Auburn bringing back a tradition when the sport needs it most

Auburn football is bringing back the ability to roll the giant oak trees at Toomer’s Corner after years of unrest — ranging from the original issues surrounding Harvey Updyke’s poisoning of the trees to the infamous 2016 fire — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

With the Pac-12’s slow and sad death, the realignment boon the Big 12 and Big Ten are enjoying, the imminent exodus of top southern-based programs like Clemson, UNC, NC State, and FSU from the ACC, and even the myriad Group of Five rearrangements, tradition is dying in college football. But with one small gesture, AU is doing the nation a favor and bringing back nostalgia during a period of mass first-time matchups and new faces and places.

“The rolling of Toomer’s Corner is one of the nation’s top sports traditions,” said Auburn President Christopher B. Roberts in a release Tuesday (h/t AL.com). “In recent years, we continued our cherished tradition by rolling different trees, but I’m very excited that the Auburn Family will once again be able to roll our most prominent trees.”

Ditto, Mr. Roberts.

Origins of Toomer’s Corner celebrations after Auburn football victories

Per Auburn’s official athletics site, the beginning of the Auburn football tradition of rolling up Toomer’s after games started in the 1970s:

"“The tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner is said to have begun when Toomer’s Drugs had the only telegraph in the city. During away football games, when employees of the local drug store received news of a win, they would throw the ticker tape from the telegraph onto the power lines. The beginning of the tradition of throwing toilet paper into the trees, power lines and every other stationary object on the corner is open to debate.”"

That tradition will continue in 2023 and beyond. Not only is AU back to recruiting like it used to before the COVID-19 pandemic, but one of the sport’s infamous traditions is finally restored to its full glory.