Each week during the college football season, USA Today’s “For the Win” (FTW) blog poses a poll question to college football fans. Last week, they wanted to know what the fans think is the best tradition in college football. The overwhelming response was that Auburn’s tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner takes the cake.
Here’s what FTW had to say:
1. Auburn (32% of the fan vote) – The famous oaks are gone, but the iconic tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner remains. Thankfully, the landmark will be getting a facelift in February, when new trees are planted. People won’t be allowed to cover them with toilet paper right away, but it’ll be worth the wait.
According to the official history of Toomer’s Corner, folks on the Plains started the tradition of rolling the trees with toilet paper back in 1972:
“We celebrated Pat Sullivan winning the Heisman Trophy there in 1971 and no toilet paper was tossed,” said David Housel, Auburn Athletics Director Emeritus. “That started a year later when we celebrated the 17-16 victory over Alabama in the `Punt, Bama, Punt’ game.” That was the game in which Auburn ran back two punts for touchdowns in the last six minutes. The use of toilet paper was inspired by comments from Terry Henley, a colorful halfback whose rural drawl made him a darling of reporters. The unbeaten Crimson Tide was second in the nation coming into the game and Henley made a pledge: “We’re going to beat the No. 2 out of Alabama.”
The Ohio State marching band’s “dotting of the ‘i'” during their halftime show also made the list, followed by Mississippi State’s beloved — or loathed, depending on where you’re coming from — cowbells.
Did the voters get it right? Is the rolling of Toomer’s Corner the single best tradition in all of college football? Let us know in the comments below.
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