Aubie stands as one of the official symbols for Auburn University to many Auburn students and fans alike.
Julian Holmes created the prototype decades ago, yet the same costume is still worn today.
Every five years there is a "Friends of Aubie" reunion at the University and all the alumni come together to celebrate.
Debbie Shaw, vice president of alumni affairs, hosts what she calls a geographic reunion in Atlanta during the Auburn-Georgia game, because she said so many past "Friends of Aubie" live in the area.
Shaw said the geographic reunion is their chance to go to them, instead of having them come back to Auburn.
"It has been extremely important to me that we stay connected with these folks," Shaw said, who served as adviser to Aubie for 20 years before handing the position over to Mike Reynolds four years ago. "And not just through a reunion every five years, but through things like social networks so they can stay connected to Auburn."
Barry Mask was the original Aubie and formed the first "Friends of Aubie" along with Bob Harris, '82, and Vicki McGinty (Leach), when the program initiated in 1979.
Harris said he enjoyed passing on the Auburn experience and entertaining people of all ages.
James Lloyd, Harris' Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brother, was the spirit director for SGA at the time.
Lloyd wanted to make Aubie into a real life mascot, so he gathered funding and sent the artist rendering off to New York to Brooks-Van Horn Costume Company, which also did costumes for Saturday Night Live.
Harris said he wanted to be a cheerleader at first, but gained an interest in being Aubie once he saw what Lloyd was doing for Auburn, plus, his former job at Six Flags over Georgia gave him some experience with performing in a suit.
Justin Shugart, who was a friend of Aubie for the '07 and '08 school year, said he wanted to become a "Friend of Aubie" because, like most fans, he grew up loving Aubie and wanted to make a childhood dream come true.
"I had a goal to lead Auburn into Jordan-Hare with 87,000 people singing 'War Eagle,'" Shugart said. "I knew I wouldn't be strapping on the pads for the Tigers in my future and that the only option left to live out my dream and achieve a goal was to try out for Aubie."
Shugart described the Aubie experience as "absolutely incredible." He said serving as the most recognizable icon of Auburn University was an opportunity that he is fortunate to have had experienced.
"The best way to describe the experience is by witnessing the smiles that fill the room when Aubie pops in," Shugart said. "Whether it be a classroom full of rowdy third-graders or at a nursing home with senior citizens playing bingo, Aubie's ability to change the attitude of the entire room would ultimately have an incredible effect on Aubie and his friends."
Shugart's most memorable experience as Aubie is when he went to the Birmingham Children's Research Hospital and visited a 4-year-old girl who had just come out of a quadruple bypass heart surgery and was a huge Auburn fan.
"Aubie visited her one day after coming out of a successful surgery," Shugart said. "The little girl hadn't spoken to anyone, but the doctor since her surgery. When Aubie came around the curtain, the girls face beamed like a full moon. She proceeded to tell Aubie all about her surgery, how she was feeling, and then helped Aubie lead the entire nursing staff in her favorite cheer, 'Bodda Getta.' The look on her face and her parents' tears was enough to know that a simple costumed tiger clearly meant more to that little girl than anything else a person could ever offer her."
Shugart said he feels honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of such a successful and meaningful program. He said the Aubie program is more than just being a school mascot, but a brotherhood, with one sister, and the relationships that are built between the former and current "Friends of Aubie" will last a lifetime.
Chris Delvizis was a "Friend of Aubie" for the 2007 season. He now works as a product manager at National Instruments in Austin.
He said he wanted to become a "Friend of Aubie" his freshman year after seeing Aubie perform on the sidelines of football games. He tried out in the spring semester and the rest is history.
"Most people don't realize how talented, creative and hard working these guys are," Delvizis said. "There is a whole mascot world out there that Aubie sets the bar for.
Delvizis said the experience was unlike any other he has had, and he'll have amazing stories that he'll be able to tell his grandchildren someday.
In order to request Aubie at am event, visit www.auburn.edu/student_info/student_life/aubie.
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