ables@ut-ngp.UUCP (09/21/83)
Texas may not be overrated as they have been in the past. I was extremely suprised at how well they (we) played. Auburn has one of the nicest campuses (campi?) I have ever seen. And all the people I talked to were extremely polite even after the game. This was my first trip into the "deep south" and I was very impressed. I have run into impolite and even down-right mean fans in other places (none of which I shall name) but these folks were great. Does anybody out there (esp. in 'Bama?) know what the deal is with Auburn's mascot? We asked several people there and they weren't sure. The story there was they had always been War Eagles and someone coined Tigers one time and it kinda hung around. Half their shirt/hats say War Eagles and half say Tigers. I grew up in Texas always hearing Tigers and had never heard War Eagles until I went over there. Any UT ex's or fans out there not in Austin? I'd like to hear from you. Hook 'em 'Horns! King (ables@utexas-11.arpa || ables@ut-ngp.uucp)
ttb@iwsl1.UUCP (Thomas T. Butler) (09/26/83)
As a graduate of Auburn University (class of '58) I can understand
your confusion. While I was there the team was known as the
"Auburn Tigers", but the battle cry was "War Eagle". I don't know
the origin of the War Eagle battle cry, but there was much discussion
on whether or not to change the teams designation to the "Auburn
War Eagles". Apparently they are still undecided and keeping both
names. They didn't have either as an actual living mascot then, but
I understand they now have a real, live eagle (maybe a tiger too).
Just to confuse matters more, they used to be known as the
"Auburn Plainsmen", try to come up with a mascot for that!!
--
Tom Butler