My original intention was to make this a weekly feature, but I’m starting to get a backlog of cool stuff that I want to share so we’ve decided to post a bonus Relics this week. We’ll start with some vocal calisthenics.
Original “War Eagle” Sheet Music (1955)
“I meant to send this to Jeremy a long time ago, but almost forgot till I saw your article. I found this in a piano bench at my great grandparents’ house; “War Eagle” A New Song For Auburn, Circa 1955. So glad you are helping bring some of these treasures to light. War Eagle.”
– Ben Griffiths ’08
This sheet music dates back to the year the Auburn fight song that still fills our stadiums and arenas (and hearts) today was first written and performed. I can read music about as well as Alabama fans count National Championships, but I love the direction to play the song “With Spirit.” Also worth noting is the lyrics to the Alma Mater on the bottom left of the top photo. These are the original lyrics for the song when the school was still API. The song was revised to account for the school’s name change in 1960. And Ben, as long as there are people like you willing to share treasures like this for us to bring to light, we will gladly continue to do so.
Auburn Playing Cards (1973)
“I’ve attached a couple of pics of some Auburn playing cards featuring players and coaches on the 1973 football team. I’m not exactly sure where I got this deck, especially since I wasn’t born for another year, but I’m pretty sure it was given to me by/stolen from my older brother. I love how the Jokers are images of Cliff Hare Stadium and a state-of-the-art Beard Eaves Coliseum.”
– Philip/Nashphil/@phmcgowan
Whether your game is poker or “Go Fish,” this deck of playing cards from the 1973 season would give you hours of entertainment and an Auburn history lesson to boot. I will now forever think of Shug Jordan when I hear Motorhead’s classic “Ace of Spades,” as I’m sure he would have wanted. “State-of-the-art Beard Eaves Coliseum” is also a phrase I never thought I would read.
Auburn Rug (1980’s)
“My grandma found the rug in an estate sale & the AU “War Eagles” plate was in a thrift store for $.25.”
– @TylerHNay
Of all the items that have been sent in since starting War Eagle Relics, this rug might be the one I covet the most (and, of course, Jeremy has it, too). It would just look so good in any Auburn home, what with those two amazing logos together in one place and the bold declaration that “THIS IS WAR EAGLE COUNTRY.” Might have to monitor eBay for a while. The license plate is a nice touch as well (and a steal at that price), even if it does erroneously add an “S” to War Eagle (a pet peeve of mine).
Auburn Schedule Poster (1982)
– @lulupuppydog
This schedule poster for the ’82 season features a diving Auburn defender (possibly linebacker Jeff Jackson) getting his human touch on as he takes out Georgia Tech’s quarterback. The ’82 team would finish 9-3 with a final AP ranking of 14. It was also the year of “Bo Over the Top” and the end of the streak, making this poster well worth holding onto.
Official Auburn Tiger Rag (1980)
“Still unpacking and found my official Auburn Tiger Rag that came out in 1980.”
– @firstaubiegirl
Before the Trooper Towel there was the Official Auburn Tiger Rag. One wonders if these were used to wave goodbye to Barfield after the season.
Authentic Orange Auburn Jersey (Late ‘70s)
“Here is a pic of the orange jersey I have in my collection. WDE!” – @RHTIII
New goal for War Eagle Relics: Account for every orange jersey ever worn in a game on The Plains. It’s a lofty goal, sure, but at least No. 90 and No. 96 are on the board.
That’s it for today. We thank everyone again for their submissions and remind you to keep ‘em coming (aufearlessan[email protected] or @FearlessandTrue). Remember, your stuff doesn’t have to be old to be awesome. In fact, the next post will feature an item (or two) from the Tuberville era that I think is pretty great. Until then, War Eagle.
Related: War Eagle Relics says Dameyune For Heisman!
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Keep Reading:
* SHAKE IT, SHUG!
* That time they burned the Glom
* Auburn’s 1960 cheesecake schedule
* I think of Kurt Crain
* Smithsonian Magazine photographs kid in Auburn hat at Texas prom
* Auburn’s Legend of Zelda
* Pat Sullivan orders a “Wishbone T” on Bob Hope
* Former Nitro Girl recalls time at Auburn
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Aw man, I was gonna send a photo of MY tiger rag, but @firstaubiegirl beat me to it. BTW, my mind was blown by that sheet music – You’ve got a treasure there, Ben Griffiths.
Did AU wear navy jerseys in a road game at Grant Field in 1981?
What’s cool about the orange jerseys you’ve posted so far is that 90 and 96 are close to each other in the AU Game Day Illustrated with the team running out onto the field.
A little picky but the orange “Tiger Rags” came out in 1979. That was my last year in the band and at one game, we all pulled them out of our uniforms during halftime and waved them around.
It was the 70’s. It was the era of polyester leisure suits. I didn’t say waving the little orange rags was classy; I just said we did it.
Oh, and I still have my Tiger Rag in a box in the basement.
That sheet music is sitting on my piano. I got it about 1956 when I was in the fourth grade. My childhood writing changed the words to the alma mater on the back. Took piano for 8 years and this is the only thing I can play from memory. War Eagle!
Wait a minute. Look at the copyright information at the bottom of that sheet music: (c) 1955 Auburn Alumni Association Inc.
I thought that the reason we don’t hear War Eagle in any of the NCAA (insert next year here) games for your game console of choice was that the copyright to the song was actually held by the estate of the writer, and not Auburn. If the original sheet music says the Alumni Association holds the copyright, how could the writer’s estate still be holding it?
Someone needs to get to the bottom of this.
Chris,
Wikipedia says this on the matter of the song’s ownership:
Auburn University currently does not hold ownership of the copyright for “War Eagle”. The university did not renew it and the copyright is currently held by the estate of Robert Allen. Therefore, companies selling products with “War Eagle” being played must acquire licensing from the estate as well as Auburn University. There is a movement within the university to regain the ownership of the song.
There is no citation to confirm this information, however. It seems like a terrible oversight to not renew the copywrite, but it would certainly fit with the most commonly given reasons for why I always had to listen to “Glory, Glory” on video games.
I know (because I know someone who used to work at EA with the group that worked on the NCAA titles) that it was a copyright issue, but that particular [citation needed] in Wikipedia seems like a perfect thing for TWER to get to the bottom of. (I’d do it myself, if I were still in Auburn.) When exactly did we lose the copyright to our own fight song? Why don’t we have it back? Who exactly owns it now, and why aren’t they working with Auburn to come to some sort of agreement?