When the touchdowns came and the chants of "War Eagle" echoed in Jordan-Hare; when the orange pom-poms hissed and the band blasted their tune, there was Rod Bramblett, there was the "Voice of the Auburn Tigers," orchestrating his family, speaking into the mic, into the memories of people who danced and rolled and screamed joyously alongside him.
The boyish excitement, the fervor, the voice that was as Auburn as Samford, as elated and high as a roll stuck on Toomer's. Bramblett matched the pandemonium, he captured the madness.
While speaking to The Plainsman in 2014, a year after the 4th and 18 Hail Mary against Georgia, and a year after Chris Davis' 109-yard Iron Bowl-winning field goal return against Alabama, Bramblett said it all felt like a "blur."
"It was one of those things when you look back that you wish there was a way you could've just recorded every single thing you did because you will never have another moment like that," Bramblett told The Plainsman.
It was a year of miracles, a year of blasting speakers as Bramblett, in glee, growled in his raspy voice a victory for the Tigers. He was a megaphone for thousands, a megaphone for the Auburn Family, narrating their games, calling their achievements.
On Saturday night, when a car accident killed Rod Bramblett and his wife Paula, the Auburn Family returned the favor and called right back.
This week, The Plainsman will be dedicated to honoring Rod and Paula Bramblett. If you have any stories about Rod personally, or if you have any memories of hearing his calls in the car or at home, we'd love to hear them. Share them with us at editor@theplainsman.com and sports@theplainsman.com. We'll compile a list and share them later this week.
This is how a community mourned the loss of a voice — the loss of Rod and Paula Bramblett.
The Auburn Tigers
Auburn men's basketball head coach Bruce Pearl
Auburn basketball assistant coach Steven Pearl
Auburn football head coach Gus Mulzahn
Auburn baseball head coach Butch Thompson
Auburn Mayor Ron Anders
Former Auburn football coach Gene Chiz
Auburn University Steven Leath
Auburn Athletic Director Allen Greene
Former Auburn football player Chris Davis
Former Auburn baseball player Casey Mize
Auburn baseball pitcher Ryan Watson
Auburn football defenseman Big Kat Bryant
Auburn football player Bo Nix
Governor Kay Ivey
U.S. Senator Doug Jones
The Auburn Family
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Eduardo Medina, senior in journalism, is the editor-in-chief of The Auburn Plainsman.
