An Open Letter to Auburn Fans

Figured I'd add to the spirit of Iron Bowl week and share this recent post I read.

War Eagle, y'all. 

It's hard to watch your team go 13-0 and miss the chance to have a national title.

It's hard to finally get that championship and have the NCAA and media breathing down
your neck the whole time. 

It's hard to watch your team go winless in the SEC and 3-9 overall, and then see your beloved trees ripped from the ground because one of your detractors doesn't know the difference between rivalry and hatred. 

It's hard to see your program's rich tradition and moments of greatness denied by a never-ending chorus of haters who don't care what it means to believe in Auburn and love it.

But it's also hard to think of a greater memory than Tommy Tuberville leading the perfect team out arm-in-arm onto the field.

It's hard to find a better pre-game tradition than an eagle circling the stadium to the soundtrack of 90,000 people united in our rallying cry.

It's hard to find a fan base that could take the death of another tradition in the wake of a terrible season and turn it into a picturesque celebration of everything Auburn.

It's hard to catch a ball you can't even see, to juggle the weight of an improbable comeback and an improbable year, and then carry it into the end zone like you meant to do it the whole time.

It's hard to find a better coach than Gus.

The truth is, I'm not too worried about this Saturday. We are the underdogs, and it'll be hard work to pull off the upset. But hard work is exactly the kind of work we believe in. And no matter how easy it might be right now to just roll with the Tide, I will look back when it's all settled and know that the hardest moments and how we dealt with them are just part of why it was, is, and always will be 

GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER.

 - Tim Tyler, via All Things Auburn 

An Orange In My Stocking

It's going to Marvin's and getting the best tree you can find. It's discovering the perfect spot for your favorite ornament.

It's sweeping up pine needles for 25 straight days.

It's the huge tree in the Belk parking lot. It's Christmas in Dixie and The Redneck 12 Days of Christmas on the radio, and How The Grinch Stole Christmas on TV.

It's the Story A Day 'Til Christmas book, with one story to read each night until Christmas Eve.

It's the train depot decorations and the manger scenes in front of every church.

It's Christmas Eve candlelight services. It's driving around town looking at lights, with an occasional glance in the sky in hopes to see Santa Claus and his sleigh.

It's cookies and hot chocolate, singing carols next to the tree while mom plays piano and dad plays guitar. 

It's dad reciting "The Night Before Christmas" before you go to bed. It's saving the most beautifully decorated cookies for Santa, and putting out carrots for his reindeer carefully placed next to your Christmas list.

It's waking up on Christmas morning at 4AM, checking out your loot, then playing board games with your brother and sister until 6AM to pass the time (because that's the earliest mom and dad say you can wake them up!)

It's the apple and orange that's in your stocking every year. It's taking turns opening gifts, and a floor full of wrapping paper and ribbon.

It's putting on your new Christmas clothes. It's mom's egg casserole for breakfast and bringing out the good china for Christmas dinner--complete with ham and scalloped potatoes, surrounded by family and friends.

It's Christmas tradition.

This year may you be blessed with traditions new and old, and enjoy the magic this season brings-- whether you're 9 or 99!