The single-digit cold was a non-factor in the Auburn community's homecoming celebration for the football team, Tuesday Jan. 7, after their heartbreaking loss the previous night.
Students, families and even some pets formed a walkway from corner to corner inside the team's indoor practice facility, cheering the players and coaches as they exited their buses.
"I watched the game last night, watched every game this season and I just wanted to be out here and support them," said Anna Shurbutt, 2013 Auburn alumna.
"We just want to let them know that they don't need to be upset or apologize," Shurbutt said. "They have made us proud and that they've gone farther than anyone ever believed that they would go and to just support them."
While they waited for the players' buses to arrive a little later than anticipated, fans conversed on the AstroTurf or watched as kids pelted toy footballs up and down the field.
After coming up short against FSU the night before, fans took a moment to thaw out with the entire Auburn family and share a warm moment away from the freezing wind outside.
"Regardless of the outcome I was planning on coming out and welcoming the team back to Auburn," said Jackson Bradford, senior in applied mathematics.
"I knew since it was inside [the cold] wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm definitely glad its inside because if it was outside I might have reconsidered it," Bradford said.
The seniors of the team were recognized for the last time before Gus Malzahn, Jay Prosch and Chris Davis all made speeches to the fans thanking their family of supporters.
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