From the football field to the basketball arena, Auburn’s legacy is built on cherished traditions and vibrant cheers.
“Auburn is rooted in tradition. We keep things consistent. While we have added several crowd appealing factors like smoke machines, fireworks and planes, Auburn cheers and chants have stayed relatively the same, which is something we are proud of,” said Alivia Carden, graduate student in secondary science education and a cheerleader at Auburn.
Rachel Wandrick, a senior cheerleader double majoring in business management and finance, explained that her favorite cheer to lead the crowds in is “It’s Great to Be.”
“When the cheerleaders run out to the middle of the football field, we always do this cheer as the finale. I cannot help but smile whenever I perform this cheer, because it makes me think of all the wonderful things about being an Auburn Tiger,” Wandrick said.
Ben Timm, senior in mechanical engineering, is the current Mic-Man for Auburn.
“For football, [It’s Great to Be] is the cheer we end every pregame with. No matter what gets called before, we will always end with ‘It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger.' For basketball, when the clock hits 30 seconds left, we start that very same cheer,” Timm said.
Timm chooses what cheers to call during football games. When he’s calling the cheers, the words he yells never fall on deaf ears.
“On a typical Saturday in Jordan-Hare, and in Neville Arena, we are shouting cheers at any point in the game,” Carden said.
The cheerleaders work closely with the Auburn University Marching Band. When Auburn is on defense, the band takes over the cheer, according to Carden.
“However, during offensive possessions, you can usually hear [the cheerleaders] using our voices to cheer on our players and coaches to victory,” Carden said.
Dalton Odom, former Mic-Man, reflected on a specific game where he felt the crowd’s energy made a real impact on the team.
“Last year at the SEC Championship game in Nashville, there was a time out toward the end of the game. I told all the guys I was about to call ‘Auburn, Tigers,’ which is the cheer where I’d say, ‘Alright, I want this side to be Auburn, and I want this side to be Tigers,’” Odom said.
This was a pivotal moment in the game, and Odom could feel the energy from the crowd building up.
“The cheerleaders grabbed their signs, and as I called out the chant, the entire arena roared with intensity,” Odom said.
One of Carden’s most memorable experiences was Auburn’s win against Georgia in 2013.
“Even from a young age, I was really invested in the game. I remember jumping and hugging strangers that I had never met, but were a part of the Auburn family,” Carden said.
The cheerleaders work hard to keep the crowd energized during tough moments in games.
“I always remind myself to smile and have a positive attitude. To bring the energy back into the crowd, we perform stunts that are correlated to certain songs the band plays,” Wandrick said.
During tense game situations, the cheer team's talent shines through, instantly recalling the vibrant spirit that makes Auburn so special.
“We could be down two touchdowns with two minutes left, and it was mine and my teammates' job to keep the energy up. Some people in the crowd wouldn’t be too happy, and we’d call a cheer when it was evident we’d probably lost the game,” Odom said.
The team wouldn’t be doing their job if they weren’t calling cheers until the game was over, according to Odom.
“There were a lot of times where my teammates and I made a difference. We could all physically see people trying to yell louder after we were trying to hype them up,” Odom said.
Being Mic-Man was Odom’s childhood dream, and it changed everything for him.
“All the traditions from Tiger Walk, four corners pep rally, pre-game cheers and the band run out, it all felt magical. Being in the middle of Pat Dye Field leading 88,043 people was priceless,” Odom said.
The cheerleaders role on game day is to create a positive atmosphere for the players, coaches and Auburn fans.
“I think one of the things that makes Auburn so unique is how our students react when presented with cheers, especially our traditional ones. Most people put their phones down and simply join in with the cheer,” Timm said.
The echoes of "War Eagle" and the familiar sound of "It's Great to Be" continue to reverberate through Auburn's athletic venues, a testament to the enduring power of tradition and the unwavering spirit of its cheerleaders and fans.
More than just sideline entertainment, these spirited displays are part of the Auburn experience, a unifying force that binds generations of Tigers together — win or lose. They are a vibrant reminder that the legacy built on cherished traditions and vibrant cheers will continue to fuel the passion and pride of the Auburn Family for years to come.
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