Toomer's Incident Puts Auburn-Alabama Rivalry In Uncharted Waters (Updated)

Thanks, Jay.

i’m going to auburn tonight to roll the oak. Pretty much gonna pay tribute before seeking redemption. Sorry Jay but someone or somethings gonna hurt like we do.

was the caller’s name.

This is going to be bad.

Is a piece of shit.

and I for one will not loose any sleep over your sorry rear! Classless!
If anyone thinks that killing the trees is going to stop Auburn tradition, they don’t know anything about Auburn tradition. We’ll continue rolling even if its not the same tree you idiot.

and live in Dadeville tonight. Every guy in the phone book with that first name is a suspect.

This is absolutely uncalled for, and I hope they prosecute the asshole to the full extent of the law, and then some. Talking trash is fun, but there is a line, and anyone who takes it this far is clearly deranged. I hope you won’t take this as representative of Alabama, but just as representative of one sick asshole. Seriously, I’m embarrassed right now.

My fondest memories from Auburn are from Toomer’s Corner. I’d like to see UA students ban together and buy new trees for you guys as a sign of goodwill. I know you can’t replace the originals and the memories they represent, but hopefully something can be done to ease the tension.

Now if everyone would get off the Auburn website.. I need to submit a paper and blackboard is going SLOW.

That Auburn has to be one to stop with everything. We have to let them do it and let it go?? I get it, I just think the University of Alabama should give something in return. I’m furious right now. This hurts pretty bad.I take what I said about the Cam Newton jersey on the statue of Bear Bryant being tasteless. I doubt anybody remembers it, but I said then it was classless and needed to stop there. Now this? I am angry, but I also remember many of my friends are Alabama fans. But, I’d love to take a swing at the guy who actually did this.

I didnt hear it originally because I hate Fbaum and refuse to listen to his program because I think it celebrates nuts just like Al. What was Fbaum’s reaction to the caller? Did he or anyone else even think this guy was serious at the time?
Someone that would do permanant damage to a 100+ year old tree regardless of its role in a football program needs to be made an example of. If ANY football program means so much to you that you would destroy priceless property over it then you need your head examined and have it done in prison please.

But something has to be done with the wood from those trees. Sell pieces (i.e. Berlin Wall*) and do something GREAT with the proceeds. A scholarship fund perhaps, A sculpture of some sort, park benches…. Something. They just can’t be removed and replaced.

*I am no way comparing those trees to the symbol of the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe.

and this is the first thing i see when i log on. I know it may sound dramatic, but it actually make me feel nauseous I am so, so sorry that this has happened. Not sure if I am argreer or sadder. I like others have expressed hope the culprit is found and punished severely. My only hope that somehow, some way, this will serve to wake up both fanbases to the great tradition of these programs and this rivaly and renew a deep respect between the two. I just wish there was something that could be done to erase this situation.

Jay your so right in your article. You always have the right perspective about things,
Also it’s alright to be hurt but as Acid said above … let the Feds take care of this. It should not be that hard to find the guy.

he could have killed a lot more than trees. Some people need to get a grip on reality.

and Finebaum laughed.

i usually have plenty, but i am completely speachless. Auburn doesn’t deserve this. i love Auburn, and everything in it. those trees were a part of me, a part of the family.

i don’t consider this just an attack on a few trees. i consider this an attack on the family. an invasion of privacy. a violation of a sacred place in and about the community.

this is so much more than football.

I have an offspring of the tree in my yard and it is 6 feet tall right now. It was rolled 14 times this year with pride. Hundreds of these seedlings were sold and the spirit of the tree lives in a lot of yards. If you have one, roll it, if you don’t buy one from the Forestry Dept. and start rolling. The Auburn Spirit is from within and cannot be taken away by a deranged individual. That being said, I hope the culprit is found, prosecuted, and ridiculed by everyone.

i know that all UA fans and students are bad folk, i learned a long time ago that it takes both sides to create this kind of rift…

still, concern yourself with the kind of tone you’ve got here…

“I really hate how poorly this reflects on my school and the UA community”,… that statement, given the circumstances… doesn’t help Auburn fans right now. is just what i would expect. can you see the selfish place this came from?

“I hope the authorities find the responsible person and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.” wow. that helps. who really cares if this guy is found or not? i am not going to think of that douche bag at all…that is the entire reason behind this stupid shit.
attention.
seriously, do you think that jailing this guy is going to make this all go away? i am not foolish enough to think so.

i appreciate your post, but you didn’t do anything , ANYTHING, i wouldn’t have expected. if you are truly sorry, then DO SOMETHING. lead an effort to change these hateful sentiments.

And I was just popping in here to talk about the Nat’l Champs T-shirt my Dad ordered for me from Tiger Rags. Fits nice & looks pretty good. If my older sister was around she would have had at least one or two herself.

That’s really sad to see this happen.

we all have the right to feel our own unique way right now. i don’t agree with the idea that all Auburn fans should only feel one way.

i agree we should temper ourselves, but i don’t need other bama fans to say sorry to me, or feel sorry for Auburn.

that is BS.

Auburn, bama, and anybody else who ackowledges this horrible event, should allow some time for everyone to feel what they are going to feel… whatever it is… there is no wrong or right way to feel.

To thank the posters who are sorry and found that they all were not. I did berate the ones that weren’t. Tadpole and 5026 are really happy tonight. They should be banned from TET and SB Nation as a whole.

to the recovery of the trees or the rebuilding / relandscaping of the Corner? It is probably too soon, but I trust the info would be posted here when or if it happens.

I believe “Al from Dadeville” will be caught. This is a restricted chemical and there are records of who buys it and how much. You’re supposed to detail exactly how much you use and where, etc. Not only that, but most of the people in the Ag business who would have access to this have strong Auburn ties. Someone will talk.

Just don’t think he’s going to prison for killing trees, because that won’t happen. The law will not be able to serve true justice for this. Karma’s a bitch though and if the guy has an echo of sense left in his poisoned brain, he should leave the state before the wrong idiot finds him and pays him back.

Now I’ve read about it and I still can’t fathom it. It’s beyond anything I would have ever thought any one would do. I’m sad and mad. But I will be glad when they catch the SOB.

I couldn’t agree with you more, Jay, and I hope the immature prick who pulled such a childish stunt, fries for it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a little rival razz every now and again, but a stunt like this completely blows the rivalry way too far out of context.

My mother always tells me, “What goes around, comes around”, and that’s a maxim everyone should live by.

To be a Bama fan. This is pitiful and disgusting and infuriating. I am truly sorry and hope that they catch this disgusting individual who did this.

rtr and i mean that with nothing but love tigers

I can’t really imagine what me reaction would be if someone permanently destroyed a part of Tennessee’s tradition out of spite generated from a freaking game.

I do honestly believe that upon hearing the caller to Finebaum there were probably more than a few Alabama fans whose first instinct was, “I wish I had thought of that”… but those are the folks who actually take his show seriously. He’s the football version of some folks I’ll leave unnamed as to avoid a fight, and he attracts the same kinds of myopic screwballs who are more likely to resort to vandalism and violence than actually thinking… which this fellow will have plenty of time to do when he’s sitting in jail for the next year or two, and likely even afterwards when he is unable to find a job because of the felony conviction. The dumbass pretty much eliminated any ability to defend himself by confessing to the act over the radio… if the act itself didn’t prove what an idiot he is, the confession has to.

Just don’t turn this into some back and forth out of a desire for revenge… yeah, I’m sure I’d be incredibly pissed… but these kinds of things can turn really nasty really fast. Don’t egg on the screwballs, otherwise some innocent people could literally get hurt. There are people out there who would become legitimately violent over their football team if it got bad enough, and the last thing we need is someone getting physically hurt over a football rivalry.

Deal with the screwball, plant some trees, and beat the everliving dogshit out of their football team next year.

Seriously, this rivalry has degenerated so much over the last years. Perhaps it’s time to lessen the heat.

this is a senseless act of criminal magnitude committed by a fan with no respect for an opponent. While I am an Alabama fan of the highest degree, I (and I would hope all Alabama fans) think that this action does nothing to help the growth of this rivalry. Though we may think each other’s traditions are less than our own, the traditions of both schools are what make the rivalry the greatest in college football. I do hope that they find this guy and prosecute him, but also this needs to be the end of the retribution. Both sides have “fans” that would take retaliation way to far and that doesn’t need to happen. Also, I htink it would be a good move for UA to donate money or supplies for helping to replace the trees as a sign of good will.

has a live feed up from Toomers Corner. I watched for just a few minutes and saw 4 people walk up to the tree, pause for a second, touch the tree and walk away, head down. What those people are doing expresses quite well exactly what all of us are feeling right now. As for myself, I did the same thing last night after hearing about the news. I went to my front yard, touched my baby Toomers Corner tree and sighed a very angry sigh. I plan to take the high road on this but you can be sure there are some that won’t despite the warnings. I think all he can be charged with is malicious mischief so he won’t get anything but a slap on the hand. If I were Al, I would consider a move to another state and a name change. As far as suspending the series between the two teams, it will not change a thing. Stuff like this will still happen and Bammers will still be Bammers.

was poisoned back in the 80’s and Paul Cullen served 9 years in prison. Hope “Al from Dadeville” is comfortable in close quarters.

Retaliation is not the answer. Do we really want to play the Iron Bowl with the National Guard on hand? Or worse, cancel the rivalry because fans can’t keep it together? After listening to ’Al from Dadeville" (thanks to FlyAuburn for the links in his post), I am convinced that he did not graduate from college at all, much less uat. Any anger taken out on uat fans will be both misguided and misplaced. Most real Bama fans not only do not condone the deranged acts of one individual, they are willing to help rebuild that lovely corner at Magnolia and College.

WarBlogle WarBlogle.com
I’m hearing/sources tell me/I’ve learned that there will be a press conference about the tree poisoner’s arrest at 10:30 an CT. #auburn

Ol’ Harve’s gonna be really popular in Atmore.

This is the type of worthless shithead that eventually shoots up a business, church, or school. Lock him up and throw away the key now before it’s too late.

And he used his real name (Almorn). I thought ‘AL’ was his nomme de guerre for being an Alabama fan.

I am a Texas Tech alum and fan, and honestly can say that I rooted for Oregon in the National Championship game, but I am absolutely sickened about what has happened! I really really hope there is some miracle way that these trees can be saved. I first heard about Toomer’s corner about a week before the National Championship game and instantly was jealous that there is something that awesome where your fans could gather in celebration. Very much too bad!

Hoping for the best

is is right here. One of his friends is ‘Bear Updyke. Please don’t tell me he named one of his kids ‘Bear’.

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We love to get our hate on in our conference but I’m speechless about this. I’m sorry for your loss and I really hope this doesn’t escalate. Prayers are with you and I’ll be stopping by to find a donation site.

see JOX 94.5 fm live listen

This guy doesn’t look like he has too many years left on this Earth, and Auburn fans have long memories, so I propose this:

Once this creep passes on to his Great Reward we should keep his grave decorated “Auburn Style”. Flags, pennants, streamers, shakers – paint the headstone Blue and Orange to celebrate big victories – maybe even hire someone to professionally inscribe the marker with loving Tiger tributes.

Of course the main thing is to let him know in the here and now what we’re going to do to him once he is in the hereafter – and that there won’t be anything that he can do about it.

Just an idea…

I wonder if a domestic terrorism charge might be coming? I seriously can not contemplate this act. And to find out the guy was a retired Texas Ranger?

I never liked Alabama, or the SEC to be honest, but I now have a favorite team in the SEC!!!

Winner take all.

This is pukingly sick. Hopeful that calmer heads prevail.

War Eagle!

I hope it will grow well here in Memphis.

Clicky: HERE

Bill Davies is an Architect with Looney Ricks & Kiss Architects
and…
Rich Playford is a graphic designer in town…

top shelf guys.

best of luck with the seedling. thanks much for your comments.

if you’re passin through Asheville, NC… come by BEW Architects and we’ll get a beer somewhere.

Welcome to Alabama.