The War Eagle Reader » Vintage

Bo Jackson, “Heisman Trophy winner / Centerfielder,” on the cover of ’86 Auburn Baseball media guide

Jeremy Henderson — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:59:30 +0000

Auburn baseball was going to make history in 1986—the first college baseball team ever (I mean, I’m assuming) to take the field with the best player in college football. And if that year’s media guide is any indication, the program was expecting to ride Bo’s lightning to something close to record attendance.

Featured on the cover? Hal Baird, Head Coach. And Bo Jackson—but not just Bo Jackson, Centerfielder, Bo Jackson—Heisman Trophy winner / Centerfielder.

Bo batted .401 his junior year. He hit 43 RBIs in 42 games and had 17 homers, three of which came in a Natural-esque game at Foley Field in Athens that had even Georgia fans cheering. Sadly, tragically, his senior year was ruined by the Tampa Bay Bucs—or at least he blamed the Bucs, who had assured him that their “it’s just a physical” junket had been cleared with the NCAA. It hadn’t been. He was declared ineligible. And the Auburn dugout lost its Heisman winner.

Tampa Bay told him to stop crying and put on his shoulder pads. He wasn’t good enough to play professional baseball. In “Bo Knows Bo,” Jackson says he told his lawyers to tell the Buccaneers to “go f**k themselves.” Then the Heisman Trophy winner signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals.

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Reagan touts Tigers in Tuscaloosa, gets booed

Jeremy Henderson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:15:24 +0000

After his campaign speech at the University of Alabama in 1984, Ronald Regan stopped off for a Big Mac at a McDonald's on McFarland Blvd. Reagan would have turned 101 today.

Whatever your politics, George Bush’s “Waaaarrr Eagle” in 2003 was undeniably badass, and heralded Georgia’s swift, unconditional, surrender to Auburn and it’s F-16′s in 2004.

I’d like to think he was taking a nod from the Great Communicator, who would have turned 101 today, and who during a 1984 campaign speech at the University of Alabama insulted the Evil Empire right to it’s face.

From the Oct. 18, 1984 edition of The Plainsman:

Reagan’s address dealt with the work his administration has done to lower inflation and what he wants to do if reelected. The president also talked about some of his past encounters with the late Paul “Bear” Bryant. Reagan talked about Bama’s win last week over Penn State, and then compared his economic policies to a “rolling tide.”

Reagan also said that one team from each state is usually known for its football and right now he said, “That team is those Auburn Tigers.” The president was booed for making such a comment.” [click to enlarge].

Originally posted Sept. 27, 2010.

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Ralph “Stud” Jordan working out in 1972

Jeremy Henderson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:34:27 +0000

There are fancy photos of George Petrie gettin’ his Gay 90s cycling on, and that shot of Terry Bowden workin’ up a Samford sweat under center in super-short green gym shorts in Sports Illustrated’s 1993 Auburn commemorative issue is burned into my brain, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of an Auburn coach engaged in exercise qua exercise… until this photo of Shug pumping iron (or something) in the AU gym published in the Feb. 3, 1972 issue of the the OA-News.

It's no wonder The Amazins' were so amazin'—even their 61-year-old coach was putting in grueling winter workouts.

I’m always seeing tweets from girls who happen to be next to Gene Chizik on the treadmill, or dudes who passed him on their way out of the gym. Photo or it didn’t happen, right?

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Girls Gone War Eagle, 1979

Staff — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:15:36 +0000

J&M Bookstore had this “T-shirt of the Week” thing going back in the late 70s, the salad days of Auburn T-shirt screen printing, and regularly advertised their latest creation in The Plainsman. And every now and then the copy would get a little titillating, and their tiger would get this look on his face—like he did in this “Dry T-shirt Sale” ad in 1979.

Fellas, forget roses or a box of chocolates—what your lady really wants for Valentines Day is an Auburn T-shirt that she can get wet on Spring Break, or on one of those nights at Nickel’s Alley, or just any ol’ day at the pool. If you know what I mean. And I think that you do. Click to enlarge.

50 percent off, indeed.

Related: War ******* Eagle T-shirts.

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Human pyramid towers over late ’70s Toomer’s rolling

Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:02:39 +0000

Fear of a Toomer’s apocalypse is nothing new. In 1978, folks worried that downtown renovations would Updyke the tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner to extinction (they’re taking away our power lines. What are we going to roll, the oaks or something?) So folks started having fun while the funnin’ was good. They rolled cops. And they got on each others’ shoulders.

Attractive intersection structures? “Transformer type technology? “Nah,” says 1977 Auburn, “HUMAN PYRAMIDS!”

*Sure, technically not a pyramid, but what are we supposed to call it? And maybe they were working on a pyramid.

Photo from the 1978-79 Tiger Cub.

More on the the Toomer’s oaks: Here’s what the type of tree that might replace Toomer’s Corner looks like / Wire system being considered as temporary solution for rolling Toomer’s / On the feasibility of a Toomer’s Corner transplant / 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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