military occupation schools. This is where they will be trained on what to do for their “job” in the service. From there, unless they get further specialist training, they are posted either State side or overseas. Military life can be hard not just for the serving member but for the family as well. Many jobs in the armed forces
involve constant family separations and even for unmarried personnel, life is very different from what they may have known before enlistment.

Once a soldier decides to separate from their service and start a new life, such as attending college, they have to regroup and figure out the civilian way of life. That often is pretty hard, especially for those who were in combat arms or combat support given the vast differences in those with civilian life. However, there is the option of a serving member going to college and attending a university to get commissioned. But for those that will separate this can be difficult for them because while in the service as already mentioned earlier – they understood their personal responsibilities and ordered lives and now they will be entering a world with little or any of that. There are some people (civilians) who think this should not be an issue – but it is.

When a veteran attends college, they do the same as any other student does by submitting all the paperwork that is needed. Some will even submit their military transcripts. Once all has been processed and whether or not they are coming in as a Freshman or a Transfer – they will go through their final step of orientation. During orientation they will meet with someone from the Veterans Resource Center. Those who work at the VRC are often either veterans or a family member of a veteran. Here they will have the support that they may need from tutoring to dealing with any type of issue that may arise. Moreover they will be in contact with people who understand the differences of life now for them as they too went through the very same changes.

Both veterans and active duty have dealt with so much that no one can understand unless they have been through that ordeal. We are empathic to the problems that they may have and we can celebrate with them on their accomplishments.

But for all those that have served and that are still serving – I would like to say THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. Whether you served for three years or twenty plus, many of us here at Auburn University want to help you in that transition to college life!

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The Auburn Creed: Part III

By RahRah White

“I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot
win the respect and confidence of my fellow men”

Being a part of the Auburn family is more than just saying it. Being part of the Auburn family is more than cheering student athletes on during sporting events. Being a part of the Auburn family is more than going to class. Being a part of the Auburn family is being honest and truthful not only with others, but with yourself as well. Being a part of the Auburn family is having the respect of my fellow men. At times it may be hard to stay truthful and honest, but at the end of the day you will be respected more for being truthful. These are a few things that Auburn is built on and we still stand firm on these beliefs today. When others have confidence in you, they can see something in you that you may or may not be able to see in yourself. Uplifting others and being truthful while doing so can be rewarding in many ways. That is one of the many reasons to be a part of the Auburn Family.