The Doug Barfield era was one of the less successful in Auburn football history. Barfield went 29–25–1 from 1976-1980 and only finished ranked one year. It’s not easy on a man’s legacy to have his career sandwiched between those of Shug Jordan and Pat Dye, the two most beloved coaches in the program’s history. Barfield, however, made his mark in other areas, namely fashion. Whatever he lacked in football acumen, he made up for with style. His teams sported the occasional orange jersey (that we have featured in past posts—keep hope alive). He handed out cool eagle helmet stickers called “weagles” (featured for the first time below). But perhaps his crowning achievement was the quintessentially ‘70s attire his staff sported in the program from the 1978 Tennessee Game. I don’t have the words to do it justice. Just take it all in. Fantastic.
Tennessee Game Program (1978)
What we need now is a throwback game (against a nobody opponent, please) with the team coming out in orange jerseys and face masks and the coaches wearing these outfits on the sidelines. I mean, come on, Chizik was born to wear that shirt and VanGorder could easily go coif-to-coif with any of his predecessors. Luper could replace his orange tinted shades with P.W. Underwood’s classics. It’s almost too perfect. Someone in charge needs to make this happen.
“Weagle” Helmet Sticker (Late 1970’s)
I’m neither pro- nor anti-helmet stickers. I like them for certain schools (I begrudgingly acknowledge that I like Georgia’s bones and Clemson’s paws), but I’m glad Auburn doesn’t use them anymore. I like the clean simplicity of our helmet and don’t want anything else cluttering it up. That said, these old helmet stickers are nice. I never even knew these existed until Jeremy featured the cover of the program from the 1980 Tennessee game a few weeks ago and someone commented that they were called “weagles.” I considered cropping down to focus on the weagle by itself, but I like seeing the other WEGL (the campus radio station) sticker above it as well as the slight glimpse of the possibly-soon-to-be-reborn Birmingham Stallions sticker.
Auburn Football Media Guide (1980)
– @lulupuppydog
This is another item from Barfield’s tenure (the end, in fact). The media guide for his last season featured a collage of old program covers, memorabilia and the words “The ‘70s: A Proud Past / The ‘80s: A Promising Future.” Pretty good prediction considering it was made in the midst of a mediocre stretch and followed shortly thereafter by one of the most dominant ever.
Vintage Auburn Jacket (?)
“Here, as promised, is the old Auburn jacket that was my stepdad’s, and that I wear just about every game Saturday that’s cold enough. Every Auburn hipster is now EXTREMELY jealous of me… WDE.”
-Stephen Walker
Past contributor Stephen mentioned this jacket in a comment to an earlier post and I asked him to send in a picture. He, and the jacket, did not disappoint.
Bo Jackson Baseball Starting Line-up (1990)
In the first Relics, I showed you my own football playing Bo Jackson Starting Line-up figure. Here we have Bo wearing the beautiful blue uniform of the Kansas City Royals while playing his other pro sport. Once again it is not technically Auburn, unless like me you consider anything and everything Bo to be inherently Auburn.
That’s it for this edition (for previous editions, click here). Thanks again to all of our contributors, especially the very generous anonymous donor who submitted the 1978 Tennessee Program, helmet sticker and Bo Jackson Starting Line-up (and more items to come). Send in your own relics to aufearlessandtrue@gmail.com or @FearlessandTrue.
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Keep Reading:
* An Illustrated History of the Miss A.U. Tan contest
* Elvis says “War Eagle”
* Alabama in Auburn gear
* Bo Jackson’s pencil mustache
* That OTHER time they burned the Glom
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Woah. Some might disagree with me, but the design of the “weagle” sticker is quite good. Look at the back of the wing … the negative space forms another eagle head and beak!
I like it to. I didn’t realize it until I starting pulling the post together that the sticker is also used on the masthead of the program. I wonder how ofter it was used back then and why it disappeared completely.
I like it, too, that should say. I really should proof my comments.
“the design of the “weagle” sticker is quite good. Look at the back of the wing … the negative space forms another eagle head and beak!”
*Mind blown*
Truly, Doug Barfield was the Derek Dooley of his generation.
CDB was a nice guy but in way over his head.
He chose poorly in his DC.
If you hated Ted Roof’s “D”, you would have exploded with PW Underwood’s “D”.
Absolutely no amount of points was ever enough, worst DC in AU history.
Saw a good AU team lose to Wake Forest 38-42 blowing a big half time lead. And this was a very mediocre WF team.
I’d love to have a few of those Weagle Stickers!
Do you have evidence of their use on a helmet?
Martin – the link in the story to the 1980 Tennessee game program shows the backs of the helmets. You can see the helmet stickers on several, though it is certainly not a close-up view.
http://www.thewareaglereader.com/2012/04/orange-jersey-illustrated/