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 Auburn fans, players have mixed feelings about Tiger Walk changes
Auburn fans, players have mixed feelings about Tiger Walk changes
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUBURN, Ala. -- This upcoming football season, the hugging and pre-game high-fiving that usually occurs when Auburn fans line the Tiger Walk will be at least somewhat restricted when barriers are added for the first time.
Thousands of Tiger fans have lined Donahue Drive since the 1960s to cheer on the players on game day and feelings are mixed now that Auburn University officials have decided that barriers will separate the team from their beloved Tiger "crazies."
Citing safety precautions, officials said the barriers will be placed on both sides of Tiger Walk beginning at the intersection of Donahue and Biggio Drive as players, coaches and cheerleaders make their way down the sidewalk to the south end zone of Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Senior offensive guard Ben Grubbs said he will miss the original Tiger Walk, which gave him time to hug his mother and brother and receive Good Luck wishes and cheers from fans.
"Let me put it this way. When we get on the bus, we're 'game ready' and we know those fans are hyped up. There's nothing like it," Grubbs said. "The fans help us get pumped up. Some of them may slap us on the chest or something, but I never felt like I'd get hurt. We're bigger than our fans anyways."
Auburn resident and fan Keith Windham said he's never personally seen anything that would cause officials to question the team's safety during Tiger Walk, but agrees with the precautions.
"I think it's a good idea for safety," said Windham, who attended AU's practice Saturday morning. "The idea is to have fun and not get hurt, so anything to keep us safe is a good idea for me."
Auburn alums Danny Lindsey and Rich Trucks, who were members of the 2004 SEC Championship team, visited former teammates at Saturday morning's practice.
"The whole point is to go down and enjoy the fans and now we're going to be just like every other school," Lindsey said. "That's the whole tradition and now because other schools have barricades we're having to put it up. They said it was a security issue, but I never felt threatened by fans. I just think it's ridiculous!"
"I couldn't believe it either," Trucks said. "I got more kisses in Tiger Walk than I got my entire career in college."
Auburn University officials first announced the possibility of barriers on July 10 and finalized the decision on Wednesday. The barriers will be used for the Tiger's first game against Washington State on Sept. 2.
Amika Fannin's son Mario Fannin is a first-year Tiger from Hampton, Ga. She said the barriers may be better for safety, but she'll miss the experience.
"It was an awesome experience the first time we came up here to visit," Fannin said. "You get to shake their hands and get into it. I personally just loved the atmosphere."
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Information from: Opelika-Auburn News
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8/17/2006, 8:34 pm
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