On Wednesday, April 2, Auburn students, faculty and residents attended the Reverse Tiger Walk, a celebratory send-off for Auburn men's basketball to wish the team well in their upcoming Final Four matchup. Excited attendees donned in orange and blue showed their support, as the team prepared to travel to San Antonio, Texas to play against the University of Florida on Saturday night.
Hundreds of Auburn Family members lined up outside the Neville Arena entrance, crowding around the Charles Barkley statue, for a glimpse of Coach Bruce Pearl and the star players.
The event began at 11:30 a.m. in warm and humid weather, but the waiting attendees maintained energy, greeting each other with a friendly “War Eagle” and chanting “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger.”
Aubie the Tiger also made a special appearance, interacting with fans and signing autographs.
Ahead of the team’s walkout, the excitement was palpable. The Saturday game is historic for Coach Pearl, the team and the Auburn Family, as it is only second Final Four matchup in program history for Auburn men's basketball.
This matchup is also significant for students who have grown with the team like sophomore in journalism, Rachel Everett.
“First time I came on to Auburn’s campus was 2019, they rolled once they got to the Final Four, so it feels very full circle,” Everett said. “It’s been really fun just to see them advance on, and we’re excited for them.”
Some attending students were even present at the Elite Eight game, in which Auburn reigned victorious over the Michigan State Spartans to claim their Final Four spot.
“We’re just really excited that we’re going to the Final Four,” said Emma Welch, sophomore studying agricultural communications. “We were at the Elite Eight games, so we got to see them advance on. [...] We’re just really excited to see history happen.”
Caroline Sanders, senior in architecture and friend of Welch, also attended the Elite Eight game and wanted to show support at the sendoff.
“We’re not going to San Antonio, but being here to send them off is really nice,” Sanders said.
Friends and fellow engineering students Shelby Hampton and Madison Hunt waited in line together before the basketball players’ walkouts.
“I’m really excited. This is our junior year, so this might be the last time this happens while we’re in college and it’s really exciting,” Hampton said. “I wish [the game] was here because it would be fun to watch it in the Jungle, but I’m really excited.”
“I’m also very excited. I feel like [the team] worked very hard for it, and I’m glad that this season has paid off for them,” Hunt said.
The wait was over shortly, as Coach Pearl, players and staff walked out one by one to greet attendees and load onto one of the three buses. Attendees’ cheers accompanied all entrances, including those of Chad Baker-Mazara and Dylan Cardwell who happily interacted with a young fan holding an orange and blue "Dylan For President" sign.
The event concluded when star player Johni Broome exited Neville Arena, high-fiving and greeting fans on his walk to the bus.
Johni Broome concludes the Reverse Tiger Walk on Wednesday, April 2.
Attendees joyfully wished each player good luck for their final appearance in Auburn before the Final Four matchup.
“We want to thank the players for bringing so much joy to the Auburn Family this year,” said Michelle Denny, attendee and College of Education administrator.
Denny’s friend and director of the Alabama Afterschool Quality Standards Project, Sandy Resa shared similar sentiments, confident in the ability of Auburn men's basketball.
“We are very excited to go [to the Final Four], but we believe we’re bringing home number one,” Resa said.
Once the team was loaded onto the bus, Resa gave Coach Pearl a bracelet to raise awareness for the Unknown Child Foundation, an organization founded by an Auburn alumnus dedicated to remembering the 1.5 million children killed in the Holocaust; of Jewish descent, Coach Pearl has expressed his support for the nation of Israel.
By the end of the event, Resa raised awareness for the foundation, and all fans left happily, confident in Auburn men's basketball to represent them well in San Antonio.
For residents and visitors who want to cheer on the Tigers, Auburn University is hosting a watch party in Neville Arena for the Final Four matchup against the University of Florida on Saturday, April 5. Doors will open at 4:00 p.m., with tipoff at 5:09 p.m. Limited concession options will be available.
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