10 things we have to explain to out-of-towners about Auburn University

Amber Sutton | By Amber Sutton |
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on March 24, 2014 at 5:00 AM, updated March 25, 2014 at 11:47 AM

AUBURN, Alabama -- When out-of-towners come to Auburn University, they often have a lot of questions about the city's offerings and the school's rituals, like "What's up with having two mascots" or "Why waste all that toilet paper?"

Whether they're on the Plains to watch a football game or to simply check out the college campus, visitors often want to know the origin for the traditions that Auburn is known for.

To make things easier on residents tired of retelling the history of Toomer's Oaks every Saturday, here's a guide on how to answer the questions most frequently asked by people not from Auburn.

1. Why do Auburn fans say "War Eagle"?
In addition to being the university's battle cry, "War Eagle" is often a greeting used by Tigers supporters to acknowledge and welcome fellow fans. While the exact source for the expression is unknown, there are plenty of legends available to explain the battle cry. One origin story dates back to 1892 when Auburn and Georgia played against each other for the first time. According to the legend, a Civil War veteran in the stands brought along a pet eagle he found on the battlefield. During the game, the eagle broke free and began circling the field as Auburn took the lead over the bulldogs.

2. OK, but you guys are the Tigers, right?
Yes, the football team is called the Auburn Tigers, and the university's official mascot is Aubie the Tiger. As previously mentioned, "War Eagle" is a battle cry, not a mascot or team name. Not to make things more complicated, but the university also has an eagle, the first of which was named Tiger, that can be seen flying around Jordan-Hare Stadium during gamedays.

3. Why did Toomer's Oaks matter so much? Wasn't it just trees?
For the past 80 years, Toomer's Oaks have been a place for Auburn fans to gather and celebrate their victories. Placed at the campus entrance at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and College Street in the middle of downtown, the trees, which were rolled after every football victory for years, were an icon of the university and a physical representation of the Auburn spirit. During the final rolling after the trees were poisoned, more than 83,000 Auburn fans collected at the oaks to say goodbye to the landmarks.

4. Why do Auburn fans throw toilet paper in trees?
While it's difficult to narrow down when "rolling the oaks" became a common occurrence, Auburn fans have been celebrating by tossing toilet paper into the branches of the oaks for years. Even now that the Oaks are gone, Tigers supporters still gather where they once were to adorn temporary structures set up in their place with rolls upon rolls of toilet paper. It may seem silly to others, but to Auburn fans, it's a beloved tradition.

5. What's the deal with lemonade from Toomer's Drugs?

When visiting the city of Auburn, it's important to pull up a seat at Toomer's Drugs and order a cold glass of lemonade. Auburn fans have long loved the famous drink, which is freshly squeezed right in front of you and is made from a recipe that creates a tangy, sweet taste you can't find anywhere else.

6. What's up with people calling Auburn "the Plains"?
This term dates back to 1770 when Oliver Goldsmith wrote a poem called "The Deserted Village," which includes the line "sweet Auburn! loveliest village of the plain." While the poem is actually referring to a town in Ireland, Auburn fans still took in the description as their own and adopted the "Plains" nickname.

7. What's good at the War Eagle Supper Club?
While the War Eagle Supper Club may have "supper" in its name, it's not the kind of joint you're going to find dinner at. Instead, it's a late night bar that serves as the final drinking spot for those that aren't quite ready to head home once the other bars, clubs and taverns in Auburn call it a night.

8. Why does everyone in Auburn love Momma Goldberg's deli so much?
Sure, you can eat at Momma Goldberg's restaurants at plenty of places outside Auburn these days, but it'll never be as good as the original location at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Donahue Drive. Opened in 1976, the deli is the oldest independently-owned restaurant in the city and has become a hotspot for fans of the orange and blue.

9. Isn't Auburn just an agricultural school?
While Auburn may have an award-wining College of Agriculture that has helped advance Alabama's farming economy, that's not all that the university has going for it. Though there might be green fields and large barns surrounding the campus, Auburn University also has 11 other colleges, including architecture, engineering and veterinary medicine, that attract students from all over the nation.

10. Aren't Auburn fans called "barners"

Let's be very clear on this one. "Barners" is not a term of endearment, and Auburn fans typically don't react kindly to the name. Of course, there are a lot worse things you could call someone, but "barner" is a word you'll likely want to pass on using while visiting the Plains.