The Toomer’s Corner Oaks

I was a student at Auburn University for two years.  I’ve been a fan of Auburn football for my whole life, literally.  My first game was in my Mother’s womb at the Citrus bowl in 1987. My father, aunt, grandfather, and countless other relatives from BOTH sides of the family attended Auburn.  My dad played football there in the late 70’s. 

One of the greatest things about Auburn is the tradition.  Things I did at school were the same things my relatives did years before.  A major part of the traditions included Toomer’s Corner, where sit two 130 year old oak trees that get “rolled” with toilet paper after a big win. I know it sounds silly, but it’s tradition and it came to be a BIG deal to everyone who went to school there and visiting alumni.  I myself rolled Toomer’s after a big win against Alabama one year while I was there.  My little brother had a chance to roll Toomer’s one year when we visited for a game.  When we won the National Championship this year, we sat at home and watched the webcams from Toomer’s Corner with fans as far as you could see, celebrating.

That being said, the Auburn/Alabama rivalry is one of the most heated rivalries in college football.  I have a few friends that are Bama fans and we go back and forth every year, playfully trash-talking each other.

This year, some ignorant 62 year old man took it too far.  After the Auburn/Bama game, he decided to poison the Toomer’s oaks.  He not only put lethal doses of poison into the soil around these 130 year old trees, but he called a local radio station to brag about it.  Yesterday, it was confirmed that the trees have been poisoned and yes, they are going to die.

This is heartbreaking for several reasons.  These trees have been a staple on that campus for many years and were supposed to be there for many more.  Every single person in my extended family has been to this site, either celebrating or passing on the stories.  My mother was there as a kid.  My grandparents passed under these oaks on their way to watch my father play.  My other grandfather would walk under them on his way to class. 

This man took this rivalry way too far and destroyed a piece of history. All because his football team lost a game.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=ap-auburn-treespoisoned