An Open Letter to Coach Caddy

I write this the morning of the 2022 Iron Bowl, but it has been rattling around in my head for days, maybe even weeks. This is not a call for Auburn to give this man the team outright, tho I admit I'd love to see that happen, it is simply a letter from one Auburn Alumni to another. 

Dear Mr. Williams, 

Thank you.

While that doesn’t seem like enough that’s really what it boils down to, thank you. Thank you for reminding the Auburn Family what it means to be a family. Thank you for giving this fan base something to rally around. Thank you for showing this team what they are capable of then helping them unlock it on the field. Thank you for salvaging a season that frankly didn’t have a lot going for it. Thank you for showing the character and heart that an Auburn Alumni has 24/7. Thank you for showing kids that there is another way and that you can in fact break and rebuild the mold at the same time. Thank you for not giving up on these boys. Thank you for not phoning it in the last few games but going out there and fighting for every second of every game since you took the helm of the ship. Thank you for making this fun again. Thank you for letting passion overtake polished. Thank you for speaking from your heart not a playbook handed to you from the University. Thank you for making mistakes and learning from them. Thank you for being the living embodiment of the Auburn Creed. Thank you for all the memories I have of watching you run that ball down the field in such amazing ways. Thank you for understanding TEAM vs ME. Thank you for completing your degree and showing the true character of an Auburn Man. Thank you for teaching kids everywhere that you could do both, have a career and an education. 

       

Let’s go out and do it one more time and let the momentum that you have built carry on for years to come cause the most important thing you have taught us this year is that when the fan base is behind these Tigers, they can do AUsome things. 

Mostly, thank you for that, may it be a lesson we always remember.   

Marcy

Thankfulness Challenge – College Days

So as I said yesterday my family and I put on all our Auburn gear and headed to the local arena to watch the Tigers play basketball. It was a super fun night that ended with my nephew asking “What is it about Auburn Sports? It’s not a game unless you are about to have a heart attack.” He’s 100% right. Being an Auburn fan is not always fun, it’s not always easy but it really is GREAT to be an Auburn Tiger.

I’ve talked on this blog before about what Auburn means to me it’s more than a university, it is home. That feeling of belonging that feeling of calm that comes over me when I go back to that campus fascinates me. Just getting off at that exit and driving towards campus makes me feel like I have class the next day.

I started at Auburn in the college of Liberal Arts with the plan of going into communications with an eventual degree in journalism. That was the plan. However as most college students need to understand often the plan changes at least once or twice in those 4…4+ years.

My older nephew is currently at Auburn and he’s at that cross road where he stays on the path he’s on or he shifts the plan and go in another direction. I’ve told him every student on that campus has gotten to that road, the question he has to ask himself is what do you want to do. It’s not an easy decision and it’s not easy to trust yourself and go with your gut. For me, the decision was really made for me. The weed out class for a Journalism degree definitely weeded me out. At the time I was devastated. My guidance counselor told me you can do what you want to do with a degree in English. That…was….a …. Lie. Well not a lie, I mean she wasn’t being malicious about it or anything she was just largely mistaken. See I loved my guidance counselor. When I graduated my mother gave HER a graduation gift. She is the reason I have that piece of paper on my wall in a nice fancy frame … collecting dust. Her advice however was misguided. The people I tried to get a Journalism type job from were done with me after they realized I only had an English degree.

I can’t imagine trying to be in the journalism profession today. It drives me crazy how lazy some journalist are now especially in the light of everything going on in the world. It drives me insane that a social media account has become a source. They are no longer concerned with getting the story it is more about repeating whatever one else is talking about. If you watch two or three channels or read a few articles the same text or talking points are used over and over.

Not to mention that now a days it’s harder than ever to break into and I wasn’t someone who wanted to be on the screen. I was more interested in the research side of the table or the writing of copy. I am however grateful for where I have ended up. It’s not at all what I thought I’d be doing with my life as a 20 something year old but I’m good at it and feel very secure in saying that someone knew that that’s where I needed to end up and for that I am grateful. I now it’s not easy but trust the plan, even when it changes, it might be exactly what you needed.

Marcy

Thankfulness Challenge – Auburn Tigers

Today’s post is going to be short and sweet. I’m spending my evening watching my Auburn Tigers dribble a basketball with my family. See Auburn’s Basketball team is coming to town to play South Alabama in basketball. It’s rare that we get to see our basketball team upclose. Most of the games are during the week and the ones in Auburn are too difficult for us to get to. So we rely on TV a lot during Basketball season. 

When we heard they were coming to town there was no question were we going it was get the tickets then we’ll figure it out. So today, I’m thankful I’m an Auburn Tiger and belong to a family that knows to spend our hard earned money making memories. It’s going to be fun and I can’t wait!

WAR EAGLE!!!!

Marcy

AUBURN GYMNASTICS

Before I shut down my Social Media for Lent I have to give a shout out to my Auburn Gymnastics team and let them know that while I’m not going to be cheering them on online I’ll be thinking about them daily, sending them positive vibes, watching from the sidelines and wishing them the best SEC Championship ever cause this team deserves all of it.

It’s been a fantastic season for the Auburn Tigers …. 4-0 at home … 3-2 away … 7-2 overall. Their only losses in the SEC coming at the hands of Florida (the eventual SEC Champions) and Alabama, whom they came within like 3 toe point points and a stuck landing of taking down in Tuscaloosa. Read that again .. I’ll wait. As a matter of fact if Auburn had gotten the score they put up against Florida in Tuscaloosa they would have tied the meet with Alabama. It was their second highest road score of the season and gave them a 2^nd place finish in the SEC Regular Season. Just saying this team is capable of taking the entire tournament. 

This does not come as a surprise to me. I have seen this coming. As I think I have said before on this Blog, my dorm for all 4 years at Auburn was the closest dorm (at that time) to their practice facility so they would put the Freshman Gymnast in our dorm. In an effort to support these ladies we formed a group that would go to all the home meets and cheer the girls on. We'd put up things in their hallway with positive thoughts and encouragement for the weeks they had away meets. Heck I often drove them to practice so they wouldn't have to walk it. Gotta save those legs, they might have also been running late ha! During my 2nd or third year the group of girls in our dorm (cause I lived in the dorm all 4 years at Auburn (my last two years in a room by myself) since I had a job in the dorm that basically paid me to do my homework) came to the front desk one day while I was working and said that they really appreciated my support and loved that I came to the meets but politely asked that I go to get a drink or a snack during beam cause I could be distracting.  

Jeff Graba, pictured, and his staff have been building to this for years. He joined this program in 2010, I believe, and had a vision from his first day in the gym with these ladies. They have been planning for it, recruiting for it, and preparing these ladies for this shot, this chance and now they are going to grab it and hold it high. Graba has given them the tools, the coaches, the drive, the determination and the belief that they can win it all. Or completely fall on their faces … that’s how Gymnastics works. It’s not what you have done it’s what you are doing right this second that counts. No matter what happens this year has been so much fun to watch and this team can only build on this moving forward. I've said it before and will say it again. The FUTURE of Auburn Gymnastics is strong. 

There are 6 freshmen on this team, several that have already made their mark on the events this season including the amazing Derrian Gobourne who is so much fun to watch. If you haven’t seen her perform yet you really need to treat yourself and look her up, she’s won several all-around titles this year and I can’t wait to watch her evolve over the next few years. She can only get better which should scare the rest of the teams out there.  She’s powerful, talented and just a joy to watch work. Then you have 5 Sophomores on the team ready to take over leadership roles when asked including my home town favorite Allie Riddle an excellent Beam walker who does the other events pretty well too. I can't wait to watch her over the next few years too. She's from my hometown so I have a special place in my heart for her. GO UMS Bulldogs.  

Our Seniors include Sam Cerio (Engineering), Taylor Krippner (Human Sciences), A’Miracal Phillips (Science and Mathematics), and the always consistent Abby Milliet (business). I’m gonna miss these ladies but look forward to seeing what’s in store from them off the mats. Each of these ladies have served as leaders on this team and are a large reason why this team is in the place they are in right this second. They have helped build the foundation that the rest will build upon moving forward. 

Auburn has two more meets before the SEC Championships (in New Orleans March 23^rd BTW). One with Alabama, this weekend March 9^th in Birmingham and another with Air Force Academy in the Auburn Arena on the 15^th. Both events are great and fun events and allow Auburn to get that Bama monkey off their back before the SEC Championship which sets you up for the NCAA Championships which will be in Texas in April. I have no doubt in my mind that they can and will beat BAMA before this season ends. It's gonna happen. 

I tell you all of this because these young ladies deserve your love, support and respect. They put in the hours in the gym, more so during the off season. Their hard work is definitely paying off and it’s showing. Now we as fans need to continue to show up for them. 

War Eagle Ladies …. FINISH STONG!!!!!

Marcy (@beaslma)

LENT - SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK – TIGER GIVING DAY

So, my social media break came at just the worst time. First my Auburn Gymnastics team beat Rutgers, very handily I might add, with some stuck landings and great performances (at least as far as I could tell on my phone since the Watch ESPN ap gave my lap top the middle finger) by my Tigers in pink for their 6^th win of the season. A little shout out to Drew Watson who picked up the All-Around Title. Auburn faces Alabama this Friday for Senior Night and I hope the momentum of the last few weeks carries them through. 

However, the awesomeness … or should I say AUsomeness ... of the Auburn Gymnastics team is not the focus of this post. This “social media break” also happens to fall in the middle of Auburn’s RISE campaign. Which is a 24-hour fundraising event known as “Tiger Giving Day” #TigerGivingDay

Basically, they choose 20+ worthy projects that deserve to be highlighted and supported and put them on the site for AU fans, family, alumni to throw their support behind. Some are very worthy causes, others are, in my opinion less worthy, but they all made the list. What I love most about this event is that you can do a LOT of good on campus with very little spent. Some organizations get more of my dollars while others get enough to help them get a percent closer to their goal.

After I donated to a few of these programs I was hit with the share with your friends and family to help support #TigerGivingDay and of course I can't do that but I can post about Tiger Giving Day which lasts until Feb. 21^st at Midnight and features tons of programs you can put your support behind, if you are interested.

Check out the site below …

https://rise.auburn.edu/

Questions about this event can be directed here : because@auburn.edu

WAR EAGLE!!!!

Marcy  

Auburn, a fun destination that still feels like home

My self imposed Social Media ban has been surprisingly easy, however I do admit I missed it so much this past weekend. I took last Friday off and one of my work friends and I took off to Auburn for a short but sweet trip. I got to eat at my favorite places, and watch the Auburn Gymnastics Team flip on Senior Night and marveled at how much the place had changed since I left it so many years ago. I probably do not get back to Auburn as much as other alumni and admit that it has been a while since I went for a sporting event.  Pulling off the interstate it was like stepping into another world of businesses, apartment complexes, restaurants, and so much more that now lines the streets of the town I used to call home. Where is the freaking grass I kept thinking to myself. However when we got into the heart of campus I felt this immediate calm wash over me as I was back where I belonged. The place that literally gave me the foundation that would shape me into the person I am today.

It was a fun trip and I hated not sharing it with my social media friends and family. Prior to the meet we ate a delicious cheese burger at Cheeburger Cheeburger (with fries and onion rings cause I'm an adult), yes they have bigger mason jars now and no I didn't steal one but I really wanted to do so. I'm grown now and I guess I know better. I knew better then too but let's not focus on that or the fact that there's at least one jar in my cabinet (maybe two). Then we walked up to the famous Toomer’s Drug Store for some shopping at J&M Bookstore, and Tree appreciation time before going to Tiger Rags, must stops for any Auburn fan. We also decided to catch a movie while we were in town since we had some time to kill and we love movies. I'll watch anything as long as I have popcorn. Too bad a. the popcorn was kinda stale, and b. I accidently dropped it before the previews were done and lost half of the popcorn on the floor. We went to see “The Shack” which I have to admit was better than I thought it would be even if there were things about it that I didn’t like and I'm sorry .... Tim McGraw was a distraction. I never fell into the movie enough to know that wasn't Tim McGraw and frankly he annoyed me during this movie.  It’s one of those movies that I’m glad to have experienced but not one that I’m going to rush to Amazon to buy the book, or get it on DVD so I can watch over and over again.

Last time I focused on my lack of negativity via social media and this time I was reminded of how much positivity I tend to throw out there too. This week’s Auburn Gymnastics meet celebrated “Senior Night” and to not take a moment to tell the Senior class what a joy it has been to watch them work was hard was really hard.

So I'll take the time now, MJ (Psychology), Lucia (Pre-Med), Kelsey (Mechanical Engineering), and Kullen (Aerospace Engineering) it has been an honor to watch each of you work and I'm sure whatever path you walk...tumble...down next you will be amazing at it if you only show HALF the dedication that you have shown to this Auburn Team. Thank you for your time, your dedication, and the memories, War Eagle and happy graduation! (side note, I included their respective majors cause I wanted to give a shout out to how smart my Tigers are as well as talented and strong!)

These ladies give up so much to wear that Leotard from time with family, with friends and with loved ones to the amount of time they train, study and support each other it seemed wrong to not acknowledge it. The meet we went to was between Auburn and Pittsburg, not exactly an SEC clash of the titans meet but Pittsburg had a great meet. The Pittsburg team was staying our hotel and while we only saw them for a few minutes the interaction I had with them was very positive. They looked like a great group of young ladies and they definitely put on a show for the Auburn fans Friday night. I would have liked to have tweeted to the team’s twitter handle to tell them how much I enjoyed their performance. They definitely came to play as did the Auburn Seniors in their final night before friends, family, and fans in an Auburn leotard in a home setting.

The season is not over but for those Seniors that’s a night they will always cherish. I also loved how the entire team came out to each of the exits to talk with fans, take pictures and sign autographs (let’s see the football, basketball, baseball teams do that and I know their tickets are more expensive). Watching these ladies with their fans was fun, watching little boys and girls afraid to approach but then be welcomed with a hug and a picture was heartwarming, you got a sense that they appreciated us being there as much as we appreciated what they do. Those ladies are pretty amazing! Next up for the Tigers is the SEC Championships in Jacksonville. This young team has the opportunity to do well at the championships, they have been knocking on the door all season with great scores they just need solid scores, hitting their routines and they could have a great night. Don’t get me wrong I don’t harbor this insane idea that Auburn will win it all, that’s between LSU and FL (my money is on LSU) and you can never rule out Alabama but I think Auburn could be the dark horse no one is watching to come in and finish 5th. This team is building and with a young team they have a bright future ahead of them.

After the meet we went to one of my favorite places in the world to eat “Willie’s Wings.” It was a mainstay in my student life and they deliver! They are only open from 5PM until about 1AM so it was the perfect late night place to go for some good hot food that wasn’t pizza. A college kid can only eat so much pizza. I was so excited to walk into the Resturant and was immediately transported back by the smell. I couldn’t wait to get that sandwich in my belly. Western Sub with Tots, I’ve tried to recreate it at home and I come close but NOTHING compares to Willie’s Western Sub with Tots. With a fully belly I slept like a baby.

On Saturday we got up frolicked around campus some more, sent Golden a note from Biggin Hall (her home away from home while at Auburn) and hit the road to head back home. It was a great weekend of conversation, fun, food, and laughter. I can’t wait to go back. I wonder if my boss would let me take every Friday off to spent 24 hours in Auburn, better yet I wonder if they want to open an “Auburn branch” with me as their first employee. I could move back there in a heartbeat. In a few years my nephew, Lord willing, will be at Auburn and I just might have to make more of a point to get up there and make sure he’s not making the same mistakes I did while in school. Auburn will always have a special place in my heart and I hope he’ll feel the same way after he gets his degree. It’s so much more than a place or a school it’s the atmosphere, the people, the area itself and until you experience it I can’t explain it to you. So I’ll leave you with this …

WAR EAGLE!

Marcy (C/O 01)

Thankfulness Challenge - Day 9

So I was planning for this post to come in a week or so but after yesterday’s game it’s the right time to show my Auburn Pride. The Auburn Family needs a pick me up after watching our miracle luck run out in epic horrible fashion. Auburn is not just a team, it’s not just football it’s really more a way of life. I was the 10^th in my family to graduate from Auburn University, and I hope my nephews will continue the tradition.

In elementary school we had a “career day” where we were supposed to come to school dressed up in what we wanted to be when we grew up. There were kids in doctor scrubs, kids in football and baseball uniforms, boys in their Sunday best as businessmen, girls dressed as teachers carrying around books, and even a few mommy’s walking around with dolls. As the teacher went around the class asking each kid to explain what they wanted to be she skipped over me. As a super awesome kid I just assumed she wanted to save the best for last. After the last kid went she started to move on to the next thing on her daily agenda. I raised my hand and asked why she skipped me. She said she assumed I had forgotten. I said but I didn’t. So she asked “Well what do you want to be?” I stood up next to my desk all tall and proud and said, “I want to be an Auburn student!” I was dressed from head to toe in Auburn gear. Auburn sweatpants, sweatshirt, bow in my hair and socks with a big AU on them. In my head that’s what students wore.

My mother grew up in Opelika which is located about 10 minutes from the campus of Auburn University. She met my father while he was a student there. I owe a lot to Auburn University, because if they hadn’t both been on the same path that day I wouldn’t be here. That’s not why I love Auburn tho. It’s just one of the many reasons that I love this University. On every day, not just Day 9, I’m thankful that I am an Auburn Tiger!

My dad has had season tickets since he graduated. It was his “splurge” that he never questioned. As a young kid going to spend the weekend in Auburn meant seeing my grandmother (who still lived in Opelika) and spending Saturdays playing football with other tailgating kids, eating food right off a fire, and cheering on the Auburn Tigers. I used to make it my mission to find Aubie. There is not a mascot on the planet who gives better hugs, better high fives, or just induces more smiles and giggles from its fans.

 

 

As a kid I could have cared less if Auburn won the ball game, which is good cause at that time we lost more than we won. There were no devastating looks on the faces of the Auburn Alumni and fans in those stands back in those days. Sure a win was appreciated but not as “expected” as it is now. Nope, for me the ball game was secondary to walking around the beautiful campus, seeing the spectacle that is an SEC game, watching the students make their way towards class as I walked around on a Friday afternoon with my dad, mom, and brother. Every single time Dad would point out the same buildings and his old apartment as we rode around campus then just as we left campus to head to my grandmothers would point to what is now a parking lot where he met my mom. Once the game was over dad would take our hands and walk us back to wherever we parked the car (no assigned parking back then it was every car for themselves). I could never figure out how he always remembered where the car was in rain, shine, or in the dead of night after a night game. We’d make our way back to my grandmother’s spend the night (or have dinner if it was a day game) then the next day would see aunts and cousins before making the trip back home to start our week again. Dad to work, us to school, that among many other memories is why I associate Auburn with family.

My grandmother and I getting ready to walk to the stadium

When it was time to apply to colleges, Auburn was the only one I applied to. I didn’t have a backup plan, I didn’t have a safety school. I didn’t need one. I was going to be an Auburn student and it was going to be awesome. My brother was at the University my freshman year, we overlapped by a semester and I was glad we did. He taught me a lot, provided me with a lot of my social interaction, and was a phone call away when I needed him. It was at Auburn that I met my sister from another mother, Golden and learned how to prioritize, be responsible, and manage money. It was at Auburn that I became more than just a student I became the person that I was destined to be. I was finally an Auburn Tiger and would eventually become an Auburn Alumni Lifetime member since 2001.

 

 

Auburn is more than a University, it’s more than a football team, it’s more than a W or a L on a schedule it’s a truly a way of life. Would I have liked to win yesterday, sure but let’s face it it’s been a great season with some epic moments, but our luck was bound to run out at some point. With a schedule as challenging as ours was honestly it ran out a lot later than I would have thought. Another epic last minute win would have been great, however the pressure is now off and we can finish out this tough season strong and go into these final games without that “playoff” monkey on our back. I for one am looking forward to watching a ball game sober, to not having a 4^th quarter heart attack, and to not gaining more grey hair based on what Nick Marshall and his offense does or does not do on the field.

So until next season Auburn Family stay strong. Wear your Auburn Orange with pride, be true Blue and keep your head up. Auburn’s been down before but we aren’t out we’ll finish the season strong and it will make next season even better because let’s face it if you are in the hunt year in and out you come to expect it and stop appreciating it as much.

WAR EAGLE!!!!!

-marcy (@beaslma)