“It just worked out. I couldn’t plan it. Didn’t plan it. It just happened.” Those are the words of Buddy Davidson, the man who has attended every Auburn football game for the past 60 years. He says his streak was never intended, but the former student manager, assistant athletics director, and now fan, is on the verge of attending his 700th straight game.
According to AUBURNTIGERS.COM, the streak began in the middle of Auburn’s 1957 championship season when Buddy, a freshman, joined the program as a student manager. “I remember most every play in almost every one of those games better than I do some of them that happened two years ago,” said Davidson in September of 2014, just two weeks before a stroke impaired his speech and mobility. “We only gave up 28 points that whole year.”
The stroke couldn’t keep Buddy away from his Tigers. With the help of his wife, Fran, and his son, Rick, Buddy continued to attend every game, both inside and out of Jordan-Hare. “As we’ve done every summer since he had his stroke, I say, `We’ll make it possible to go to any and every game you want to. It’s your call,’” Buddy’s son Rick said. “We talked again this morning, and I said, `What do you think? You got two more in you?’ He said, `Yeah.’ I said, `How about after that?’ He said [holding up two fingers], `Two more. Two more.’”
“Ole Miss. That’ll be a good one to stop on,” Buddy said.
That will be a good one to stop on. After 61 seasons, eight coaches, 36 quarterbacks, and 700 games, Auburn’s most loyal fan will be a game-time decision for the road trip to LSU.
“That doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind the Friday before we go to Baton Rouge or even Saturday morning. Typically that’s an evening game, so if that happens, as he has trained me, I’ve got somebody ready to jump in the truck and head to Baton Rouge. It’s still up to him,” Rick said.
Buddy likes to get to the game early to really soak in the sights. From pregame to post, Buddy’s eyes are meticulously fixed on the spectacle that is Auburn football. “They’ll be little times and little moments where you’ll just look over, and you’ll say something, and he’ll get that grin on his face, and give you a fist pump,” said Rick, before Auburn’s 51-14 win at Missouri. “And you know he’s really excited about being here. It’s something he really appreciates.”
Thank you, Buddy, for your love and support of Auburn football. You are the embodiment of the Auburn Creed when it says, “I believe in Auburn, and LOVE IT.” War Eagle, Buddy!
