Happily Ever After...

War Eagle, Everyone!!

My last visit to AU (for a football event), prior to yesterday, was November 15, 2008. This day lived in infamy for me, until yesterday. You see, it was that game against UGA that left me with a sinking feeling. It was not the loss so much as it was knowing that the face of Auburn football, as I knew it, would be forever changed. Everyone leaving that game that night, wearing our colors of orange and blue, was in dismay. There were either no words or extreme words of anger coming from the AU family.

The entire 2008 season had been a disaster, and on that night I think we all knew that something BIG was coming. As my husband and I made our drive back to Baldwin County on I-65, I knew in my heart that I had seen (in person) Coach Tuberville lead our Tigers for the last time.

I began to cry. I love my Tigers, regardless of wins or losses, but dang it...I wanted them to be RELEVANT. I was sick to death of hearing Saban's name and about how uat "was back". I know it is silly, and that AU was as relevant then as they had always been, but it did not feel that way that night or any other night in 2008. We ended that season 5-7 with a shut out loss to uat in Bryant-Denny (none the less). Something was about to break....

In December of 2008, Tommy Tuberville was fired and/or resigned as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers, either way he was gone. Now what? On December 13, 2008 Auburn University and Jay Jacobs hired Gene Chizik to be the next head coach of The Auburn Tigers football team...wait WHO?

I'll spare you all the recap of Chizik's term at Iowa State, we all know it and we all discussed it. Chizik definitely was not the "sexy hire", but as it turns out Gene Chizik was EXACTLY what this university, team, and fan base needed. Coach Gene Chizik immediately began rebuilding, complete with the hires of Gus Malzahn, Ted Roof, Trooper Taylor, Tracey Rocker, Curtis Luper, and well you all know the rest. Chizik and Co. led us to an 8-5 (3-5 SEC) record in 2009 and had us all hopeful for the 2010 season and feeling like a bunch of hypocrites (for the most part).

September 04, 2010, our season began with Arkansas State. 52-26, a win that would light the spark to the bomb that was about to explode college football. This season had everything...highs that were higher than any of us could have ever hoped; lows that had us all defending one player, one team, and one university. We finished 14-0, SEC West Champions, SEC Champions, A Heisman Trophy winner, a Lombardi Trophy winner, and on January 10, 2011  National Champions. Yes, the AUBURN UNIVERSITY TIGERS FOOTBALL TEAM is your 2010 National Champions.

Cause for celebration? You are darn right, and celebrate we did!! I have read accounts of 78,000 in Auburn yesterday for our championship celebration. I was there and I would bet my right arm there was every bit of 80,000 plus in the stadium. This is not counting the people who never actually made it in the stadium.

Inside the stadium as we waited for the team we all watched the replay of the Championship game. We all cheered and booed as if it was a live game. As the team and coaching staff were announced, you would have thought AU just scored a TD against uat. The trophies were re-awarded and fans were on their feet. Kodi Burns and Pat Dye were given standing ovations.

I was in awe at what I was participating in. Standing outside, waiting for the players, for the reverse Tiger Walk...many commented that the atmosphere was better than any Iron Bowl they had attended...I agree! Everyone...fans, players, coaches, security, EVERYONE was all smiles, all day. We, young and old, were there to celebrate an accomplishment that NO ONE thought could have ever been possible, but yet here we were!

As we walked back to the car, I teared up yet again. Why? Because for me, my journey as an Auburn fan came full circle in two years. From my lowest low, leaving that game in 2008 to my highest high, leaving the National Championship celebration, but I was watching an elderly man holding his elderly wife's hand as they waited for Tiger Transit, and I know that their journey has taken them...53 years.

This year has been like a fairy tale and Coach Gene Chizik has started writing our "Happily Ever After..." bringing us "All In".  Guys, I was there and let me tell you...we are just at the beginning and this is going to be one heck of a story!

War Eagle!!!