War Eagle, Daddy - Auburn's National Championship Game
While I don't normally re-blog another persons post, this one touched my heart. Monday night, the Auburn University Tigers play for the National Championship. A historical event for Auburn fans across the country. It's been a long time coming. The column below helps define how Auburn fans are born into the long running tradition. I too, just wish my Daddy was here for this occasion. Heaven will be full of "War Eagles" on Monday night. As Harvey Jackson says: Win for Daddy !!
Harvey H. Jackson: War Eagle Daddy Anniston Star Jan 06, 2011 |
A week before Christmas, Daddy died and Auburn football lost one of its most loyal supporters.
The last two years were rough for Daddy. Declining health was bad enough, but back-to-back losses to the school across the state made things even worse. Nevertheless, he told me that he was determined to live until Auburn beat Alabama again.
He did.
And then he saw his Tigers get a Southeastern Conference championship in the bargain.
Daddy raised me to cheer for the Orange and Blue, and though I never attended AU, I did as he taught me - which eased the pain he must have felt when I briefly attended graduate school at the Tuscaloosa school. After that flirtation with the other side ended, he forgave me for what he considered a youthful lapse in judgment and welcomed me back as the prodigal son that I was.
Daddy suffered during the Bear Bryant years. Back then, on game day he would go out to our farm where he had a trailer - his first Poutin' House - and there, away from friend and foe alike, he would follow the game on the radio.
Mama would listen at home. If Auburn won, which was seldom, she cooked up a fine meal and had it ready when the conqueror returned. If Auburn lost, which was frequent, she would lay out sandwich stuff and go to bed, for she knew he would arrive late and unhappy.
His misery was compounded by the "crying towels" and condolence cards sent to him by local Alabama fans who were as obnoxious in victory as they were absent in defeat. In fairness, I should note that Daddy and his Auburn cohorts were known to strut and preen when their team won and disappear when the score went against them.
But who wants to be fair?
Things got better once Bear was gone.
After a tornado took the trailer, Daddy built the now-famous Poutin' House retreat, complete with TV hook-up, which became the center of his Auburn football universe. From there he followed with interest and delight the unsuccessful efforts by UA to keep the Iron Bowl in Birmingham and under its thumb. When it became obvious that there would be an Auburn-Alabama game in Auburn, he upped his alumni association contribution and got on the ticket list.
When that long-awaited day finally arrived, I drove to Auburn to meet him. We tailgated with friends, cheered our team to victory, then Daddy drove the three hours home, where Mama was waiting to celebrate. Tradition.
That was 1989. He continued to follow the ups and downs of his Tigers through the 1990s and into the 21st century. As his eyes dimmed by age, we bought him a big-screen TV so he could see what was going on. (It also allowed him to see that cheerleader uniforms had progressed to the bellybutton-showing stage, which he considered a good sign.)
Settled into his recliner with the remote at hand, he endured the seasons of other sports and waited, not so patiently, for fall and football and the thrill of victory.
This year, Auburn gave him all he could wish for.
We watched the Auburn-Alabama game together, and when the Tigers roared back from way behind to carry the day, he smiled and said quietly, "I wish all those Alabama SOBs were still alive so I could call them up."
That is what comes from outliving your enemies.
And now he is gone.
A few months before he died, he told me, "I have had 92 good years."
"You are 93," I gently reminded him, figuring it was OK to be forgetful at that age.
"I know," he replied, "but 1944 was lousy."
That was when he was in Europe, defeating Hitler.
He got me again.
A few years ago, we bought him a new suit. He never wore it. So it just didn't seem right to bury him in it. One of his faithful home health-care nurses had bought him an "Auburn SEC Champion 2010" T-shirt, so we decided he should go to his reward in that.
And if there happens to be any of those Alabama SOBs where he has gone, they can see him coming and hide.
I am sorry he will not be here for the BCS championship game, but if Heaven is anything like my Sunday school teachers said it is, then he will be there, cheering on his team.
Auburn fans can take comfort in that.
So, "On to victory, strike up the band.
"Give 'em hell, give 'em hell,
Stand up and yell.
"War Eagle."
Win for Daddy.
Harvey H. ("Hardy") Jackson is Eminent Scholar in History at Jacksonville State University and a columnist and editorial writer for The Star. E-mail: hjackson@jsu.edu.
Read more: Anniston Star - Harvey H Jackson War Eagle Daddy
Joye Hollis Ridgeway is Auburn graduate, native of Jacksonville, AL and resides in Charleston, SC. Joye is your link to Charleston Real Estate.
War Eagle, Daddy - Auburn's National Championship Game
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