Aubie has inspired Auburn fans in fields, courts and stadiums for decades, but Friday night in Disney World, he yet again proved himself as the best mascot in the nation.
Aubie won his eighth Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) mascot national championship since his first win in 1991.
Aubie left his bags packed from Pasadena and headed to Orlando, Fla. to take part in his second national championship this year, but this time he came away with the victory that every Auburn fan knew he deserved.
Taylor Akers, junior in communications, is one of the Directors of Aubie.
"There are three [Directors of Aubie] and we all work together," Akers said. "We divide and conquer."
After packing up on Wednesday and making sure the props were all together, ready and fit for competition, Aubie and his team left for Orlando on Thursday.
"On Friday Aubie had inspection on all his props to make sure they were OK to compete, then Friday night was the competition," Akers said.
Just like Auburn's football schedule, Aubie didn't have an easy list of competitors to sweep through to win big.
He was up against mascots that have won, or come very close to winning, in past years.
"Alabama's always a good competitor, and they did very well," Akers said, "but Aubie's had some bigger competitors this year, especially with the Honey Badger, as well as Goldy the Gopher who came in second place."
Fans on Twitter voted him the number one choice, but when it came to the judges' pick, Aubie and the 2013 winner, University of Minnesota's Goldy Gopher, were the last two standing.
After ESPN announced Goldy was the runner up and Aubie had won his eighth national championship, Aubie shook hands with Goldy and accepted his trophy with some notorious head shakes.
Props and outfits are essential to every mascot, and Aubie has some of the best.
"Aubie kind of just tells us what he's feeling for the football games and things and then we go out and go to different thrift stores, we go to costume shops and just try to put together what he's looking for," Akers said.
Although Aubie's props and outfits were key to his success in the competition, Akers was quick to give Aubie the credit for his victory.
"I think with Aubie it's that he doesn't need a lot of props to be great," Akers said. "He doesn't need a lot of props to stand out. He has a few really good, solid props and he just lets his character shine through."
Aubie and his team are continuing to make history while Aubie brings out the tiger in all of his fans.
"We're extremely proud of [Aubie] for bringing home an eighth national championship," Akers said. "None of the mascots have even come close to that, so I think that shows a lot about our program and how much he works throughout the year."
Aubie has won more UCA mascot national championships than any other mascot.
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