War Eagle!
21 September 2008Our crew from College GameDay on ESPN Radio was on the field for Auburn vs. LSU. Folks, if you’ve never seen a game at Jordan-Hare stadium, add it to your bucket list.
The pregame festivities were spectacular, especially the appearance of Auburn’s War Eagle. It flew around the stadium to the roar of the crowd, and then dove onto the center of the field to devour a tasty morsel placed there.
I won a national championship in college, and played twelve years in the NFL, so I’ve seen a little excitement. But I was in awe, with chills running down my back and a grin on my face that wouldn’t go away.
It’s a tradition that dates back to the Civil War, where an Auburn student was wounded fighting for Robert E. Lee in the Battle of the Wilderness.
Legend has it that when the soldier awoke after the battle, the only living thing in sight was a wounded baby eagle. He collected up the eagle, brought it home, and nursed it back to health. Eventually, he returned to Auburn and became a member of the faculty; he and his eagle became well-known to the students.
Years later, at a critical point in the 1892 game against Georgia, the eagle broke away from its master and flew around the stadium. The Auburn faithful recognized the bird and called out its name, cheering, “War Eagle!”
Then, alas, the bird died. Auburn faithful beleive that he gave his all to help Auburn defeat Georgia that day, 10-0.
So Auburn’s mascot is indeed the Tigers. But their battle cry, “War Eagle!”, is one of the most moving traditions in college football. Anyone would be richer for having experienced it in person.
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