Eye of a Tiger

As I write this note, I sit here freezing in my office that will no longer be mine in two months, and that is sad. I think I am shedding a tear, now.

It has taken me about a year to have my first "War Eagle" moment. I have wanted to attend an Auburn game ever since last fall. I became a Auburn Tiger fan because the UT Vols were loosing, and I needed a team to cheer for and who would win. I did not want to become Alabama fan because I can not stand the Tide, and you are ridiculed too much to be a fan of the Crimison Tide. So, while I have been down here I have slowly become a Auburn Tiger fan, while still believing that the UT Vols and the MTSU Blue Raiders can win. I think I now own more Auburn shirts and caps, than Tennessee gear. I will always be a Tennessee fan at heart, but after the dibacle that the Vols went through, last year, I had to find a winner and some team worth watching on TV.

My family came into town this past weekend, and we have been talking about going to a Auburn game for a while. There is nothing like experiencing a big college football program in the SEC. For the past four years my family would come to MTSU Blue Raider games, and watch them lose to teams in the Sun Belt conference. Wow, that is a conference worth watching!

I can remember going to UT Vols games with my family, and waking up at 3 a.m. to travel to Knoxville to be part of pre-game festivities. Not only that, I remember seeing the sun rise of the Tennessee mountains and thinking what am I doing up this early. After about two years of making this mistake, my family decided that we would watch the games on TV, instead. I remember going to the game cramped four deep in a backseat of a car made for three people. That was uncomfortable. I have plenty of stories about traveling to games in Knoxville. Two of my favorite memories was going to watch Peyton Manning play, and the year the Vols won the National Championship. That was incredible!

I am very glad my family came down to visit, so that we could enjoy the day in 90 degree heat. Now, I know why people stay at home to watch the games. I look forward to more "War Eagle" moments. Now, I have a hat that I can wear and show off my Auburn pride, and cheer for a school that I never went to. Well, I never went to UT, but I was raised a Tennessee fan. That counts, doesn't it?