Aubie's Visitors

by Kay Singletary
Sunday, 02 January 2011


T’was a few weeks after Christmas, it was quiet all round town
Old Santa was off to Jamaica, and Rudolph was bedded down
Aubie was alone at the stadium, one last visit this eventful year
His heart was full of peace and pride, in his eye was a joyful tear

As he sat in the student section, he reflected on his past
When he’d started this in ’62, he’d never dreamed how long it’d last
The memories came in like a raging flood, they hit him with a jolt
He felt a presence sit down behind him, his vision blurred by smoke

He turned around to greet his visitor, who’d entered with no fan-fair
He knew it had to be a friend, another fan come to Jordan-Hare
At first he thought “I don’t understand, why can’t my eyes adjust”
“I cannot see thru this thick haze, is it fog, or rain, or dust?”

He looked left then right, up then down, and he realized the stadium was full
Some looked meek and mild, others strong and wild, eyes raging like those of a bull
Then one by one they came into view, the air was clear at last
To his surprise he recognized these faces from the past

In the middle of the crowd sat George Petrie, who'd coached Auburn’s very first game
To his right was the infamous John Heisman, to this day we still honor that name
There was Donahue, Dye, Bowden and Tubby, all heroes to any Tiger fan
But in front of the crowd standing regal and proud stood “Shug” Jordan, the legend, the man

There sat Frederickson, Gilbert and Beasley, next to Sullivan, Cadillac and Brown
Rocker, Campbell and Jackson, the greatest players from any college town
They were all here together for the very first time, to show their support and elation
To celebrate finally the greatest of greats, the number one team in the nation

Shug looked down at Aubie and said “my dear friend, our message must get to the team”
“For fifty plus years we’ve been looking for this, the answer to all of our dreams”
“They have the talent, the drive and the will but let me make one thing real clear”
“It started before them each man you see here, has felt that same feeling of fear”

“We each came before them and gave all we had in search of the very same thing”
“A chance to be something that few men can be, and wear that Champions ring”
“Tell Chizik, and Newton, Fairly and Burns, Mulzahn and Dyar good luck”
“We’ll all be here cheering and watching with pride while you pluck that old Oregon Duck!!”