The Golden Eagles
It has been a long time coming. Almost half a century in fact. 49 years ago, Mary Lou and I walked across the stage to receive our diploma at Auburn University. She would go on to receive several more degrees while I was one and done.
This past weekend we walked across another stage while hearing the traditional graduation music of Pomp and Circumstance. In this case, we were receiving our Golden Eagle pins, honoring the classes of 1975 and 1976. A couple of years ago Auburn started hosting two classes every other year. That means that while we received our 50-year pins and were appropriately honored, we actually graduated 49 years ago.
Nevertheless, it was a wonderful event, and we were pleasantly surprised to recognize more people than we expected. Only one fraternity brother from that time was present, along with a “little sister” of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. Yet, we knew many people from Auburn, including several in our Sunday School class that we had no idea attended Auburn at the same time we did.
The first gathering had a program about the traditions of the university and how they have changed over time. The meeting became even more interesting as members of the class began to share their own recollections of Auburn in the early 1970s.
The “Punt, Bama, Punt” game was widely discussed, as was the origin of the rolling of Toomer’s Corner with toilet paper. It seemed like everyone in the room was at that famous game in 1972, each with their own memory.
My own memory of that iconic game was going up to Birmingham on a fraternity bus as a pledge. After the unbelievable ending when Auburn won thanks to two blocked punts returned for touchdowns and a blocked extra point, I wound up in an elevator at a hotel with only Bear Bryant and me present. The only words I could come up with were “Good game, Coach”. Thankfully my extemporaneous speaking skills improved with time.
The bus passed through Toomer’s Corner where we noticed the power lines covered with toilet tissue. Some believe that was the first rolling of Toomer’s Corner, though other versions exist. I wound up in the Auburn Infirmary where I stayed for a week hooked up to an IV. I missed all of my finals for that first quarter.
The stories came fast and furious from the crowd. The streaking craze that hit Auburn and other universities is still a front and center memory. Each speaker volunteered their own memories, every one a bit different, but all reflecting the shock and awe of naked men and co-eds running across campus.
Mary Lou and I enjoyed a lunch with the 11 graduates from the School of Agriculture that were present. While I did not know any of the men present, we did share memories of various professors and classes. Of particular interest was one gentleman that was present who graduated from Auburn in 1952. That was the same year my father graduated. It was also two years before I was born. He was sharp as a tack and physically fit for his age. What a delight to share memories with those present.
A delightful banquet that evening was followed by a breakfast the next morning. It was amazing at the connections we would find at each group we joined. Our breakfast table was filled with people who grew up in various small towns in Southwest Georgia and Southeast Alabama. None of us knew each other, but we discovered how many roots we shared and how many people we knew in common. It is a small world.
We toured the fabulous Gouge Performing Arts Theater which is nothing like any venue that existed during our time in Auburn. Having said that, the Auburn Coliseum was the largest venue in Alabama at the time we were in school. We had some impressive performers, including Elvis, Ike and Tina Turner, Elton John, the Doobie Brothers, James Taylor, the Carpenters, the Allman Brothers Band, Rod Stewart, the Commodores and Neil Diamond. It was a good time for music lovers when we were students at Auburn.
I have committed to myself that I will not wear my Golden Eagle pin, which has “50 Years” in the inscription, until next year when it will actually be 50 years since we graduated from this school in the “loveliest village on the plains”.
So much has changed in that half century. Actually, a lot has changed in the six years we have lived in Auburn since we retired. However, one thing is still as solid and pure as it was in my time. It is a blessing to be a part of the Auburn Family, and finally to be a Golden Eagle.
War Eagle!
o0o
Dan Ponder can be reached at [email protected]