My Orange and Blue tie

I’ve gotten a lot of comments about my orange and blue tie today.

You see, I’m an Auburn graduate - class of 1991. It’s the same school my Dad went to, and as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be just like him, an Auburn Tiger.

It wasn’t easy. You see, I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I went to school with Bear Bryant’s granddaughters. From the time I was born until eighth grade, I didn’t know what it was like to beat Alabama. It was the 70’s and the Crimson Tide was rolling. Every Monday after the Auburn game meant a fight on the playground, a trip to the principal’s office, and a lecture at home from my Mom and Dad.

It all started to change in the 80’s. Thanks to players like Bo Jackson, Auburn started winning again. It’s been the general trend for the past twenty five years. In 2004, we went undefeated, 13-0. But as luck would have it, we didn’t get to play for the national championship. Oh well, that’s what it’s like when you’re an Auburn Tiger.

This weekend, I made the seven hour drive to Auburn for what I hoped would be a weekend of fun with my old friends, capped off by a win against South Florida. Turns out, it was sweltering hot – and we lost the game, in overtime, 26-23. After the game, I stuck around the stadium, contemplating the long drive back to South Carolina. The first loss of the year is always the most disappointing – it’s when you realize that your annual dream that “this might be the year we win it all,” isn’t going to happen. I’ve been pretty depressed the last three days, as the reality of losing and the probability of even more losing this year, began to sink in.

But this morning, I decided to literally wear my feelings, not on my sleeve, but around my neck. I put on my orange and blue tie. It made me feel better. And it reminded me, and everyone who knows me what it really means to cheer for Auburn. It’s about winning and losing, and knowing that no matter what, there’s no other team I could or would cheer for.

You see, that’s what it’s like when you’re an Auburn Tiger.

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