One game day tradition has stood the test of time for more than 20 years: game day buttons from the University Bookstore.
"We start giving them out on Friday afternoon, and then by about 11 a.m., they're gone pretty fast," said Michael Behel, junior in exercise science and bookstore employee.
The catchy slogans on these game day keepsakes are the creations of fans, said Jennifer Edwards, marketing and communications specialist for the bookstore.
"We hold a contest each year, and fans submit slogan suggestions for each game," Edwards said. "We put all of the suggestions in a spreadsheet and pass it around the store to choose the winners."
The contest is usually held late in the spring semester.
Students, alumni and other fans snatch up the buttons to add a little extra flair to their game day attire.
"I love them," said Molly Anne Dutton, freshman in landscape horticulture, who even picked up a couple extras for her visitors to Saturday's game. "I think it's a good Auburn tradition."
Many students collect the buttons and keep them as mementos of previous games, especially close victories.
"I have a big jug of the buttons," said Tyler Chesser, senior in supply chain management.
The bookstore's game day buttons have been an Auburn tradition since 1987 when Bob Ritenbaugh, assistant vice president for auxiliary services and the bookstore director at the time, implemented the idea.
The first game day button sported a white background and the phrase "Rope Texas" for Auburn's opening game that season.
Since then, about 736,000 of these keepsakes have been distributed to Auburn football fans.
Between 3,000 and 5,000 buttons go out each game day.
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