Little Town, Big Celebration

To close his speech Coach Gene Chizik said 3 finals words,” War Damn Eagle!”

From the crowd roaring and the electricity of his voice, you could tell just how important this National Championship was for the Auburn Family.

On Saturday January 22 in Jordan-Hare Stadium families, alumni, and students gathered together to celebrate the nail-biting ride of a season for one last time. With 78,000 fans piled into the stadium, the little town of Auburn clearly became one of the most exciting places to be this weekend in the state of Alabama.

The experience at the celebration was especially huge for junior mechanical engineering student Russ Stokes.

“I never would have thought it would happen in my lifetime,” said Stokes. “To grow up not far from Auburn my whole life and to have your team win a National Championship is a big deal.”

For Russ, being a part of the Auburn Family has basically run through his veins since a young age. His parents and all of his siblings are Auburn graduates. His uncle even played right guard for Auburn’s football team with Bo Jackson.

“I can remember watching Auburn football games with my dad and brother cheering at the top of my lungs and dreaming that one day I would be able to be a student when they won a National Championship.” The dream of many fans came true this year when the season ended with Gene Chizik hoisting the crystal football over his head.

A new glow was brought to campus when the sea of orange and blue made its way into the stadium. “Walking into the stadium only showed me I was a part of something huge. I did not expect this many people to make the trip to Auburn,” said Stokes. The students got to feel first-hand what it felt like to experience what being on the field was really like.

  During the celebration, a series of speakers centered their speeches on overcoming trials and supporting each other as a group. It comes to no surprise that for the Auburn community the word “family” holds such a significant meaning.

For many, the atmosphere during the celebration relayed what the family is all about, a community. “Some of the games this season made it really easy for us to give up, but we didn’t and that’s what makes Auburn special,” Stokes explains. The celebration took a serious moment when Gene Chizik personally thanked the fans for their important role in the team’s success.  

“Auburn may still be a small town but this National Championship has brought among a huge sense of pride,” said Stokes “A pride the Auburn family will celebrated for decades.”