Category: Traditions

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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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AU Traditions: Rolling Toomer’s Corner

When you think of autumn, what comes to mind? Cooler weather, falling leaves, pumpkin spice-flavored everything? At universities across the country, fall signals the start of another football season. Each year, Auburn University fans anticipate a winning streak to rival those of the past. Here on the eastern Alabama plains exists a post-game tradition that sets us apart from competitors—the rolling of the Auburn Oaks at Toomer’s Corner.

After every Tiger victory, giddy fans flock to Toomer’s Corner. The quaint downtown intersection is anchored by Toomer’s Drugs, a charming pharmacy-turned-lunch counter that has been welcoming students, alumni and community residents for more than a century. As crowds gather, toilet paper streams from the hands of revelers into the trees surrounding the drugstore. Another nearby site, Samford Lawn, also teems with fans hurling toilet paper, draping every limb and branch of the lawn’s mature oaks. The celebration is not always contained to Toomer’s or Samford Lawn alone. When Auburn defeats an opponent in a championship match, elated enthusiasts often take to decorating several blocks of College Street, transforming even more of downtown Auburn into a white-paper wonderland.

And what becomes of the paper when the festivities have ended? City of Auburn road crews are hard at work early the next day, returning campus and downtown to working order. (Fun fact: Auburn is the only city in the country with a toilet paper removal budget.)

But what is it exactly that makes this tradition so special? For Laurel, an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science, it is the camaraderie of the Auburn Family coming together, uniting in celebration. Having grown up in Auburn, she fondly recalls times spent with her family and the community at Toomer’s Corner. Many family members still return to Auburn from far and wide to show their support for the Tigers. Laurel’s Aunt Judi travels from Houston each season to take in a game or two and to join the festivities spilling from the stadium when the home team triumphs. Laurel’s most memorable game and rolling came after the nail-biting “Kick Six” play at the 2013 Iron Bowl, when Auburn narrowly beat then No. 1-ranked Alabama (34–28).

Auburn alumnus Billy, who earned a degree in business in 2015, agrees, noting the energy and excitement it brings to the campus. He first became aware of the tradition during an Auburn campus tour while still in high school. Billy cites the 2013 “A Day” spring scrimmage as his personal favorite post-game roll. The game marked the final roll of the original Auburn Oaks before they were replaced. Billy estimates more than one hundred thousand fans participated that day. He remembers the energy as palpable, almost electric. When asked why the tradition has continued for so long, he points to the fervent passion held by so many fans of the university and its much-lauded athletics programs. Billy affirms that it is the Auburn Family, not the trees themselves, that keeps this rich tradition going strong today.

Both Billy and Laurel remark that the rolling of the Auburn Oaks at Toomer’s Corner unites Auburn fans across generations. It is not uncommon to see children clad in orange and navy running alongside their grandparents at Toomer’s after a game—young and old alike proudly tossing a roll high into the sky.