On July 8, the Auburn Family joined Eli Manning, retired NFL Quarterback and two-time Super Bowl MVP, on his show Eli's Places in the rolling of Toomer’s Corner with over 3,000 rolls of toilet paper, officially setting a new Guinness World Record. Manning is the host for Eli’s Places, an ESPN+ series that celebrates college football by highlighting college football history and traditions. Auburn’s iconic tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner after a sports victory is the next college tradition to be featured.
The intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue, famously known as Toomer’s Corner, is named after former State Senator "Shel" Toomer who played as a halfback on Auburn's first football team in 1892 and founded Toomer’s Drugs in 1896.
The crowd, spanning all generations of Auburn fans, circled around Toomer’s Corner in anticipation of the event. Auburn University Raptor Center’s Golden Eagle Nova made a special appearance, while the university cheerleaders, marching band and Aubie the Tiger energized the crowd with classic game day cheers.
Aubie the Tiger, Auburn University mascot, points out to the crowd with toilet paper falling around on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Around 5 p.m., Manning entered Toomer’s Corner, excitedly greeting fans and signing autographs before taking the stage to commence the event.
“This is special. This is unbelievable. I know we have a lot of incoming freshmen that are here today,” Manning said. “This will be, kind of, your first official rolling of Toomer’s Corner as a student here at Auburn, so I'm excited for that.”
Manning welcomed special guests Patrick and Bo Nix both former Auburn quarterbacks, to the stage to fire up the crowd and walk first-time throwers through the proper toilet paper throwing technique.
Former Auburn and Denver Broncos Bo Nix shows the crowd and Eli Manning how to properly roll Toomer's Corner with help from Aubie on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
“[The governor has] got an official plaque, so we're setting the record. It'll be a great day,” Manning said. “This is a thrill for one of the great traditions in college football, the rolling of Toomer’s Corner. I know y'all will have many more opportunities to do it this year, so this is just the first of many, especially for you freshmen out there.”
Jacob Sauls, AUMB member and senior in computer science and music composition, said many marching band members have only rolled Toomer’s a few times due to their busy game day schedules, making the event even more exciting.
“Honestly, I just like the environment. It’s fun,” Sauls said. “It's nice seeing all the rolling happening during the day, while it's still light out.”
Kailani Brittin, senior in music education and music performance, is also an AUMB member and reflected fondly on her memories of college football while attending Auburn University.
When asked about her favorite part of Auburn gameday traditions, Brittin said, “I think for me, just community, like bringing everybody together who likes the same thing. […] I was never into college football, so it's my first experience, my time here. So with that, it was like learning something new, and learning traditions and being a part of something this big was really big for me.”
As an out of state student from Tampa, Isabella Hifko, junior in speech language and hearing sciences, explained college football greatly shaped her Auburn experience.
“I didn't really know too much about [Auburn traditions]. And then coming to Auburn, you just really get embraced by the full culture and everyone,” Hifko said. “Everyone loves Auburn, and if you love it, they will love you—and that's the best thing.”
In addition to NFL players and students, university faculty also lined Toomer’s Corner for the record-breaking event.
“It's [rolling Toomer's] part of being a community, but it is pretty hot right now,” said Eren Armiger, an administrator in the psychological sciences department. “[...] It’s fun, and it’s nice to just see them [the oaks] rolled. It's picture perfect to us.”
At the height of the event, the temperature peaked at 91 degrees Fahrenheit, but the July weather did not stop the Auburn Family from turning a hot afternoon into a winter wonderland at Toomer’s.
Families walk along toilet paper hanging from oak trees in front of Samford Hall on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 after Eli Manning attempted to create a Guinness World Record at Auburn University.
“I think it’s really cool that everyone that is here gets to be a part of a world record, and it’s just a cool way to share a tradition here in Auburn,” said Armiger.
After about 15 minutes, the rolling concluded, and history professor Keith Hebert announced that the attending Auburn Family members and the three football players had achieved the Guinness World Record. Hebert presented an official placard from Governor Kay Ivey to honor the achievement.
“On this day, July 8, 2025, a remarkable and spirited gathering, Auburn University students, faculty, alumni and fans joined by Eli Manning, Bo Nix and Patrick Nix successfully united in Alabama’s most iconic campus tradition,” said Hebert, reading from the placard. “[...] In accordance with all available records, these individuals achieved what was previously undone by any other persons in history.”
Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning shakes hands with Auburn history professor Keith Hebert after setting a record at Toomer's Corner in Auburn, Alabama on July 8, 2025.
The placard revealed the Auburn Family had rolled more than 7,125 rolls of toilet paper in a single event, effectively achieving the world record for the highest number of toilet paper rolls ever rolled on the two oak trees in Toomer’s Corner.
Hebert, a university alumni and faculty member for over 10 years, called rolling Toomer’s Corner as an Auburn Family member a “real privilege.”
“I’m very fortunate to participate in things like this. To be, you know, you get to a moment where you’re not just in the events—you’re a part of the events, and you’re leading students to these events,” Hebert said. “It’s a real special thing. It’s something I remember for sure.”
Hebert also shared the history and traditions of Auburn University with a “very curious” Manning, as he drove the football star up and down College Street to throw toilet paper and announce the event.
By the event's conclusion, a beloved Auburn tradition became a world record, and the Auburn Family returned home to roll Toomer’s in July.
For those interested in hearing more, The Auburn Plainsman hosted an exclusive interview with Manning prior to the record-breaking event.
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Jennifer Santiago, junior majoring in political science and minoring in history, has been with The Auburn Plainsman since Fall 2024. Santiago previously served as a news writer, and she is currently serving as the Lifestyle Editor.
