One day after celebrating what was supposed to be the final rolling of Toomer's Corner on A-Day, Auburn decided to let the equestrian team, which won the national championship Saturday, give the oaks a fresh coat.
"This is incredible," head coach Greg Williams said. "Our dream and what we worked for all year long is win a national championship, but the way the Auburn fans treat each other like family, it's like bringing your daughters down here and having a celebration. Knowing it's the last time we're going to be rolling these trees, it adds a lot of historical significance to it."
Auburn won the Hunt Seat National Championship earlier in the day and defeated Georgia, 3-1, in a ride-off competition to seal the 2013 NCEA Overall National Championship in Waco, Texas.
The Hunt Seat Team topped No. 1 seed Baylor, 5-3, in the semifinal round. Auburn faced No. 3 seed Georgia in the championship round. With the match tied 2-2 after flat, Auburn got points from Elizabeth Benson and Jennifer Waxman to earn a 2-1 win in fences and give Auburn the Hunt Seat National Championship.
A ride-off between Auburn and Georgia was needed to determine the overall national champion. Benson won flat and fences, and Cheyenne Cracraft won reining to take a 3-1 win and the overall national championship.
"It was definitely [nerve-wracking]," said freshman Elizabeth Benson, who finished 8-0 in her events. "We were all sitting in the stands waiting for it to happen. It came down to the first round before the final ride-off, and at that point we knew that we had won the Hunt Seat National Championship, but that also meant we tied with them. We were nervous. We tried to enjoy the moment as much as possible, but then going back to the barn to get ready for the ride-off was definitely nerve-wracking."
"It came down between us and them, and our girls pulled it out," Williams said. "It was a great win."
Sunday evening, the team marched from the Hotel at Auburn University down to Toomer's Corner carrying boxes of toilet paper, and joined the crowd in tossing the rolls onto the beloved oaks.
"I felt like Auburn kept the party going and waited on our girls to get here," Williams said. "These Tigers didn't come empty-handed. They brought party favors with them."
"The environment here is just so wonderful," senior Indy Roper said. "It's great for the sport of equestrian. For us as a team, words really can't even describe it. Obviously the last time we roll Toomer's, this is something that you'll tell your children and grandchildren about."
The riders gathered between the trees for a team picture and circled to lead the crowd in the "Bodda Getta" cheer.
"Nothing beats this if you're an Auburn person," Williams said.
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