For decades, the Sugar Bowl was the destination of choice for teams in the SEC. In the days of conference tie-ins and continuing into the BCS era, an SEC title meant a trip to New Orleans (or, for one year post-Katrina, Atlanta). Now, with the advent of the BCS National Championship Game and especially with the upcoming play-off and “Champions Bowl,” that isn’t always the case, but a Sugar Bowl berth will always represent a special season in this conference.
Auburn’s own Sugar Bowl history began with a 40-22 loss to Oklahoma following Pat Sullivan’s Heisman winning 1971 campaign in what would be Shug’s only appearance in the game. The most recent visit to the Superdome was a more pleasant experience, as Tommy Tuberville’s team came away with a 16-13 win over Virginia Tech to cap the undefeated 2004 season. In between those two games, Auburn would appear three times. Which brings us to this week’s Relics…
Autographed Sugar Bowl program and Game Button (1984)
“Has a ton of autographs on the cover. My Grandfather somehow managed to sneak us in the Superdome during an Auburn walk-through before the game.”
– @lulupuppydog
While the Sugar Bowl was celebrating its golden anniversary, Pat Dye’s Tigers were celebrating a hard-fought 9-7 win over Michigan in a game that should have earned the team a national championship (but I won’t get into that again). While the title eluded them, the legs of Bo Jackson and the leg of Al Del Greco had helped earn the Tiger’s their first Sugar Bowl trophy. This program, with more autographs than blank space, is a great memento of that historic moment in the program’s history. On a side note, I’m not exactly sure what the game had to do with basketball, regatta, road race, tennis, or flag football, but apparently you could read all about them inside.
Sugar Bowl Shirt and Hat (1984)
“The shirt came from my grandpa. I wear it every game as a tribute. The hat came from my aunt.”
– Michael Hammonds
Also from that game, we have this excellent shirt and hat combo. The shirt has held up remarkably well considering it is still a gameday staple, and I love the use of the pouncing tiger over the block A. The hat features the same image as the button above, but on a lovely, bright orange mesh that screams 1984 (in a good way).
Sugar Bowl Pennant (1988)
“I can’t believe I forgot this one! It’s a pennant from the 1988 Sugar Bowl — the famous Tie Dye game vs. Syracuse after the 1987 season. My brother and I have a matching set; his is in his dorm room at Auburn and mine hangs in my closet in DC. War Eagle!”
– Charles / @ccrainato
Auburn would next travel to New Orleans following the 1987 season and would leave with a 16-16 tie (or was it?) against Syracuse. The last second kick by Auburn didn’t sit well with the then Orangemen. Olin Buchanan of Rivals.com did a nice piece on Syracuse’s “enduring bitterness” over the tie back in 2006. In it he recounts the story of a Syracuse radio station sending Dye 2000 ties, all of which he subsequently autographed and sold to raise $30,000 for Auburn’s general scholarship fund. You can see by the pennant that the game is now the USF&G Sugar Bowl and not just the Sugar Bowl Classic that is was a few years earlier. In my mind, it is still the USF&G Sugar Bowl no matter who the title sponsor is these days.
Sugar Bowl Program (1989)
“It’s ugly. AU lost. Not sure why I included it.”
– Lonnie (aka 2xTiger)
Auburn may have lost 13-7 against Florida State in their return trip to the game the following year, but I have to disagree with Lonnie on one thing. I think this program’s cover is fantastic. The saxophone player, the guy with the pot of seafood, the watercolors, everything just works for me.
That’ll do it for this week’s edition. Thanks again to all of our great contributors, most of who have appeared multiple times in the past. Their contributions of dozens of items have helped keep the coffers stocked with goodies that have helped inspire posts and fill out others. A hearty War Eagle to all of you. If you have something you’d like to share, please send it to me at [email protected]. You can check out older posts here.
Previously: War Eagle Relics puts a ring on it.
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Keep Reading:
* Photo of Auburn fans (and their Auburn posters) praying for Obama on display in White House
* Toomer’s Oaks before and after
* American Idol winner Phillip Phillips at an Auburn game
* Cam Newton meets a Mike Vick fan
* Rolling Toomer’s Corner? There’s an app for that
* Auburn creams Tuscaloosa in ‘brainpower index’ rankings
* Shug carves a turkey
* AU’s 1977 student orientation brochure (is the stuff of nightmares)
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There was a huge banner on the side of the Superdome that week reading, “GEAUX BEAUX, GEAUX!”