War Eagle Legend 3ĭuring a Langdon Hall pep rally in the undefeated season of 1913, the head cheerleader said, "If we are going to win this game, we are going to have to go out there and fight, because this means war." At that moment an eagle emblem fell off a student’s military hat. When Lucy Hairston scored the game-winning touchdown for Auburn, he supposedly yelled “War Eagle,” and a new Auburn tradition was born. Spectators mistook “Bald Eagle” for “War Eagle” and began shouting it every time the Tigers came to the line. Without huddling, the quarterback would simply yell out, “Bald Eagle” and the Tigers would attack. In an effort to tire him out, Auburn began to run play after play straight at him. The toughest player on the Carlisle Indian team in 1914 was named Bald Eagle. It has been a part of Auburn's spirit for more than 100 years. Whenever Auburn people gather, the battle cry “Warrrrrrr Eagle!” is almost certain to be heard. At the game's end, the eagle took a sudden dive, crashed into the ground, and died.īut the War Eagle battle cry lived on to become a symbol of the proud Auburn spirit. Elated at their team's play and taking the bird's presence as an omen of success, Auburn students and fans began to yell “War Eagle” to spur on their team. As the eagle soared, Auburn began a steady march toward the Georgia end zone for a thrilling victory.
He had kept it as a pet for almost 30 years.Īccording to witnesses, the eagle suddenly broke free and began majestically circling the playing field. In the stands with him that day was an eagle the old soldier had found on a battlefield during the war. The most popular story about the battle cry dates back to the first time Auburn met Georgia on the football field in 1892 and centers on a spectator who was a veteran of the Civil War. Anywhere you're wearing something with an Auburn logo on it, chances are you'll hear a friendly “War Eagle!” “War Eagle” has become a way for the Auburn Family to greet and identify with each other all over the world. “War Eagle” is Auburn's battle cry - not a mascot or nickname. Bald eagles are found throughout Alabama and wild ones can sometimes be seen soaring in Auburn skies. His damaged beak makes him non-releasable. He came to Auburn in 1998 and joined the educational collection at the Raptor Center. In 1995, Spirit was discovered as an injured fledgling in Florida. You can recognize Spirit soaring before kickoff because unlike the golden eagles, Spirit has bright white head and tail feathers. Spirit is the only bald eagle that has ever flown in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Like Tiger, Nova appears in scores of educational programs every year. Nova looks similar to Tiger but has a smaller stature because he is a male. Nova was hatched in 1999 at the Montgomery Zoo and came to Auburn in 2000. Tiger died on Jat age 34, outliving the average lifespan of a golden eagle.Īlthough not titled War Eagle VII until November 2006, Nova's first pre-game flight was at the Kentucky game in 2004. A halftime ceremony at that game recognized her contributions to the Auburn community and to the USF&WS conservation mission. At the Georgia game in November 2006, Tiger made her last stadium flight and retired. She flew prior to many games as well as at educational programs and the 2002 Winter Olympics. A frequent sideline fixture, she was the first eagle to free fly at the Wyoming game on Aug. Auburn's most famous eagle was Tiger (War Eagle VI), who was hatched in captivity in 1980 and came to live at Auburn University in 1986.