Originally posted June 7, 2011.
My six-year-old daughter and I interviewed Philip Lutzenkirchen last week (for a TWER related project we’ll soon explain in greater detail, do stay tuned). It was the day after his 20th birthday. He was sweaty from a summer session of Yoxercise. He was sorry he was late. He was great.
For whatever reason, the Iron Bowl kept coming up — the touchdown, the buck dance. And, oh yes — what about what happened during warmups?
If you recall, those in charge of Bama’s gameday production authorized Bryant-Denny’s DJ to play “Son of Preacher Man” and “Take The Money and Run” as Auburn players took the field for their pre-game walk-through.
I got to the game late too late to hear it, and only found out about the whole thing a day or two later. It was stupid. Tacky. Danceable. Typical. But what I wanted to know was whether The Blessed Individual was actually aware of what was happening, or whether he even could have been, i.e. whether he had ever even heard the songs before —one doubts a Bieber fan would have much room on his iPod for Dusty Springfield and the Steve Miller Band.
“You come out of the tunnel and you expect some upbeat music, like some rap music or rock music, and that’s the one thing I remember,” Lutzenkirchen said. “We were running out of the tunnel and I was kind of absorbing everything, because it was the first time I’d played at Bryant-Denny and probably the biggest Iron Bowl I’ve been in. And you run out on the field and I knew something wasn’t right because the music was weird. I didn’t think much of it, I didn’t really listen to the lyrics to see what song it was, but I was just like, ‘this is kind of bizarre, that they’re playing a slow-paced song right now.’”
If Cam was aware that Bama was trying to get under his impenetrable skin with the play list, Luzty says he didn’t let on.
“I’m sure he wasn’t,” he said. “But if he was, he probably just laughed it off.”
Photo via.
Related: Read the Iron Bowl chapter in “Big Fish”
Keep Reading:
* Lutzenkirchen vs. The Pounder
* Ad for a Wet T-shirt Contest at Nichol’s Alley
* Pat Dye buying sunglasses
* Muhammad Al on the Haley Center concourse
* Playboy in Auburn, 1989
* The War Eagle Jeep in Vietnam
* 78 never-before-seen photos of the Kopper Kettle explosion of 1978
* Rare candids of Pat Sullivan at the 1971 Heisman banquet
* G.I. Joe’s Auburn’s connection
* The Great Bo Jackson A-Day Race of 1984
* Crowd shots from the 1973 Auburn-Florida game
* Best reaction to being named Miss Homecoming ever
* “Buck Fama” graffiti seen in Auburn after “Punt Bama Punt”
Is it bad that I tighten up a little anytime a notable player name leads any AU-related headline?
Glad this wasn’t “Lutzenkirchen dismissed from team following outlandish crime caper” instead. Unless it involved him growing and twirling a moustache. Then, maybe.
I love you Lutz, I had no idea you were the one behind all the Auburn etc. twitter names, you dont know what the Sports Great (my fav besides yours) has meant to me all this time. You are an amazing man that I just cannot fathom why God would send you to me from Heaven, He loves me so much! To begin with, I was touched by the story of you going home for your best friend to take his sister to her prom, I literally cried so hard because I’ve longed for that kind of unselfish love. My prayers have been answered…never expected like this, my unbelief and underestimation of God’s amazing love! I love the way you treat your teamates and cheer them on, no matter how they do on the field. That tells me so much about you, your character. I love the way you signaled me with Scripture and encouraging words when honestly, I wasnt for sure they were directed to me…i know I have been hesitant in communicating, but I secretly wanted to talk to you a million times, encourage you and as time passed, this love in my heart has grown, deep. I pray for you everyday (and your teamates) because you carry a heavy responsibility in front of a large audience who adore you all. I know you have a deep realtionship with the Lord which is the main reason I love you and cannot resist you. I am so honored to be called your friend and tremble to think I will be your lover…soon, very soon. i can talk now if you want to respond. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxox
Irony: at 24-0, the only one who could ever reach them was the son of a preacher man. 28-27.