When your remember that it’s happening just three days after what has the potential to be the most voluminous Toomer’s Corner rollings ever, it’s an understandable question: Will the inordinate amount of toilet paper be removed from the Toomer’s Oaks (in a final, technically damaging hosing) before they’re cut down?
Yes, but not as soon as it usually is.
The university currently plans to leave the toilet paper thrown in the trees during the “Celebrate The Tradition” event on Sat., April 20 through most of the day Sunday—workers typically begin to remove it early Sunday mornings—in order to provide as many photo opportunities for fans as possible. And if you don’t want to strain yourself snapping a selfie with the oaks in the background, there should plenty of police around to lend a hand, probably a few more than usual.
Though the Auburn Police Department was uncharacteristically tight-lipped about its plans for the event (“We’re going to take all necessary precautions”), The War Eagle Reader is told there will be added security presence throughout the day and even throughout the night not only for crowd control—open containers have been approved—but to “lessen the chance we have a bonfire.”
Due to the oaks’ mostly bare branches, the majority of the toilet paper is expected to quickly find its way to the ground, which could increase the likelihood of it catching ablaze.
A fire started at Toomer’s Corner after Auburn’s win over Alabama A&M last November “significantly damaged” the trees to the point of death in at least some of the rhizomic shoots surrounding the oaks’ trunks.
Though photos and videos of persons of interest related to the fire were released, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
It was the second time in just over two years the oaks had caught fire after being rolled. The blaze that engulfed the toilet paper left in the trees after the 2010 Auburn-Georgia game was actually the result of three separate fire incidents.
The oaks also caught fire after the 2007 Iron Bowl (here are some new photos).
We were also told Friday by an officer at Toomer’s Corner that police are anticipating some attendees will attempt to snag a piece of the oaks for souvenirs during the festivities, and that a breach of the barricades surrounding the oaks technically constituted trespassing.
Auburn plans to sell officially licensed “Auburn Oaks” souvenirs to raise money for AU’s general scholarship fund. Smithsonian-featured woodturning artist Matt Moulthrop will also be turning a trunk portion of one of the oaks into a bowl that will be added to the Jule Collins Museum of Fine Art’s permanent collection.
More on the the Toomer’s Oaks: Toomer’s Oaks souvenirs will be branded ‘Auburn Oaks’ / Woodturned item made from Toomer’s Oaks will be on permanent display in Auburn art museum / Toomer’s Corner rollings didn’t start with Punt, Bama, Punt, says History / Did Auburn students celebrate Bear Bryant’s death by rolling Toomer’s Corner?
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