For Auburn students, away games are more than a weekend trip – they’re a ritual. Students plan their fall schedules around the football season, as flocks of students pack their cars to get ready for game days across the Southeast.
The game at Vanderbilt showcased an example of Auburn school spirit, as it felt like Auburn had taken over Vanderbilt’s campus for game day. Based on the number of students in attendance, what would have been a quiet Saturday morning turned into cheers of “War Eagle” echoing across the sold-out stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
To many Auburn students, the comfort of community during away games is found on the road. Highways grow full of students traveling past The Plains of Auburn and rolling down their windows to blast their game day playlists. Students chase the feeling of school pride and embrace the Auburn Family as sorority sisters, fraternity brothers and familiar faces prepare for a weekend full of activities in a new city.
“Last weekend was so much fun, because all my friends and I drove up to Nashville for the game and a fraternity formal. We planned our trip so we were able to go to both events, which were highlights of our fall,” said Lauren Grace Miller, sophomore in public relations.
Miller said even though she and her friends weren’t able to get tickets for the game, they still watched Auburn’s team play with another group of students before they went out to explore.
While the football game started at 3 p.m., the best part of game day for many students was experiencing the Nashville culture and tailgating with families and friends before the game.
“The energy was so much fun, even outside the stadium, because my friends and I saw everyone we knew,” said Jane Hollis, freshman in business.
Hollis mentioned that even though Nashville was far from home, it felt like another gameday in Auburn because the whole town traveled to support the football team.
Over many decades, Auburn’s traditions have stayed cemented in the school culture. These experiences have become multigenerational and multiregional for all Auburn students and alumni.
“My parents had the same experiences traveling to other schools for game days, so they were very excited when I told them I was going up to Nashville for the Vanderbilt game,” said Hannah Wheeler, freshman in education.
Wheeler said that traveling with friends and making the weekend trip to cheer on her university in football was worthwhile and a great experience. Even though the team didn’t win, joy still defined that weekend for Auburn students because of the community aspects that come with every game day. The memories that students made were filled with friendships, tradition and new experiences, helping the students share a connection that they will forever remember.
No matter if a game is home or away, Auburn students bring the same loyalty, passion and sense of belonging everywhere they go. The trip might be long and the city may look different, but the feeling remains the same. There is no doubt that Auburn fans show up for their team and for each other.
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