A Weekend With Family

I spent this past weekend in my favorite Alabama city…Auburn. It holds so many dear memories and every time I return I am reminded of why I love it so. It was my home for four years, and I find comfort in knowing that I will remain a part of the Auburn family forever. I went down to “The Loveliest Village on the Plains” to celebrate our National Championship (can I get a woot woot??) and watch my first basketball game in the new Auburn Arena, which happened to be Auburn vs. Alabama and the ODK ceremony. It was sure was nice hearing a “bammer” singing our fight song!

An estimated 78,000 people showed up!!

Auburn Arena

Auburn vs. Alabama Basketball Game

I love Auburn!! I LOVE Auburn! Why, you ask? I’m honestly not quite sure. I’ve never been able to explain it. From the moment I stepped onto the campus for Camp War Eagle, I was hooked. It just gets in your blood and becomes a part of who you are! The Auburn Creed, Bodda Getta, our fight song, Samford Hall, Toomer’s Corner, Bo Jackson, War Eagle, Go Tigers, Haley Center, Foy (person and place)…these are some of the things that make Auburn what it is and some of the things that make me who I am. In my opinion, only one man has ever been able to capture, in words, the essence of Auburn, and as he read these words Saturday I had chills on my arms and tears in my eyes. Our previous athletic director, David Housel, once said:

“What is Auburn?

Far be it from me to try to answer that question. There are as many definitions of Auburn as there are Auburn men and women.

It would be safe to say, however, that Auburn is much more than a football game. It is much more than winning and losing.

It is a spirit. It is an attitude. It is a way of looking at life and at one another. It is, almost, a way of living. Unless you have experienced it, you will never know what it is; you will never understand it. Once you have experienced it, you will never be the same. A part of you will, forevermore, be an Auburn man or an Auburn woman.”