Hey guys, it’s me, Allison! I guess I’ll be starting things off with your first real R.A.T. Blog post for the year!

So… the History of Auburn. The name ?Auburn? implies so much more than just a ?cow college?. Our Alma Mater is rich in tradition and spirit which has formed the basis of the Auburn Family, and as proud, loyal fans, alumni, and students, I feel that it?s important that we know how it all got started.

But what?s in a name? Auburn was founded in 1857 as the East Alabama Male?s College. Yeah?definitely no chicks (Females went to the Methodist College held in what’s now ?Langdon Hall?, which was originally located at the intersection of Gay St. and Magnolia Ave.) At the time, we were considered a Liberal Arts College and were maintained by the Methodist Episcopal Church. The doors officially opened in 1859 and a whopping 80 students were enrolled. (In comparison, we just reached our all-time high this year with 24,000 students!)

In 1872, the East Alabama Male?s College underwent its first name change and became the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College. (Ladies and Gentlemen… the “cow college”.) However, this didn?t stick for too long, and in 1888 we became the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. This is probably the one your grandparents went to. And your great-grandparents?if you have a poly-saturated AU Alum family?anyway. (Ed. note: Huh! Biology jokes!) API was quickly becoming a prominent institution ? we had our own football team, basketball team, not to mention a marching band (founded in 1897) – but as we know, the only thing constant in the world is change. Thus on Janurary 1, 1960, we became Auburn University. (Coming in a close second was AALGU ? Auburn Alabama Land Grand University ? thank goodness the alumni hated it enough for one of them to suggest ?How about just Auburn?? Kudos to that guy!)

The name Auburn was taken from a poem called “The Deserted Village”, written by Englishman Oliver Goldsmith.

Sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain,

You should read the whole thing… I won?t go into detail here but it?s about impoverished areas of the English countryside being pillaged and burned by the government. Lovely huh? Anyway?through all of that we came out as Auburn University ? a name that now speaks of highly ranked athletic teams, rigorous academic programs, and traditions that survive and bind the centuries. (Ed. note: Click here to read “The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith!)

Soo… what?s with the pajamas? My favorite thing about Auburn is the traditions. There are tons and tons of fun, crazy things we do because… well… we?re Auburn. For instance ? rolling Toomer?s Corner after any Auburn victory. Probably the only place where the local cops will help you roll the trees, Auburn has become known all over the nation for this triumphant proclamation. This famous post-win fun is said to have come from the familiar image of ticker tape from the telegraph machines in Langdon Hall getting stuck in the trees around Samford.

Or what about the Wreck Tech Parade that takes place the Friday night before we play Georgia Tech? All of Auburn wears their best orange and blue pajamas down College Street for a pep rally, songs, and cheers. Back in the day?teams traveled by railway when they played away. Tech would take the train from Atlanta to Auburn, crossing over Glenn Ave and College St. Well, one day, Auburn students are said to have snuck off of campus at night when Tech was expected to arrive, and they greased the tracks so the train wouldn?t be able to stop in town, ending up a few miles past the station! The result: Georgia Tech’s football team had to hike all the way back to town, in their pajamas. It?s a fun story ? and there are pictures to back me up… so yeah.

The Sophomore Stump, Tiger Walk, Spirit the Eagle, the Lathe, the Seal (the metal circle kind, not the fin clapping kind)?there are sooo many traditions that you will learn while you?re here at Auburn, and there are a lot of different stories and traditions to learn just within the band ? so get ready to have a little fun!

I really could spend all day telling you stories about cows in the bell towers and dead football players under Centennial Gardens… but it really would take me all day. If you want to know more be sure to ask me and I?ll be more than happy to share. You?ll hear a lot of things at Camp War Eagle, and the rest you?ll catch on to as you begin your first year. Soon you?ll be sharing these stories with new students ? which is like watching someone open presents all year long… it?s exciting for us as Vets to teach you guys the fun nuances and happenings around Auburn, so at least pretend you think it?s cool. Your kids will someday.

War Eagle guys! Be expecting some more blog posts soon! Also, feel free to email or Facebook me and say hey.

See you soon!!

Alli