War Eagle!

This past weekend I experienced my first taste of SEC football madness. Southerners are quite serious about their college football teams. It's followed with a religious fever by many and is far more popular then the NFL. Since arriving in Alabama I have been asked by almost everyone I come in contact with:
                                           

"Are you 'Roll Tide Roll' or 'War Eagle' ?" 

               Translation: do you cheer for the University of Alabama or Auburn University?

I honestly wouldn't have a proper answer to this question if it wasn't for my husband's family loyalty to Auburn. So, I am 'War Eagle'...otherwise I may become the family outcast! (it also helps that they are same colors as my Chicago Bears)

The day started out with tailgating - 1st at my cousin Rusty's old fraternity house and then near the front of the stadium with his in-laws.

                 Auburn's stadium is named after two of it's former football coaches and while it may say "Jordan" I was informed that it is actually pronounced "Jur-den"

 My cousin Cendy and I in front of the stadium. As you can see, football game attire is 

different in this part of the country! While I am used to jeans and t-shirts

 (gloves, hats, etc) in the North, most girls wear dresses to the games. I found this super cute

dress at Francesca's earlier this summer which was perfect for game day!

 Lots of orange and blue filling the stadium

 This isn't a very good picture, but the dark spot in the middle of the photo is the War Eagle VI. 

Auburn's tradition is to have an eagle fly into and around the stadium while all the fans give a long

"Waaaaaaaaaaar Eagle" chant. To make a bit confusing, their mascot is actually a Tiger, but

that may be a topic for another post :)

 The marching band gets the crowd going before the game.

My very enthusiastic Auburn loving family - Rusty (Bill's cousin) and his wife Cendy.

Both are Auburn grads - they attended at the same time but didn't meet until after college. 

Cendy's family has had these seats for a long time and she's been cheering Auburn from them

since she was 11 years old! It was so fun to learn all about the team and traditions from her. 

On the other side of me was Bill's Aunt Jayne, cousin Jordan and his girlfriend Lindsey.

Jordan and Lindsey are also Auburn alums!

Auburn was playing a big SEC rival, Louisiana State University. LSU is one of the

best teams in the nation right now and Auburn isn't having the greatest year so it could have been

a total clobbering. The defense did a great job of holding them off though and the score stayed close.

Unfortunately, the offense couldn't pull it together and we lost 12-10. Oh well....

It was still a great time and I am sure it is the first of many times I'll cheer them on!