It’s been over eight years now since Jim Fyffe left us on May 15, 2003. I remember it like it was yesterday. Sitting at the computer. Checking whatever sites you checked back then for updates on whether the great god of Auburn radio was going to make it. Listening to Finebaum. Praying.
First he was just in the hospital. He was going to be OK. Then he was dead.
I got in the car. I cranked up the “20 Years of Great Calls” CD. I mean it was loud. HE’S IN! HE’S IN! HE’S IN! TILLMAN! TILLMAN! TILLMAN! TOUCHDOWWWWN, AUBURNNNNN! I drove down Glenn Ave into the sunset and cried.
The next day, I sat in the Anders parking lot. I looked up at the marquee. I got out my journal and drew this. I just found it again and thought I’d share.
I’m not much of an artist.
…
Keep Reading:
* De La Soul’s DJ Maseo says he’d lend talent to pregame if ‘conducive’
* Barrett Trotter knows when to hold’em
* Bear Bryant’s lost year at Auburn
* The Ron Swanson Pyramid of Auburn
* Gene Chizik’s cow
* The Secret History of Pat Dye Field
* Erin Andrews at Toomer’s Corner
* In the time of “Got 13″ she was a Tiger
* Was Walt Disney an Auburn fan?
Follow us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
I remember supervising the parking lot next to the Nichols Center for the AU/UGA game for ROTC in 2002. We had the media/law enforcement lot. I was waving a car in and not really paying attention to who was in it; I just noticed it was a somewhat older couple and the guy looked a bit familiar. When I was walked over I noticed the car tag was (I think) “TDAU.” It was then that it hit me it was Jim Fyffe driving the car. That was the last Auburn home game he ever called (and a miserable one at that, with the way it ended). I wish I had said something to him about how much I loved listening to him call Auburn games.
I was still in high school. My friend had given me “20 Years of Great Calls” for my birthday not too long before that day. He was the one who called to tell me that Jim Fyffe had died. I remember sitting at the computer sobbing and having to tell my mom about it. She cried, too. (Honestly, I’m about to cry right now.) I’ll never forget watching the ’97 Iron Bowl (TV muted, radio on) and seeing Holmes’ winning kick sail through the uprights and hearing Jim Fyffe screaming, “IT’S GOOD! IT’S GOOD! IT’S GOOD! THE AUBURN TIGERS LEAD BY ONE! IT’S GOOD! IT’S GOOD! IT’S GOOD!” That’s probably my favorite memory of him; pure, unadulterated joy and love for the Auburn Tigers.
I love Rod B now that he’s finally settled into things as our guy, but boy do I sure miss Jim.
I think it’s beautiful…
Thanks, Nicole!
Best damned sketch under duress I have ever seen. Long live Jim Fyffe.
I really like Rod B. but just as AU99 says, I sure do miss TDAU.
I think the sketch is fantastic.
Nice job
Thanks Dave, Koolbell — must admit I was kind of proud of it at the time. War Eagle!
A masterpiece, Jeremy.
It takes nothing away from Rod to celebrate the great joy that Jim gave us over the years. And I’ve noticed lately that Rod has stopped trying to go completely different and has sort of embraced the old Fyffe-isms– something I applaud him doing.
The last time I saw Jim, I was in the Atlanta airport. It must have been late 2002 or early 2003. I went up to him and shook his hand and told him how much I had always loved listening to him. A few months later, he was gone. I’m so glad I stopped and spoke to him and shook his hand. You just never know.
I’ll never forget hearing the announcement on the radio. I simply couldn’t believe it! Not Jim Fyffe! I was in my car driving on the Bayway on my way home to Baldwin county. I cried and cried and couldn’t pull the car over on that bayway. I called my sister Faye, who goes to the AU football games with me, and we cried together. We watched the National Championship game together as well and both of us said as Byrum’s kick sailed through the uprights, I bet Jim is yelling “It’s Good!! Auburn Tigers National Champs!!!” as loud as he could in heaven!!! I miss him to this day, terribly!
I have to add, I love Rod B as well. He’s the voice of AU now and I’m thankful to have him!
Yeah, you are. It’s a great representation of Jim Fyffe!