For us, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that we did not want to miss (sick or not). Seriously, the last time Auburn University won a national championship in football was 1957. And since Auburn University is my husband's Alma mater, we decided to go.
At the stadium, we met up with some of my husband's family.
our family (except for Ryan, who had other plans and couldn't go with us)
I have been to many Auburn football games through the years, but I must say the atmosphere at this event was nothing short of electrifying! The commemoration of the 2010 National Championship took place in front of an estimated 78,000 fans at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The players were recognized individually, and many trophies were presented to the Auburn Tiger Football team. Auburn obviously had a very successful season finishing 14-0 in regular season, being named Southeastern Conference champions, and capturing the national title by beating the Oregon Ducks in the BCS championship game.
Auburn's Nick Fairley was presented the Lombardi Award. This trophy is awarded to the best lineman or linebacker in college football. The quarterback--Cam Newton--a transfer who proved his worth at Auburn this year, took home several awards, not the least of which was the Heisman Trophy. This trophy is awarded to the best player in college football. He also received the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award (both are awarded to the best player), as well as the Davey O'Brien Award and the Manning Award (both are awarded to the best quarterback).
Cam is being presented his trophy by former Auburn quarterbacks Stan White and Randy Campbell.
The Broyles Award, awarded to college football's assistant coach of the year, was presented to Coach Gus Malzahn, the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach. The Associated Press National Championship Trophy was also presented to Coach Malzahn.
The MacArthur Bowl National Championship Trophy was presented to Assistant Head Coach and Wide Receivers Coach Trooper Taylor. The Grantland Rice Football Writers Award was presented to Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Ted Roof.
The SEC Championship Trophy was presented to Head Coach Gene Chizik. Coach Chizik also received the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award, which is awarded to the coach of the year, as well as the Home Depot Award, which is awarded to the national coach of the year.
And finally, the gleaming crystal football that adorns the coveted BCS National Championship Trophy was brought forward by Dr Lloyd Nix, quarterback for the 1957 Auburn Tigers National Championship team, and was presented by BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock to Gene Chizik, head coach of the 2010 Auburn Tigers National Championship football team.
the National Championship flag, unfurled during the ceremony
A tradition at Auburn University is the Tiger Walk. Before each home game, thousands of fans line Donahue Drive to cheer on the team as they walk from the Auburn Athletic Complex to Jordan-Hare Stadium. On this day it was a reverse Tiger Walk, with the team walking from the stadium to the athletic complex.
quarterback, Cam Newton
head coach, Gene Chizik
This is my niece, Amy with one of the players, Joey Caldwell. Amy and Joey are friends who graduated high school together. Amy is a student at the University of Alabama (Auburn's arch-rival), so the only reason she came to this celebration and wore AU colors is to show support for her friend, Joey (who, btw, is #47). Let it be known that as we picked on Amy, she took it all in good nature, never uttering a word in rebuttal, only opening her left hand now and then to display those words she had inscribed on her palm in crimson ink, Roll Tide. (Being a Die-Hard Auburn fan, that was mighty big of me to include those words in this post.)
Here is Kate with her favorite player, Philip Lutzenkirchen (better known as the touchdown maker)
It has been said that Auburn has some of the greatest fans. It was mentioned in many of the speeches given at this commemoration. The coaches, the players... they have been amazed at the fan support they receive. In the good seasons, as well as the bad. In the triumphs and in the adversities. More like family than fans. So this year, that was the motto adopted by the university -- AU Family, All In.
At home or abroad, across the continent or across the globe, you know you're with family when you hear that familiar greeting of War Eagle!
Mike and I at the Loveliest Village on the Plains, better known as Auburn University
It's great to be an Auburn Tiger.
Beautiful picture of you and your husband. It looks like you had a great time.
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