Written by Lauren Bucher
Deep-rooted football rivalry has poisoned Auburn’s deep-rooted tradition. Literally.
Alabama fan Harvey Updyke Jr., 62, allegedly poisoned Auburn’s two 130-year-old oak trees on Toomer’s Corner with a lethal dose of herbicide on Jan. 27.
“I was shocked,” Harding’s assistant to the president and Auburn fan Nate Copeland said. “I couldn’t believe a tradition that had lasted so many years wasn’t going to exist anymore. I remember the first time I went to Toomer’s Corner after an Auburn win. It’s sad that the Auburn family has lost that.”
The two live-oak trees onToomer’s Corner are a landmark, and the gathering of Auburn fans there after a win to “roll the corner” — to drape toilet paper from the tree branches — is a long-standing tradition.
“When I first read the news I had to read over it several times because I couldn’t believe it,” senior Matt Flowers said. “I know some people who have shrugged off the intensity of the act of vandalism, saying that vandalism is part of the big rivalries, but usually they are dealing with statues that can be remade or building walls that can be cleaned, but these are living things and not very easily replaced; they were 130 years old.”
On Feb. 16, Auburn officials reported that the trees had been poisoned. Police were made aware of the poisoning because a mancalled a radio show and said on the air that he poisoned the trees. The herbicide, Spike 80DF, or tebuthiuron, is regulated by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university does not use this type of herbicide, and the trees are not expected to survive.
Police have charged Updyke with first-degree criminal mischief.
Fans on both sides have expressed remorse over the loss of the tradition.
“Let’s be honest, like any good Crimson Tide fan from Alabama, I hate Auburn,” senior Timothy Harless said. “It’s just how both sides are raised. With that out of the way, I still have a lot of respect for their program, and for someone to poison Toomer’s corner is just completely without class and out of line. As obnoxious as I may havethought rolling those trees was, I’d never wish for anyone to lose their beloved tradition.”
According to the university’s website, Auburn has assembled a team of the university’s horticulturalists, chemists, landscapers, engineers and others to attempt to save the trees. Some of the possible tactics include replacing the contaminated soil and applying activated charcoal to the roots.
“The truly sad thing about this is that one man has robbed generations of the long standing tradition,” Flowers said. “That’s what really bothers us; these trees weren’t just icons or good luck charms, they were part of a tradition that united fans near and far. Just watching the celebration unfold on television made you feel united with thousands of other fans.”
