Josh Peyton was in his third deployment in Iraq when he realized something was missing.
Auburn was in the midst of a national championship season, and Peyton, an Auburn graduate, had no way to talk to his family and friends during Auburn games.
He then began to think of a solution.
"What I wanted to do was create a product that connected friends through football in a tailgate environment," Peyton said.
After two years, Peyton's problem has been solved.
The solution is a new app Peyton created for the iPhone called YellowFlag.
YellowFlag is the only social network app completely devoted to professional and college football.
Users of YellowFlag pick their favorite college and professional football teams after downloading the app and set up 'huddles' with friends and family to discuss and debate their favorite teams during the game.
"Using the YellowFlag, app fans can track, connect and share real-time updates of college football games anywhere in the world," said Scott Robertson, president of Robertson Communication Corp., a group that represents YellowFlag. "It's kind of like a tailgate party in your pocket."
Peyton uses the app to keep in touch with college friends, military friends and people in his fantasy football leagues.
"Whether your friends are on vacation, a different part of the U.S., or a different part of the world, they can talk during live football games as if they are at a tailgate," Peyton said. "It's been amazing to be able to connect with your friends during real time."
YellowFlag launched two weeks ago and has already found success.
The app has been downloaded more than 2,000 times in 49 states and 12 countries.
This success has been a long time coming.
"We looked for the leading app developers and social media wizards to try to make sure we put the best product out on the market," Peyton said. "It was designed in a way that would be cool for people to use."
YellowFlag has been in development for the last two years and testing has been going on for eight months.
There is also high incentive to download YellowFlag.
A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded by YellowFlag to the school with the highest number of downloads.
The contest ends Dec. 1.
Auburn is currently in first place with 156 downloads. Alabama is a distant seventh with just 46.
"I would be highly agitated if Alabama has more downloads than Auburn does," Peyton said.
But Peyton should not have to worry, as interest in a tailgating social network is appealing to students on campus.
Andrew Meagher, freshman in marine biology, sees great use in an app like YellowFlag.
"I'm a Tennessee Titans fan and that's pretty far away, and in Auburn most people are Falcons fans," Meagher said. "A football app would allow me to connect with other Titans fans back home."
YellowFlag is only available to iPhone users at the moment, but Peyton says an Android version could soon be available.
New features, including real-time statistics, should also be available soon.
Peyton's eventual goal for YellowFlag is a simple one. "We want people to think of YellowFlag when they think of football," Peyton said.
Additional information on YellowFlag can be found at facebook.com/yellowflagfootball
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